You probably remember how your parents taught you how to walk when you were young. Now, in their senior years, they may have developed difficulties with walking and mobility in general. The lack of mobility makes independent living more challenging. It can also have negative impacts on their physical, emotional, and psycho-social well-being. Thankfully, you can help them improve their mobility in many ways:
Manage Weight
Being overweight affects mobility because it strains the knees and lower extremities. Likewise, being underweight limits mobility because of increased risks of bone fracture. If your parent is overweight, encourage them to eat lean protein, colorful vegetables, and fruit. If they are underweight, consider supplementing their diet with protein shakes, if their doctor allows it.
Enhance Balance
Age-related imbalance is critical for older adults because falling can have serious physical damages that make mobility even worse. While a failing sense of balance is perceived as an unavoidable consequence of aging, it could actually be treated and avoided through eating healthy food and exercising to strengthen the muscles related to balance, such as glutes, back, and core muscles. You can also work on maintaining a safer environment by improving lighting, installing grab bars, and removing clutter inside the house.
Chair Lifts
Chair lifts, walkers, and other mobility equipment can also help improve the mobility of seniors. Chair lifts assist your parents if they no longer have the strength or energy to move out of their chair. It is important, though, to choose a suitable chair lift for your parent's body size and type, because they may end up feeling uncomfortable if the chair is too small or too big for them.
In-Home Physical Therapy
Lastly, in home physical care services also improve mobility among seniors. Regular care aides provide a supportive helper who gives greater balance to seniors with a wobbly walk. In home aides also reduce the necessity of mobility, since the care aides tackle many of the daily maintenance tasks for your loved one.Physical therapy in the home is another option. It aims to restore and improve the functionality of muscles, reduce joint pain, and help a person acquire better strength and balance. Oftentimes, physical therapy is prescribed during a hospital stay and continues afterwards. Even without hospitalization, your parent can enjoy the benefits of physical therapy. In fact, in-home physical therapy also has additional benefits, such as convenience and minimized chances for injury while going to the clinic or hospital. Numerous in-home physical therapy providers have mobile equipment that they can set up in your living room.
Lack of mobility can take its toll not only in your parent's independent living but also their overall well-being and relationship with family and friends. The good news is that you can help them improve their mobility through managing their weight, enhancing their balance, using chair lifts, and setting-up appointments for in-home physical therapy.
Contact a company like AT HOME WITH YOU for more information and assistance.
