The Katz ADL is a tool that measures what?

• A. A measure of independence in Activities of Daily Living
• B. A measure of independence in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
• C. A nutritional assessment tool
• D. A biomarker index

Answer: (A)

Katz ADL measures independence in basic self-care activities essential for daily living. It assesses six functions—bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding—and scores how independently a person can perform them. A higher score indicates greater independence, while a lower score shows more dependence. This focuses on fundamental activities, distinguishing it from Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, which cover more complex tasks like meal planning or finances. It’s not a nutritional assessment tool or a biomarker index.