Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are those activities that allow an individual to live independently in a community. Examples of IADLs include cooking, cleaning, transportation, laundry, and managing finances. IADLs are commonly assessed to determine the level of an individual’s cognitive function and need for assistance. Think of someone’s ability to follow a recipe or accurately pay bills. Challenges in doing either of these often can be a sign of cognitive issues.