Latrine Clean

Going to the bathroom is the second activity of daily living (“ADL”).

#2 ADL - Toileting and Continence Management

How well do you use the toilet?

Toileting and Continence Management measures your mental and physical ability to:

• Maintain control of your bowel and bladder functions,

• Get on and off the toilet safely,

• Clean genital area,

• Perform critical hygiene including care for catheter or colostomy bag, and

• Use a bedpan or commode.

Activities of daily living indices and long-term care insurance criteria often separate one’s ability to maintain control of bodily functions from the actual use of a toilet. Because these are highly related, we have combined the two.

Signs you may need additional help going to the bathroom include:

• Difficulty sitting on or getting up from the toilet, a task that may be more difficult if using a cane, walker, or wheelchair,

• Soiled and smelly clothing,

• Urine or poop on the toilet seat or the bathroom floor, and

• One or more bladder infections.