Aging can bring along with it a slow and steady decline. Mobility may feel increasingly challenging to seniors as time goes on. Maintaining mobility is important for social, physical, emotional, and economic health. Following are six tips to help older adults maintain this vital ability.
Why is mobility important?
1. Boosts Physical Health
The ability to stay active is key to maintaining overall physical health. Mobility allows older adults to exercise, which may prevent or delay cardiovascular disease, diabetes, some cancers, and other chronic conditions. Seniors who exercise regularly strengthen their bones and muscles and reduce their risk of falls.
2. Maintains Cognitive Health
Engaging in regular physical activity has a beneficial effect on cognitive abilities. Remaining mobile stimulates brain function, promoting the growth of new neurons. Exercise enhances current cognitive function, slows cognitive decline, and decreases the older adult’s risk of developing dementia.
3. Enhances Social Health
The ability to move around gives elderly individuals the opportunity to interact socially with friends, neighbors, and family members. Staying connected with the community prevents seniors from feeling lonely and isolated, which can lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety.
4. Preserves Economic Health
Seniors who retain their mobility are able to continue working, volunteering, and participating in community events. Activities like these instill a sense of purpose and meaning into the lives of seniors. People who are still able to work also achieve economic freedom.
How do seniors maintain mobility?
The best way for older adults to preserve their mobility is to practice mobility skills. Stay active 3 to 5 days out of the week. Seniors do not need to run races but are instead urged to engage in activities that extend their mobility well into their golden years.
Tip 1: Take Daily Walks
Walking is an accessible exercise for seniors. When the weather is icy and cold, walk indoors at the mall. On warm, sunny days, hike the trails at a local nature preserve. Seniors who hesitate to venture far or are uncertain about balance can walk around their neighborhood with a caregiver.
Bone and muscle strength improve while walking, giving seniors who are unsteady on their feet greater confidence over time. Plus, increasing physical strength through walking helps prevent fractures. Older adults who are afraid of falling on walks are advised to use a cane or walker.
Tip 2: Participate in Low-Impact Cardio
A healthy cardiovascular system relies heavily on regular cardio exercise. Low-impact workouts include swimming and aquatic exercises, which reduce pressure on aging bones, muscles, and joints. Aim for 150 minutes of exercise per week (or 30 minutes per day, 5 days a week).
Join the local senior center and sign up for group fitness classes. Working out with peers is motivational and rewards the elderly with improved mobility. Choose from a variety of activities, such as yoga, tai chi, or water aerobics. Tai chi improves coordination and balance with its slow, deliberate movements.
Tip 3: Create a Safe Environment
A home that lacks age-friendly features can be hazardous to seniors. Caregivers are advised to prevent falls, injuries, and accidents by modifying the environment. Install handrails on the stairs and grab bars in the bathroom. Add extra lighting so walking paths are well-lit.
Remove clutter from the home. Professional caregivers routinely clean up the living spaces so that aging care recipients do not face hazards. Ensure rugs have a non-slip rubber backing and that cords are tucked away safely. Reposition furniture to give seniors clear pathways to walk.
Tip 4: Eat a Healthy Diet
Indirectly associated with mobility is a nutritious diet. Seniors who consume the necessary vitamins and minerals fuel their bodies and keep their muscles and bones strong. Nutrients that preserve bone density include vitamin K and D, calcium and magnesium. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce joint discomfort.
Following an anti-inflammatory diet is equally important for the preservation of mobility. Inflammation is common in seniors and causes joint and muscle stiffness. Prevent inflammation by eating nuts, fruits, and vegetables. Reduce the consumption of red meat, fried foods, and excessive sugar.
Tip 5: Practice Good Posture
Mobility and strength result from keeping the spine in a neutral position. Good posture makes it easier to stay active. Slouching, however, overworks the neck and back muscles, leading to strained shoulders, back pain and eventually joint damage. Seniors should make it a habit to sit up straight.
Tip 6: Get Medical Checkups
Preventive medical care can help detect potential health issues that affect mobility, such as poor vision and arthritis, before they become severe. Falls are reduced when ailments are diagnosed and treated. Schedule routine medical exams and screenings and ensure the senior stays up-to-date on vaccinations.
Maintaining mobility in older people requires the support of family caregivers, a healthcare team, and a reputable home care agency, like Assisting Hands Home Care. Professional caregivers from our elder care agency are instrumental in keeping seniors physically, socially and emotionally healthy.
We provide numerous non-medical supports in the comfort of home. Caregivers perform fall-risk assessments, remove fall hazards, and provide mobility assistance. We accompany the senior on outings, such as to the doctor’s office, and on walks to give them extra stability and confidence.
Additional home care services include help with personal hygiene tasks, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and companionship. We shop for groceries and prepare healthy meals to give aging care recipients the nutrients their bodies need. Transportation around the community is also provided.
Senior care services are flexible, ranging from brief respite care to 24-hour care. We provide compassionate Alzheimer’s and dementia care, too. All our caregivers are licensed, bonded, insured, and trained in CPR and first aid. We also respond quickly and appropriately to emergencies.
Aging adults in Hollywood, Florida, and the surrounding communities have access to a wealth of support from Assisting Hands Home Care. When senior home care is right for your elderly loved one, schedule a complimentary in-home consultation and we’ll develop a customized care plan to meet care needs.
To inquire about our senior home care services, contact Assisting Hands of Hollywood, FL at (954) 859-2271 today.
