What is the primary focus of interventions aimed at activities of daily living (ADLs)?

• A. To improve performance in ADLs through explicit and direct focus on functional life skills.
• B. To maximize endurance during therapy sessions.
• C. To address only motor strength without functional tasks.
• D. To improve cognitive test scores.

Answer: (A)

ADL interventions center on enabling independence by directly training the activities people need to do every day. The focus is on performing real-life tasks—dressing, grooming, feeding, bathing, toileting, and mobility—within meaningful contexts, using task analysis, guided practice, feedback, and environmental supports. This approach tailors practice to the person’s actual routines, often incorporating adaptive equipment, task simplification, and energy‑saving strategies to make daily activities doable and safe. While strength, endurance, and cognitive skills can support performance, the main goal of ADL-focused therapy is to improve the person’s ability to carry out those essential activities themselves, not just to improve isolated bodily functions or test scores.