Which of the following is NOT an Instrumental ADL?

• A. Bathing
• B. Shopping
• C. Housekeeping
• D. Laundry

Answer: (A)

Understanding the distinction between basic activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living helps explain why Bathing is not an Instrumental ADL. Bathing is a fundamental self-care task essential for personal hygiene and safety; it is performed to care for oneself and does not require planning, budgeting, or organizing other activities. Instrumental ADLs, on the other hand, involve more complex skills needed for independent living—tasks like Shopping, Housekeeping, and Laundry require planning, decision-making, and managing resources. Since Bathing is a basic self-care activity, it is not classified as an Instrumental ADL, while Shopping, Housekeeping, and Laundry are. This distinction matters clinically for assessing functional independence: someone might manage basic self-care but struggle with IADLs, signaling different support needs.