Two thirds of seniors struggle with mobility issues, including walking or climbing stairs. So, how can seniors improve their mobility? What are the ways that the elderly can get moving again?
We’ll take a look at why mobility is so important and what seniors can do to improve it. We’ll also look at the benefits of exercise as well as an active retirement
Why Does Mobility In Seniors Matter?
Difficulty in moving around is one of the most common causes of age related disability. When a senior stops being actively mobile, there are a number of health issues that can occur, both physical and psychological.
For those elderly people who live alone, the inability to move will severely impact on their social interactions. This can lead to isolation and depression. These issues in turn can cause a senior to stop eating, and this can have serious implications for their ongoing health.
If an elderly person is having difficulty moving, there is an increased risk of falls and resulting injuries. For those living alone, this often means that they are unable to call for help and may be left in that position for a long time.
When moving around is tricky, the obvious solution is to provide some kind of mobility aid for a senior. These items are not cheap and can cause financial hardship on the seniors themselves or on their family.
The solution is to help seniors improve their mobility and avoid these issues for as long as possible.
Exercises To Improve Mobility
Stretching exercises are a safe and gentle way to get moving as a senior. Not only does it get people moving but also increases their flexibility, balance and coordination. Of course, before any kind of exercise, a doctor should be consulted and their advice followed.
Walking is an excellent way to increase mobility and keep joints moving. Being outside in the fresh air is also very good for mental health and for vitamin D absorption in the sun. It can also be a very sociable activity that seniors can do as a group or as couples.
For the ultimate in low impact exercise, however, swimming is second to none. The water supports the senior’s body weight, and they can concentrate on moving and exercising their muscles. A warm pool is also wonderful for aching joints or those suffering from arthritis.
Tai Chi is another wonderful exercise and again is good for socializing. Coupled with meditation, this can have both physical and mental health benefits for seniors. It can improve memory and cognitive ability, which benefits a senior person’s overall health.
Exercises To Maintain Muscle And Joint Health
For seniors to improve their mobility, it is important to focus on their muscle and joint health. When people become more sedentary, one of the first effects is that their muscles begin to atrophy and lose mass. We need muscles in order to move, so this is vital to address.
Joint health is inextricably linked to muscle health in seniors. Muscles absorb the impact on joints, so if the muscles are degenerating, the joints will have more work to do. This will cause excess wear and tear on the joints, causing them to deteriorate at a faster than normal rate.
Exercises that benefit the joints and muscles of senior people are therefore very important and should be encouraged. Swimming is one of the best ways to do this. The water holds the person’s weight while they work their muscles. Swimming also eases joint pain.
Gentle yoga exercises are another way to move joints and get muscles working, especially restorative yoga. Yoga can improve respiration and lower blood pressure, both of which can help to increase the blood flow to muscles.
Benefits Of An Active Retirement
Exercise is not the only way that seniors can improve their mobility. Having an active lifestyle after retirement can increase the chances of living longer and more healthily with fewer illnesses. It will also help to keep weight off, as obesity is the enemy of mobility.
Keeping physically active is important as it directly impacts a senior person’s mental health. Without going out and meeting people, the chance of social isolation and the resulting depression are increased. Joining a walking or swimming club takes care of both.
Emotional wellbeing has a significant impact on the physical health of the elderly. Some seniors may have less contact with family, and this can affect their willingness to go out and be active. Friends and neighbors can do so much to help seniors stay active and healthy.
Motivation is an important key to keeping active and moving around, and it is easy for someone to lose that incentive as they get older. This is why doing group activities or joining a club is such a good idea to help seniors improve their mobility.
Exercise Versus Activity
Some seniors may be wary of anything that is labeled as exercise. They may be worried about injury or falling over. Exercise can often seem like something you have to exert yourself with, so it is unsurprising that some elderly folk may not like the idea.
However, exercise is anything that engages you in a physical activity to sustain or improve health and fitness. It doesn’t have to be a heart pumping, sweat dripping sport. It can be gentle, sustained, but effective.
As long as exercise is geared towards and adapted for the elderly, it can be extremely beneficial for their mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.
Keeping activity is perhaps a more gentle way to encourage seniors to improve their mobility. Being part of a club or walking group is both social and physical, so it effectively takes care of the mind and the body.
Staying mobile is extremely important for seniors in every aspect of their lives. It keeps them healthy, happy and can boost confidence at a time when they may start to lose it. Improving their mobility will only increase these benefits.