Vardagsfunktion

Vardagsfunktion is a Swedish term that denotes an individual’s ability to perform daily activities and participate in everyday life. It encompasses self-care tasks, mobility, and participation in domestic and social activities. In practice, vardagsfunktion is used to describe the level of independence a person has in routines such as dressing, bathing, eating, moving around, preparing meals, managing household tasks, handling medications, and handling basic finances. The concept also includes the capacity to engage in social and community activities, illustrating how well a person can live independently or with support.

In health and social care, vardagsfunktion is assessed to inform care planning, rehabilitation goals, and eligibility for services. Clinicians often use standardized functional scales that measure activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Examples of such tools include the Barthel Index and the Katz ADL scale, with IADL measures assessing more complex tasks like transportation, shopping, and medication management. While these tools originate in broader clinical literature, they are commonly applied within Swedish practice to capture a person’s functional status.

Factors influencing vardagsfunktion include age, chronic or acute illness, cognitive and sensory impairments, mental health, and the availability of social support and assistive devices. Environmental aspects—housing design, accessibility, and community resources—also play a crucial role. Enhancing vardagsfunktion often involves rehabilitation, adaptive equipment, caregiver support, and environmental modifications designed to maintain or restore independence and quality of life. The concept is central to gerontology, geriatrics, occupational therapy, and disability services in Sweden and other healthcare systems.