🧍 Barthel Index (Activities of Daily Living)
UseWhen to use: stroke, geriatric, and rehab baselines / discharge planning.
StrataHigher = more independent; track change over time for rehab goals.
LimitsWhen not to use: as the only cognition or safety assessment. · Pitfall: scoring best possible rather than usual performance. · Complement with OT/PT evaluation.
SourceMahoney FI, Barthel DW. Md State Med J 1965
This-shift next steps
After scoring: open the scene pack, peer scores, and the matching pathway. Local reference — no HIS write.
Paste the link in Slack, Teams, X, or LinkedIn — the preview image comes from this page’s Open Graph card.
Methodology · worked example, guidelines & full notes
0–100 total.
When to use
When to use: stroke, geriatric, and rehab baselines / discharge planning.
How it works
Ten ADL items with published point weights summing to 0–100.
Key points
- 0–100 total.
- 10 ADL domains.
- Next: mRS / FIM / Lawton IADL.
References
- Mahoney FI, Barthel DW. Md State Med J 1965
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| Feeding | Needs help cutting/spreading butter etc. (5) |
|---|---|
| Bathing | Dependent (0) |
| Grooming (face/hair/teeth/shave) | Needs help (0) |
| Dressing | Needs help but can do ~half (5) |
| Bowels | Occasional accident (5) |
| Bladder | Occasional accident (5) |
| Toilet use | Needs some help (5) |
| Transfers (bed to chair and back) | Major help (1–2 people), can sit (5) |
| Mobility on level surfaces | Wheelchair independent including corners (5) |
| Stairs | Needs help / supervision (5) |
→Barthel40/100
- Band cue：Severe dependency range
| Feeding | Unable (0) |
|---|---|
| Bathing | Dependent (0) |
| Grooming (face/hair/teeth/shave) | Needs help (0) |
| Dressing | Dependent (0) |
| Bowels | Incontinent / needs enemas (0) |
| Bladder | Incontinent / catheterized and unable to manage (0) |
| Toilet use | Dependent (0) |
| Transfers (bed to chair and back) | Unable — no sitting balance (0) |
| Mobility on level surfaces | Immobile / <50 yards (0) |
| Stairs | Unable (0) |
→Barthel0/100
- Band cue：Total dependency range
Verification & sources · governance
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Does Barthel Index (Activities of Daily Living) upload patient data? Where is it calculated?
- Calculation runs locally in the browser; inputs and results are not uploaded. For licensed clinicians only; interpret with history, investigations and local protocols — not a diagnosis or prescription.
- How is Barthel Index (Activities of Daily Living) calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
- Inputs: Feeding Needs help cutting/spreading butter etc. (5), Bathing Dependent (0), Grooming (face/hair/teeth/shave) Needs help (0), Dressing Needs help but can do ~half (5), Bowels Occasional accident (5), Bladder Occasional accident (5), Toilet use Needs some help (5), Transfers (bed to chair and back) Major help (1–2 people), can sit (5)… → Result: Barthel 40 /100（Band cue: Severe dependency range） Inputs: Feeding Unable (0), Bathing Dependent (0), Grooming (face/hair/teeth/shave) Needs help (0), Dressing Dependent (0), Bowels Incontinent / needs enemas (0), Bladder Incontinent / catheterized and unable to manage (0), Toilet use Dependent (0), Transfers (bed to chair and back) Unable — no sitting balance (0)… → Result: Barthel 0 /100（Band cue: Total dependency range）