Activities Older Adults With Mobility Issues Can Perform And Enjoy

Older age is one of the common factors that leads to loss of mobility, followed by chronic diseases like arthritis and diabetes. Mobility issues range from unsteadiness while walking, increased difficulty in getting in and out of chair to falls. The best ways to manage mobility problems in older adults is by staying active, eating a healthy diet and keeping your weight in a healthy range, understanding the medications you are taking and knowing their effects, identifying fall hazards in your house, striking a balance between activity and social connection, learning more about walking aids, and most importantly, consulting with your doctor in regards to any health concerns.

Conditions like severe arthritis, stroke, or fall injuries can render your senior loved one immobile. This makes it difficult to enjoy activities and hobbies which they could easily do earlier. However, there are ways to have fun, lift spirits, and stay engaged that doesn’t necessitate moving around too much. This article aims to discuss a few of those activities that keeps the mind sharp, enables the individual to have fun, thus always keeping him in a good mood.

Here’s outlining some activities for seniors that will help them remain in high spirits despite limited mobility:

Become a reader- There’s nothing like curling up with a good book and letting the day pass by. Reading is a fantastic activity for seniors that not just helps to pass time but also keeps their mind sharp. This can help combat Alzheimer’s or dementia. There are magazines, physical books, e-readers, audiobooks- so many ways to engross oneself in a story. Another way is to organize a book club among their friends, which will also give the chance to socialize.

Let your creative juices flow- Limited mobility in no way means that your fun days are over. It’s the perfect opportunity to express your creativity to the fullest, which wasn’t possible during the prime years of your life with all the responsibilities of job, spouses, and raising kids in place. There are so many things you can do to feed your art monster inside, for example, learn an instrument, draw, color, paint, write a book, etc. Creative activities are said to decrease negative emotions and boost positivity while reducing stress and anxiety, and helping you to feel sharper and better about yourself that paves the way for improved medical outcomes.

Spend time in the lap of nature– Spending time outdoors in the lap of nature is relaxing and helps to get the much-required mood boost. With increasing age, one loses motivation to get outdoors. But with your little help it is very much possible for your loved one to soak in the sun and enjoy the breeze and listen to the birds sing, or just simply read a book. Just sitting by their window is equally effective.

Some other activities that can help seniors with reduced mobility stay happy:

1. Try out various hobbies like cooking, gardening (indoor), knitting, birdwatching, etc.
2. Daily physical activities like chair yoga, seated exercises, etc. can help (do consult with your doctor)
3. Spend time with loved ones
4. Keep yourself entertained by watching movies, TV shows, etc.
5. Play brain games (Sudoku, a daily crossword, quizzes)
6. Get a relaxing massage
7. Put together jigsaw puzzles

If reduced mobility is making day-to-day living difficult for your loved one, you may want to consider senior care living in Anthem. Professional caregivers will make sure your older adult enjoys a high quality of life, even if they can’t move around as much as they used to.