Which term refers to complex self-care activities used to evaluate independence of disabled persons or older adults; examples include shopping, preparing meals, managing finances, and taking medications as prescribed?

• A. ADLs
• B. HCBS
• C. LTSS
• D. IADLs

Answer: (D)

Understanding independence in daily living often splits into basic self-care tasks and more complex tasks that enable someone to live on their own. The examples—shopping, preparing meals, managing finances, and taking medications as prescribed—reflect higher-level activities that require planning and problem-solving, not just physical ability. These are called instrumental activities of daily living. They measure whether a person can live independently with some support, whereas Activities of Daily Living refer to basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, feeding, and continence. The other terms—home and community-based services and long-term services and supports—refer to services and supports rather than the individual tasks themselves. So the described set of activities aligns with instrumental activities of daily living.