For persons identified as needing help with activities of daily living, the interviewer asked whether they needed the help of other people with six specific activities: bathing or showering (LABATH); dressing (LADRESS); eating (LAEAT); using the toilet (LATOILT), including getting to the toilet; getting around inside the home (LAHOME); and getting in or out of bed or chairs (LABED).

Whether an individual needed help with instrumental activities of daily living) or routine needs, such as everyday household chores, doing necessary business, shopping, or getting around for other purposes, is reported in LAIADL.

The Field Representative's Manuals for 1997 forward defined "help" as "hands-on" assistance with performing an activity." The Manuals also stated, "An 'other person' may be a friend, relative, paid helper, volunteer from an agency or organization or anyone else who helps the family member in doing the activities mentioned. He or she may be a household member or a non-household member."

The term "problem" was respondent-defined. Nonetheless, the Field Representative's Manual for 1997 forward informed interviewers what was intended by this term. The text states,

The text for 2001 forward also states,

None of these definitions were routinely shared with respondents during the interview.