Studies of Illness in the Aged The Index of ADL: A Standardized Measure of Biological and Psychosocial Function

study results of treatment and prognosis in the elderly and chronically ill. Grades of the Index summarize over-all per-formance in bathing, dressing, going to toilet, transferring, continence, and feed-ing. More than 2,000 evaluations of 1,001 individuals demonstrated use of the Index as a survey instrument, as an objec-tive guide to the course of chronic illness, as a tool for studying the aging process, and as an aid in rehabilitation teaching. Of theoretical interest is the observation that the order of recovery of Index func-tions in disabled patients is remarkably similar to the order of development o