ToolsCalculators
Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
Measures degree of independence in basic activities of daily living.
Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
Feeding
Bathing
Grooming
Dressing
Bowels
Bladder
Toilet use
Transfers (bed to chair and back)
Mobility on level surfaces
Stairs
Result0 / 100
Total dependence in activities of daily living.
When to use
- Quantifying baseline or serial functional status in stroke rehabilitation and other conditions affecting mobility and self-care.
- Communicating a patient's level of independence across a care team using a common scale.
Formula
Sum of 10 weighted items (feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, bowels, bladder, toilet use, transfers, mobility, stairs), each scored 0, 5, 10, or 15 depending on the item, for a total of 0-100 in increments of 5.
Pearls and pitfalls
- Score reflects actual performance, not capacity — rate what the patient does, not what they could theoretically do.
- A ceiling effect limits sensitivity to change in patients who are already near-independent.