Having mobility issues doesn’t mean seniors have to slow down or stop being active. If you have an older family member who is no longer as mobile as he or she once was, there are still ways your loved one can remain active and engaged. Feel free to draw inspiration from these top six activities for seniors with mobility limitations.
1. Doing Chair Yoga
Chair yoga is a great way for seniors to perform modified versions of classic yoga poses from a comfortable seated position. You can assist your loved one with any poses or movements he or she needs help with. Yoga is noted for being an effective way to boost flexibility, mobility, posture, and muscle strength.
A professional caregiver can help your loved one exercise in safety and comfort. If you’re the primary family caregiver for a senior loved one living in Clearwater, live-in care is available if your loved one’s health has become too difficult to handle without professional expertise. At Home Care Assistance, we take measures to help seniors prevent illness and injury by assisting with exercise and mobility, preparing nutritious meals, helping with bathing and other personal hygiene tasks, and much more.
2. Making Fidget Blankets
The purpose of fidget blankets is to give seniors with limited mobility a way to occupy their time and release their energy. Fidget blankets often include things such as zippers and ribbons to boost fine motor skills and manual dexterity. You can help your loved one make the fidget blankets, since the process is relatively simple, even for people who don’t sew.
3. Baking Tasty Treats
Baking is a fun and deliciously rewarding activity your loved one can easily do from a seated position. Just set up a spot at the table with a rolling pin, mixing bowl, and other things needed to prepare tasty treats. Shortcuts such as using premade dough or packaged mixes can make the process even simpler. Stirring, kneading, and other motions associated with baking can also strengthen arm and shoulder muscles and joints and present opportunities to socialize with family members and friends.
4. Playing with a Pet
Lower blood pressure, reduced depression risk, and relief from pain and anxiety are just some of the many potential benefits associated with playing with pets. Even with mobility limitations, your loved one can cuddle and play with a pet from a seated position. If the responsibility of pet ownership is too much for your parent, consider pet therapy programs in your area.
5. Getting Outside
Seniors don’t have to be excessively mobile to enjoy the outdoors. From sitting on a porch, patio, or deck to watch birds, take in the view, read a book, or socialize with neighbors and friends to taking a short walk to a local park, there are many ways older adults with mobility limitations can still spend time outside. You could also plan family outings in a way that keeps your loved one’s limitations in mind, or you could help him or her get an appropriate assistance device, such as a mobility scooter, a wheelchair, or a walker.
Clearwater Home Care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.
6. Exploring Water-Based Activities
Many of the exercises seniors with mobility issues can no longer do on land can be done safely in water with some modifications. Water’s natural buoyancy eases stress on bones, joints, and soft tissues while still providing enough resistance to boost muscle strength and range of motion. There are many water-based activities for mobility-challenged older adults to choose from, including:
• Water aerobics
• Aquatic therapy or water walking
• Water yoga
• Swimming with appropriate flotation devices or assistance from caregivers
Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted in-home care provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help. To learn about our high-quality home care services, give us a call at (727) 330-7862 today.