Mobility problems in the elderly can reduce their confidence and control, their independence to perform daily tasks, therefore decrease their well-being and quality of life.
As the age progresses, you can see that mobility in the elderly gets reduced. The ease of performing everyday tasks is decreased due to a problem with motor functions.
A few years ago it was not complicated for an elderly in your house to take a shower on their own. Now walking to the washroom alone is a tough task let alone balancing and moving to get clean.
Functional capabilities may lower if we do not act on time. Independence and control are also decreased when you don’t take proactive action to equip the elderly with the equipment they need to ease their life.
How do we solve the most frequent mobility problems?
Older people with a mobility problem may need some help to maintain their independence, to continue doing their daily activities.
These problems have an impact on everyday life because since they appear, the elderly may need the help of others to continue daily life habits.
Some examples of possible consequences are difficulty walking, getting out of bed, sitting for a long period of time, or showering. All this can cause the elderly great discomfort since they were used to performing all the tasks independently and did not need the support of other people.
An activity like going shopping alone is something they can now forget because mobility loss can be a major problem.
Maintaining healthy activities and a healthy diet from a younger age is critical to avoid mobility problems.
As long as there are no pathologies that reduce mobility, staying active as you age is one of the keys to maintaining independence and well-being. Rest as necessary, perform moderate physical exercise, maintain a healthy diet, interact with others, or participate in community work are some examples of healthy activity.
All this provides you with an adequate general state of health to prevent and delay any mobility problem and thereby maintain the desired autonomy.
Certain mobility problems appear as a result of an injury or general weakening of bones which you can overcome by light exercise and a balanced diet.
Certain precautions should be taken to avoid further injuries to the elderly through falls or scrapes. When and if necessary walkers, crutches, and wheelchairs can be useful by wheelchair services Singapore.
Mechanical aids that keep mobility safe
To achieve this goal, you can find a wide variety of technical aids or support products that facilitate the activities of daily living and mobility.
Technical aids for the bathroom (shower chairs, bath bars, elevators), for rest (special pillows, bed rails), or for mobility (canes, crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs) are supported for daily life, to facilitate the elderly in movement.
This article focuses on the ways you can help the mobility issues of the elderly to facilitate movement.
1. Canes
They are useful in maintaining balance when there is a pain in one leg, a deformity, and an increase in the independence of the elderly by distributing the load on the leg. It is a stick with a handle. The stick mostly has four appendages attached to the bottom for better stability.
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2. Walkers
The walkers are a type of mechanical assistance and support aimed at improving the mobility of the person who experiences difficulty in balancing and coordinated movement.
They are tools that help to move with greater independence on a day-to-day basis, increase the person’s sense of security, and prevent falls. They provide better support and greater stability than other aids, such as canes.
If an elderly in your family has a mobility problem they can benefit from walkers which are easy to use and help in maintaining balance and movement.
There are different types of walkers in the market according to their purpose and the need. There are walkers without wheels, with wheels, indoor, outdoor. Different types of walkers cover the need for each case.
Types of walkers
Since there are different types of walkers, make the choice according to the need you have. Depending on the level of mobility or strength in the upper and lower limbs, optimally choose one type or another, so the right choice is essential.
They can be used when there is a lack of strength in the legs, with balance problems or for weight distribution and reduction of pain in the muscles and joints.
3. Wheelchairs
For a long time, wheelchairs began to be created with maximum comfort for patients. The high variability of devices gives a pleasant opportunity for a wide selection.
A wheelchair makes you feel like you are not restricted or confined to the four walls of your home.
Benefits of Multifunctional wheelchairs:
- Lightness and strength of the material from which the product was made
- Speed switching
- The possibility of the longest possible movement
- Reliability and durability
Modern products enable the patient to directly use the wheelchair for sleeping as well if the issues of the elderly experience when standing after sitting for a long time.
By tilting the back, you can help the elderly rest on the wheelchair itself as well as use it for movement. A special function is also the footrest adjustment.
There is another advantage due to which the patient is given maximum freedom when tilting the chair. In which it is possible to set the desired seat to your preference.
There is free space under it which enables the elderly to select the desired height and inclination of the wheelchair.
There is also the option of adjusting the armrests, footrests, and backrest. The wheelchair ramp is another very good option that creates stability and safety for handicap patients.
CONCLUSION
Depending on the device and preferences of the user, you can find the option with maximum stability.
Such a solution is also suitable to reduce the impact on the human body. Such a wheelchair reduces pressure on the body, prevents pressure sores, and simply evenly distributes the weight.
Solving mobility issues for the elderly is not an easy task but with the help of these devices and your care, they can gain their confidence back.
About The Author:
Christine Rudolph is a passionate lifestyle blogger. She is an enthusiastic writer, inclined towards ever-changing trends. For more updates follow her on Twitter @RudolphBlogger.
