LaPlante, M.P. (2010). The classic measure of disability in activities of daily living is biased by age but an expanded iadl/adl measure is not. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 65B(6), 720–732,

THE index of activities of daily living (ADL) counts the number of ADL a person needs help with ( Katz & Akpom, 1976) and is the classic measure of the severity of need for personal assistance services (PAS) and other long-term services and supports (LTSS). The ADL comprise bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and eating, listed in order of increasing severity of disability. To measure less severe levels of disability, Lawton and Brody (1969) introduced a complementary index based on needing help in eight instrumental activities of daily living (IADL): using the phone, grocery shopping, preparing meals, house-keeping, laundering, using transportation, taking medica-tions, and managing fi nances. ADL counts are used widely to assess adults of all ages and determine eligibility for benefi ts. For instance, long-term care insurance policies require needing help with tw