If you live with an older adult who has mobility issues, you likely find yourself in a caregiver position quite often. Naturally, you want your loved one to be safe. Knowing that he/she may not be completely steady on his/her feet is worrisome. What to do? The last thing you want is for your aging parent to get hurt. However, you certainly don’t want to do anything that will only make his/her mobility issues harder to contend with.
What are some important steps to take to help your aging parent who has mobility issues?
Encourage daily exercise.
Regular exercise is a top way for seniors to improve their strength, balance and mobility. Of course, no heavy lifting is necessary. Light exercise including a brisk walk each day is great to put on the menu. Other exercises that are commonly recommended for seniors are water aerobics, chair yoga, resistance band workouts and Pilates.
“Mobility problems can make it difficult to exercise, but it’s important that your loved one is active for at least a few minutes every day,” says Zareena Khan of Edmonton’s Home Care Assistance, “Even if your parent isn’t able to get up and move around, he or she can still strengthen his or her core and arms with very light weights, resistance bands, or bodyweight exercises. Exercising can also help your loved one stay at a healthy weight, which could have a huge impact on his or her mobility and balance.
Talk to a healthcare provider
It can never hurt to get some assistance from a professional. Talking to a healthcare provider is a vital way to learn about your elderly loved one’s medications. It is possible that they may be impacting his/her mobility. Furthermore, you can get some advice about best practices when it comes to providing physical assistance to your loved one.
“Tell the healthcare provider about mobility problems of the person you are caring for and especially mention any falls, since they can be caused by medical conditions,” advises HealthInAging.org, “Drowsiness or distraction can lead to falls. Drowsiness or distraction can be cause by worry, alcohol, or medicines such as prescription, non-prescription, or herbal or other remedies.”
Rid your home of clutter.
One of the easiest ways to assist your elderly loved one with his/her mobility is to ensure that all walkways in the home are free of debris. Pick up all toys, clothes, books, shoes or anything else that can be an obstruction from the floor. Tuck away wires and push furniture out of the way. Replace throw rugs with non-slip mats. By removing these tripping hazards, you will create a much safer environment for your loved one who has mobility issues.
“A little bit of clutter can be extremely dangerous for those who have difficulty getting around,” writes Khan, “A single power cord or bunched-up rug could result in a major accident that causes serious injuries. At least once or twice a day, go through your parent’s home and make sure there aren’t any potential tripping hazards.”
At LifeCare Mobility Solutions, we offer a wide range of high-quality mobility solutions that help seniors and people with mobility issues to get around safely and avoid dangerous falls. Among them are mobility scooters, wheeled walkers and rollators. To learn all about them, please don’t hesitate to call us at 416-267-9800 or email us at info@lifecaremobility.ca. You may also contact us by filling out the form on our Contact page!
