Your older family member or friend may prefer to age in place or continue to retain their independence as they age. One great way to help them do so is to assist your loved one in finding a mobility aid that suits their individual needs. It can help them stay more mobile and continue to walk. This is important, as walking is one of the most basic and powerful ways to add healthy physical activity to any lifestyle. It is relaxing, low impact, and can be done virtually anywhere. Walking helps your loved one to control their blood sugar level, improve cardiovascular endurance, and even burn calories to assist in weight management. When providing care for elderly relatives or friends, consider these benefits of using a mobility aid to improve their quality of life.
Back and Joint Health. Using aids, like a cane or walker, can help redistribute bodyweight. This prevents putting too much weight on the back, hips, or knees. It moves body mass from the back and lower body and supports it through the arms and the walking aid. In turn, pressure is relieved from joints and muscles, which is especially helpful if your loved one has back problems or arthritis. These aids can also help promote good posture, especially in the upper back. Using good posture can redistribute body mass more evenly, which can lower the risk of injury and facilitate better back health.
Enhanced Stability and Balance. Walking on uneven surfaces or navigating around obstacles can make it difficult for your elderly loved one to keep their balance. When going up hill, or walking on loose gravel or dirt, your family member or friend needs sufficient support for both balance and stability. A walker, cane, or other mobility aid can stabilize the body and reduce the risk of falling or slipping. Even more, it can help make walking on inclines much easier by providing balance. This is especially important if your loved one becomes fatigued and their muscle strength is reduced.
Increased Mobility and Independence. Mobility aids can help increase your loved one’s own mobility and independence by making it easier to move around and conduct daily activities. It can improve their balance, reduce stress on the body, and alleviate joint pain. Many older adults use these devices to move around more freely and in turn, they enjoy increased confidence. By minimizing the weight put on legs, knees, the back, ankles, or the hips, your loved one will feel less tired and more energized in everyday activities, chores, and hobbies.
Common Mobility Aid Choices
Depending on your loved one’s individual needs, they may need a walker, a quad cane, a single-point cane or other mobility aid. Consider their own personal lifestyle and talk with them and their doctor to help find the best choice for their personality, needs, and abilities.
Single-Point Cane. This cane provides a low level of extra support and can alleviate discomfort. It lends support to the leg, but is not the best option when weight needs to be altogether removed from a leg, knee, hip, or ankle.
Quad Cane. A quad cane provides more stability than what a single-point cane could deliver. However, it is not the best choice for someone who needs more comprehensive support. It is a fairly mid-grade choice in terms of the level of support it offers.
Walker. This common mobility aid provides the most support, but it is more cumbersome than a traditional cane or quad cane. But, a walker is especially helpful for those with limited upper body strength or reduced balance.
When providing home care to your loved one, consider the ways that a mobility aid could improve their daily life. Senior care means taking your loved one’s individual needs and preferences into account, and working with them to discover the best solutions for their personal situations. In turn, you can work together to help your loved one maintain their independence, improve their confidence, and even enhance their quality of life.
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