AEMCA Practice Exam

Which of the following refers to activities of daily living according to the general geriatric standard?

1. Bathing and dressing

2. Cooking and cleaning

3. Shopping and errands

4. Exercise and socializing

The correct answer is: Bathing and dressing

Activities of daily living (ADLs) typically refer to the basic self-care tasks that are essential for a person's daily functioning and independence, particularly in the geriatric context. The correct answer focuses on tasks such as bathing and dressing, which are fundamental for personal hygiene and maintaining personal appearance. These activities are crucial for an elderly person's ability to live independently and to assess their level of functioning and dependence on assistance. In contrast, the other options relate to instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) or social activities, which, while important, are considered secondary to basic self-care tasks. Cooking and cleaning, for instance, are indeed essential for maintaining a household but do not directly affect personal care. Shopping and errands are also vital to daily life, but they focus more on community interactions and self-sufficiency in a broader sense. Exercise and socializing contribute significantly to an elderly person's quality of life and mental health, but they do not constitute fundamental personal care tasks. Thus, the emphasis on bathing and dressing aligns directly with the core definition of activities of daily living in geriatrics.