Why is maintaining mobility important in elders.

Maintaining mobility important is very crucial in elders.

In some cases impairment can increase up to that level that elders feel very helpless like getting up from chair becomes a challenge for them.

Problems are mostly in maintaining balance while walking, climbing stairs.Risk of fall always remains.

Causes of Mobility impairment.

In older people contributing factors can be

• Muscle weakness.
• Joint problems for Example(arthritis of knee joint).These kind of age related changes gives a lot of pain.ultimately patient avoids walking.
• Brain and nervous system difficulties like Parkinson’s disease. This disease affects mainly the walking pattern of patients.
• A simple fall can result in fracture as their bones become very brittle. Patient caretaker role in very important in assisting walking.
• Because no matter how active elders are risk of fall always resist them in doing daily activities.

So prevention is important.

How Patient caretakers helps in maintaining Mobility.

• If patient having difficulty moving and getting up from chair,  patient caretaker can use cushion support so that elder can get little support in getting up from chair.
• Getting from the bed especially in morning is very important.Normally at this time blood pressure is on lower side.So risk of fall is there.Patient caretaker must remain with them especially in morning.
• Involve elders in some sort of physical activity.
• Use of cane or walker while walking can make elders more mobile.Never hesitate in using them.
• Under the guidance of Physiotherapist, patient caregiver can practice mild bed exercises.
• Home exercise programme or self exercise helps them to remain active throughout the day. 
• Exercise goals focussing on strength and endurance are of great help, like lift mild weights of 1 kg ,ankle weight cuffs. etc
• For Bed ridden patients turning in bed to get up is of great help.

Weeheal is providing patient care and elderly services at home in Mohali and Chandigarh. To know more. Kindly contact us at 9056667111.