How to Keep Seniors with Limited Mobility Active

Slowed or limited mobility due to health issues is perhaps the biggest hurdle that prevents seniors from maintaining an active lifestyle. Even a simple walk down the street can take a great deal of energy for them.

And now, with the current lockdowns and isolation caused by the Covid pandemic, seniors with limited mobility are finding it even harder to get active and mobile. However, with proper planning, a little creative thinking, and with the right equipment, seniors with limited mobility can live an active life throughout the year, even amidst the pandemic.

Pick the Right Equipment

Before we look at how to keep your seniors active, it’s crucial that you first consider safety by picking the right equipment to help them navigate both indoors and outdoors.

With the right mobility aid, the fear of falling will no longer be a deterrent to stepping out of their home.

There are different mobility aids such as walking canes, newer model scooters, wheelchairs, and walkers. Depending on the severity of the disability, a walker or wheelchair may be the best option since they provide better support and stability and are easy to use. Most preferably, a heavy-duty walker or a hybrid wheelchair to enhance their independence as they won’t require the assistance of another person whenever they want to get around.

5 Easy Ways to Keep Seniors with Limited Mobility Active

Here are easy ways that caregivers can consider to keep their seniors active.

1. Take Nature Walks

Being out in the natural surroundings even without engaging in any activity is soothing, calming, and relaxing. It goes a long way in improving seniors’ moods and lifting their spirits.

Every once in a while, you can take your senior to the beach or parks. Most of these places have paved walking trails for wheelchairs and walkers. Assuming you took your time to choose the right walker for seniors, you can take walks to just about anywhere a mobile person would go. You just need to be extra keen on safety.

2. Stay Sociable

Allow your senior to join a local senior club, society or class. Social engagement is as crucial as physical engagement. It can help stave off feelings of loneliness. Loneliness in seniors has been linked to depressive symptoms and a host of other health conditions.

There are plenty of lay-on games and activities at the club, accompanied by afternoon teas that aging seniors will enjoy-particularly those living with dementia and Alzheimers.

3. Do Household Chores

Helping out around the home is another excellent way to get an active body and mind. Let your aging loved one help around with basic household tasks that they enjoy doing, including their grooming.

Cleaning dishes, sweeping, and doing laundry are great physical activities. These are activities they can do even when on a walker or wheelchair and without needing the assistance of their carers. Encourage them to create a list of tasks they can do daily, weekly or monthly so that they are operating on a routine.

4. Explore a variety of hobbies

Hobbies are a great way to escape boredom and loneliness as well as engage the mind and body. Particularly for seniors with limited mobility. Help your seniors find a hobby they enjoy or want to learn. They are plenty of hobbies that don’t require a lot of moving like gardening, crocheting, birdwatching, baking, painting, playing musical instruments- name it.

5. Exercises

There are exercises that seniors with limited mobility can do that won’t require vigorous moving but will b helpful in getting them active. These exercises can be done while seated or standing with the help of a walker to help reduce swelling, strengthen joins, and overall body health.

You can also consider swimming as a way of exercising.

Conclusion

Just like you, many caregivers wish to get their aging loved ones on activities despite the isolation and lockdowns because they know how important it is for their mental and physical health. However, this proves to be difficult because their loved ones prefer to retreat into the comfort of their homes for fear of falling or getting hurt.

We suggest getting them the right equipment to facilitate their active lifestyle. This will boost their confidence, and they will be looking forward to their activities and outings.

If getting out simply is not an option – try creating indoor activities that will yield the same results.

Author name: Daisy Chepkoech

Daisy Chepkoech is a passionate content writer for hire who specializes in ghost blogging. She is also a Pinterest guru helping bloggers realize tangible ROI. When she is not writing, she is traveling the world gasping in the beauty of nature.