Tips to Help Your Senior with Mobility Challenges
By Brenda Enright
Owner of Home Instead Newmarket and Aurora
Aging takes its toll on the body in different ways. One challenging area that many of the elderly deal with is mobility. It can seem like each day brings a new ache. Uncle Arthur (aka Arthritis) sets up house in joints throughout the body, causing pain and swelling. Sometimes, mobility issues cause a decline in activity. They may also require the use of walkers, canes, or wheelchairs. It is not a pleasant situation to be in. It may also be discouraging for your loved one, but having you around, and the assistance of a professional caregiver may give them the boost they need to keep enjoying their life.
6 Ways to Help Mom Work through Mobility Issues
Decreased mobility is part of aging, but it doesn’t have to stop your senior loved one from partaking in life’s many colours. Here are six ways to assist her when mobility challenges arise:
- Encourage her to stay active. Mom may become discouraged as new aches and pains rear their head. She may even think that slowing down is a better option. While there are many precautions to keep in mind, it’s important to encourage her to remain active and not slow down.
- Keep weight at a healthy range. If mobility decreases, it is very likely that weight may increase if healthy eating habits are not in place. Additional weight can affect balance and lead to falls, exacerbating mobility issues.
- Understand the side effects of medicines. Some side effects may lead Mom to struggle with her balance. She may feel dizzy and could fall. Review the side effects of the medications that your mother is given. It is advisable to speak to her physician about your concerns.
- Practice with walking aids. Remember that the process of using walking aids like canes and walkers has a learning curve. It may take weeks. Give your mother additional support to ensure she can use the devices well. Having a personal support worker to assist her will alleviate your concerns when you cannot be readily available.
- Simplify home tasks. Getting around a tiny kitchen with a walker may prove hard. It may require simplifying routines. Laundry may be a struggle if she cannot stand for long periods. Talk with her to discover what she finds the most challenging and look for solutions to help. This may be an excellent time to discuss bringing in a home care worker for assistance.
- Plan outings with mobility challenges in mind. It’s crucial for Mom’s mental health to remain socially active. One way to do this is to get her out of the house. When planning an outing, take her mobility challenges into account. You may want to check out the facilities beforehand, or you may want to give the place a call and talk with them about your loved one’s condition.
Overcome Mobility Challenges at Home with Dependable Elder Care
Ensure your aging loved one has what they need to remain engaged with life, even with mobility issues. Seek out the services of professional home care workers from Home Instead Newmarket, Aurora. Our caregivers love serving families and their seniors with light housekeeping, cooking, personal care, Alzheimer's care, and much more. We tailor services to fit your senior family member’s needs. Quality, dependable care starts with one phone call.
Call us at (905) 235-7130 to schedule a no-obligation, in-home consultation. Learn more about the compassionate, quality senior care we deliver every day to families in Newmarket, Aurora, Baldwin, Beaverton, Bradford, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Cannington Brock, Ceder Valley, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, Holland Landing, Jacksons Point, Keswick, Kettleby, King, Leaskdale, Mt Albert, Pefferlaw, Queensville, River Drive Park, Sanford, Sharon, Stouffville, Sunderland, Sutton West, Udora, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Willow Beach, Zephyr.