Routine, daily activities, such as feeding, dressing, bathing and grooming, that you would normally perform yourself without assistance. The ability to perform ADLs is an important consideration for determining what type of long term care insurance coverage you may need. Nearly half of all Americans who turn 65 during any given year will eventually enter a nursing home as a result of being unable to perform the activities of daily living. While the majority of those will stay for a short term (less than a year), about a quarter will stay longer. Typically, long term care insurance coverage for nursing costs requires an individual who is unable to perform two or more of the six basic ADLs.