Health Insurance Mastery Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT considered an activity of daily living (ADL) for long-term care policies?

1. Personal hygiene

2. Eating

3. Mobility

4. Bathing

The correct answer is: Mobility

Mobility as an option is not considered an activity of daily living (ADL) in the context of long-term care policies. Activities of daily living typically refer to basic self-care tasks that are essential for an individual's personal care and hygiene. The standard list of ADLs generally includes personal hygiene (which encompasses grooming), eating (the ability to feed oneself), bathing (washing oneself in a tub, shower, or similar), and other self-care tasks that are fundamental for everyday living. Mobility, while important for overall functioning and independence, is often categorized separately from the primary ADLs. It refers more broadly to a person's ability to move within their environment, which can include tasks like walking, transferring from one position to another (like from a bed to a chair), and other physical activities that do not necessarily relate directly to personal care. Therefore, while mobility is crucial for health and well-being, it does not fit the traditional definition of the specific activities of daily living used by long-term care insurance policies. By understanding this distinction, it becomes clearer why mobility is not classified as an ADL in the context of long-term care.