Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living
an observer-based measure of the functional status of older adults and individuals with chronic disorders. An individual is rated on the degree of assistance required to perform six basic functions: bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, transferring, and continence. Baseline measurements provide useful feedback when compared to periodic or subsequent measurements. Also called Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living. [originally developed in 1963 by Sidney Katz (d. 2012), U.S. physician and geriatrician]