Functional independence in basic ADLs. Free to use.
Katz ADL (Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living) is a validated clinical instrument used to assess functional independence in basic adls. The instrument contains 6 items.
Source / attribution: Katz S et al., JAMA 1963
The instrument's primary construct — functional independence in basic adls — is operationalized through a fixed set of items, each with a defined response format. This standardisation is what allows Katz ADL scores to be compared meaningfully across clinicians, sites, and studies.
Like all screening or assessment instruments, Katz ADL is a structured aid — not a diagnostic test in isolation. Results should be interpreted alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Where a score crosses an actionable threshold, the next step is typically a more detailed clinical evaluation rather than a definitive diagnosis.
Answer all 6 items below to see your Katz ADL score and interpretation.
All scoring runs in your browser. No data is sent anywhere — close the tab and the answers are gone.
Katz ADL uses weighted summation: each item carries a fixed weight that is added when the response indicates a positive finding.
Scoring notes: Educational use only.
The cutoffs below are drawn from the published validation literature. Always interpret in clinical context.
| Score range | Band | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 | Severe dependence | Needs lots of help. |
| 3–4 | Moderate dependence | Needs some help. |
| 5–6 | Independent | Independent. |
This is an illustrative walkthrough, not a real patient. Follow the same four steps with your own answers — or use the live calculator at the top of this page.
Mark each item Yes or No. Each "Yes" adds the item's weight; each "No" adds 0. The example below uses illustrative answers.
| # | Item | Example response | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bathing — independent | Yes | 1 |
| 2 | Dressing — independent | Yes | 1 |
| 3 | Toileting — independent | Yes | 1 |
| 4 | Transferring — independent | No | 0 |
| 5 | Continence — independent | Yes | 1 |
| 6 | Feeding — independent | No | 0 |
Add the weights from the items where you marked "Yes" (skip the "No" answers — they contribute 0).
1 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 0 = 4
Find the row in the interpretation table whose range contains your total:
Total = 4 falls between 3 and 4 → Moderate dependence
Moderate dependence. Needs some help.
A score is one input alongside history and examination. Katz ADL supports clinical judgment — it does not replace it.
If Katz ADL doesn't fit your context, related instruments in geriatrics include:
| Scale | Measures | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barthel Index | Functional independence in ADLs | 10 | — |
| GDS-15 | Depression screening in older adults | 15 | — |
| CAM | Bedside delirium screen | 4 | — |
| Lawton IADL | Functional independence in instrumental ADLs | 8 | — |
| Timed Up and Go | Mobility and fall risk in older adults | 1 | — |
| APGAR Score | Rapid assessment of newborn at 1 and 5 min | 5 | — |
| ASA Physical Status | Pre-operative health status | 1 | — |
| CHA2DS2-VASc | Annual stroke risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation | 8 | — |
Katz ADL (Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living) is a validated instrument that assesses functional independence in basic ADLs. It is designed for clinicians, medical students, evidence-synthesis researchers. The 6 items are combined to produce a total score.
Katz ADL contains 6 items. Item scores are combined with weighted scoring to produce the total. Scores run from 0 to 6, grouped into 3 interpretation bands from ‘Severe dependence’ up to ‘Independent’.
On the Katz ADL (total score 0–6), scores of 5–6 fall in the ‘Independent’ band — interpreted as: Independent. The full ladder is: 0–2 — Severe dependence: Needs lots of help.; 3–4 — Moderate dependence: Needs some help.; 5–6 — Independent: Independent. A higher score reflects a more severe presentation, and crossing a cutoff is a prompt to step up assessment or care — but these bands are screening thresholds, not diagnoses.
Scores of 0–2 fall in the ‘Severe dependence’ band: Needs lots of help. A low score is reassuring but does not by itself rule out the underlying condition — if symptoms or clinical suspicion persist, reassess over time or use a complementary evaluation rather than relying on the number alone.
Yes — Katz ADL is in the public domain and free for clinical, educational, and research use without permission. You can use this calculator and the scale itself freely; if you publish results or reproduce the scale, cite the original source paper.
Katz S et al. JAMA. 1963;185(12):914-919. This is the original publication for the Katz ADL — the reference to cite when reporting results.
No. Katz ADL is a structured assessment aid, not a diagnostic test. Its proper role is clinical assessment of functional independence in basic ADLs — it standardizes assessment and flags who needs closer evaluation, but the result must be weighed alongside history, examination, and clinical context. When a score conflicts with your clinical impression, clinical judgment takes precedence; treatment decisions should never rest on a screening score alone.
Katz ADL is supported by the following peer-reviewed sources: