5 Ways Aging Adults Can Boost Mobility

Aging can cause seniors to experience a variety of changes, including the loss of mobility. This is one of the reasons elderly people are less active than younger adults. Here are some exercises, changes, and activities that can boost mobility in the golden years. 

1. Engage in Physical Activity

Joining an exercise group, going for walks around the neighbourhood, and working out at home or the local gym are some of the many ways your elderly loved one can stay active and increase his or her mobility. Being active can help your loved one stay in shape, maintain a healthy weight, and keep muscles stronger and more flexible.  Consider hiring a professional caregiver if your loved one needs assistance with mobility or handling daily tasks. Senior home care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.

2. Eat Healthy

Putting extra weight on the knees could cause your loved one to experience more pain in addition to mobility issues. The extra pounds could cause his or her body to work harder to function properly. If your loved one wants to increase mobility, he or she will need to maintain a healthy weight, and a good diet is the perfect place to start. To help your loved one shed extra pounds and maintain an ideal weight, encourage him or her to: 

• Stop eating junk food 
• Eat more fruits and vegetables 
• Avoid red meat 
• Add fish and poultry to meals 
• Record daily calorie and fat intake

3. Make Changes to the Home

The more space your loved one has, the more easily he or she can move throughout the home. Remove clutter and unused furniture, and consider installing rails and ramps to help your loved one move in and out of the home. The lighting in the house could also affect mobility. If your loved one can see clearly, he or she is less likely to slip, fall, or bump into furniture. Caring for a senior loved one with limited mobility can be overwhelming for family caregivers. Families who need help caring for senior loved ones can turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of Winnipeg home care service. Services available in our customizable care plans include meal prep, mental and social stimulation, assistance with personal hygiene tasks, and much more.

4. Take Care of Vision

Seeing is an important factor pertaining to mobility. This is why your loved one should do everything possible to protect his or her vision. You loved one can do this by keeping his or her eyeglasses prescription up to date and eating foods that preserve vision. Your loved one should schedule checkups with an optometrist on a regular basis. 

5. Use Walking Aids

Although you should do everything possible to help your loved one walk without assistance, this isn’t always an option. Therefore, he or she may need to use a walking aid. Walking aids increase mobility when your loved one is working his or her muscles properly. However, your loved one must use the proper aid. For example, if your loved one only needs a cane, he or she should avoid using a walker. An aid that offers too much assistance could cause your loved one to rely more on the aid instead of his or her muscles.  Aging in place can present a few unique challenges for older adults. Some only require part-time assistance with exercise or meal preparation, while others are living with serious illnesses and benefit more significantly from receiving live-in care. Winnipeg, MB, Home Care Assistance are leaders in the elderly in-home care industry for good reason. We tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual needs, our caregivers continue to receive updated training in senior care as new developments arise, and we also offer comprehensive care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s. If you need professional home care for your loved one, our Care Managers are just a phone call away. Reach out to Home Care Assistance today at (204) 489-6000.