How to Support Seniors with Mobility Challenges in Southlake

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in four older adults have mobility challenges. Mobility issues can impact a senior’s ability to move and include problems with muscle weakness, coordination, balance, or range of motion.

Many things can lead to mobility challenges in older adults, such as:

Joint issues
Pain
Injury
Muscle weakness
Progressive diseases
Arthritis
Vision problems
Medication reactions

Mobility problems are more than just physical limitations that can significantly impede a senior's ability to carry out daily tasks, affecting their sense of independence and self-esteem. Luckily, there are many steps in-home caregivers and loved ones can take to help seniors manage their mobility difficulties.

Keep reading to learn three tips to help support Southlake seniors with mobility challenges.

1. Maintain a Safe Home Environment

Mobility issues can increase a senior’s risk of injuries and accidents. This is especially true if the pathways of their home are cluttered. To prevent slips, trips, and falls and make it easier for an older adult to get around, it’s essential to keep homes clear of fall hazards.

A few ways to maintain a safe and secure home environment are:

Removing all clutter from the floor
Securing loose floorboards, rugs, and carpets
Ensuring hallways, entryways, and staircases have ample lighting
Taping down cords or moving them behind furniture
Replacing furniture with sharp corners with furnishings with rounded edges
Cleaning up any spills immediately

Family members and caregivers can inspect a senior’s home and take inventory of any tripping hazards to ensure older adults stay safe.

2. Promote Physical Activity

Staying active is crucial for all seniors, especially those with mobility issues. While seniors with mobility challenges may become less active due to a fear of falling, plenty of exercises accommodate their limited mobility.

Some of the best physical activities for seniors with mobility problems include:

Chair yoga
Tai Chi
Pilates
Stretching
Yoga
Aquatic aerobics

A senior’s fitness program must be customized to their needs and ability level. This allows them to improve their flexibility, balance, and strength while staying safe.

An in-home caregiver can drive seniors to see their physical therapist or accompany them for a walk around the block or in the park. Some of the best parks for seniors in Southlake, TX, include Bicentennial Park and Bob Jones Park.

3. Eating Healthy Foods

A nutritious, well-balanced diet can help seniors with mobility issues maintain their health. Foods that are high in protein, calcium, magnesium, Omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins K and D support bone and muscle health.

In-home caregivers can help seniors plan and prepare delicious and nutritious meals that accommodate their dietary needs.

Visiting Angels of Southlake, TX, Support Seniors with Mobility Challenges

Visiting Angels of Southlake, TX, provides customized in-home care programs to seniors throughout Southlake and the surrounding areas. Our caregivers can help keep older adults safe, comfortable, and healthy by assisting with light housekeeping, transportation, and meal planning and preparation.

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