Mobility & Disability
How Do I Get My Elderly Parent To Walk Again?
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SonderCare Learning Center
SonderCare Learning Center
How Do I Get My Elderly Parent To Walk Again?
As people age, it is common to experience a loss of mobility. It’s the main reason why many seniors live less active lifestyles, and many feel they do not have the stability or personal support to walk again. Learning to move about with a walker or cane can be a struggle, and the failure to pick it up can reduce a senior’s quality of life. If you’re an adult child looking to help your elderly parent walk again, here are five tips.
Elderly patients may walk unassisted after a fall, operation, or medical condition, but these setbacks could affect their walking patterns. They will likely experience gait abnormalities, frailty, and general weakness. These can all be obstacles to walking again – not just physically but also mentally. The right mobility aid can offer maximum mobility while working all the muscles.
Every person’s rehabilitation journey is different. Be sure to choose the proper assistive device for your parent’s specific needs. . A walking aid that offers too much assistance can mean the user relies less on muscle strength and too much on the walking aid, which can slow down other progress. Talk with their doctor or a physiotherapist to learn more.
Once they have the mobility device that’s right for them, the next step is to use it often. As the adult child, you must help your elder parent maintain the active lifestyle they had before they experienced restricted mobility – or introduce them to an active lifestyle in the first place. If your elderly parent wants to walk again, they have to build muscles, and even a small level of physical activity can help prevent atrophy.
After regaining some muscular strength and endurance from spending more time sitting up and standing, the elderly should have a better sense of balance, strength, and lower limb movement. With the assistance of a walker or cane, they can start walking.
Seniors with limited mobility are prone to lying or lounging around when they feel they can’t get up. Sitting around doesn’t help build muscle, though, so you have to remove the obstacles to getting up. When your parent can start the day with more independence, they are more likely to get up, do their exercises, and stop their muscles from atrophying. One of the best tactics is to replace their conventional bed with an adjustable hospital bed.
The ease with which a senior can get in and out of a SonderCare hospital bed can make them more motivated to get up and around. The high-low capabilities bring the mattress closer to the ground, putting your elderly parent in a better position to place their feet flat on the floor. They can maneuver into the best spot to use their mobility aid, with the support of the frame and sturdy mattress adding to the safety. The high-low function of a bed can also help the user stand from sitting on the edge of the bed.
Balance is key to walking independently. Improper balance can lead to slips and falls leading to further injury and bed rest. A fall can be a major setback, even worse if your elderly parent breaks a hip or leg, their mobility can end up worse than ever before. Balance exercises can help prevent falls and help them stay safe.
Proper balance comes from engaging the core muscles, back, buttocks, and hips. You and your elderly parent should talk with their doctor or a physiotherapist about exercises that can help improve and sustain their balance, but most recommend gentle standing and leg raising routines for older patients. Even some yoga or tai chi can help, and it might be a good reason to get out of the house and socialize.
Even as we age, we can still gain muscle. If your parent has never strength trained seriously, they can still use the exercises to build muscle and regain mobility. You can find exercise routines on the internet and bring the equipment into their home, but if they’re serious enough about the work, a personal trainer that deals with senior strength training could lead to the best results. Exercising 3 to 4 times a week will be more than enough for them to build strength and regain their balance.
Elderly Frailty / Senior Fall Risk Calculator
Click here to use our free calculator to get a rough idea of the care needs of a frail or elderly person to help determine the best way to make a stable, safe, comfortable environment at home.
Exercising is the most effective approach to combat immobility. Although a physical therapist who specializes in seniors is highly suggested, there are many exercises that can be learnt and practiced without professional assistance to help elderly people improve their mobility.
Legs are an important aspect of any strength training programme. Muscle strength and flexibility will improve with frequent weight training and stretching. This is true for people of all ages. These five exercises will help you strengthen and expand your lower body movement.
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