Mobility issues are a huge concern, no matter why they exist for your senior. She might have been injured or developed mobility problems because of health conditions that are worsening. Regardless, her doctor might have recommended exercise as a way to deal with decreased mobility. At first, your senior might find that recommendation impossible.
Talk it Over with Her Doctor
Before your senior decides to do anything with exercise, it’s crucial to make sure that exercise is right for her. Set aside some time to talk with her doctor about her overall health and about how exercise can help her to manage her health. Her doctor can also help your elderly family member to determine what amount of exercise and what type of exercise is the best option for her.
Physical Therapy or Working with a Trainer Can Help
Depending on the specific mobility issues your senior is battling, physical therapy or even working with a personal trainer can be really helpful. These types of professionals have a lot of experience in fitness, but they also understand what it’s like for your elderly family member to have to battle her mobility issues to be able to move more often. They can help your senior to get as active as she needs and wants to be.
Working out in Water Can Be More Comfortable
Something to consider is that workouts in water, like in a community pool, can be a lot less taxing on your elderly family member. Balance isn’t an issue in the water, so falls aren’t a concern, and there are a lot of floating tools and accessories that can help her to engage certain muscles. She also gets a lot more resistance in water, which can help her to build up her muscles.
Let Your Senior Test Her Limitations
At first your aging family member might be reluctant to exercise much at all, but she’ll gradually improve her strength and her endurance. She’ll also learn to trust her body again and to understand where her limits are. As she tests those limits, she can make more improvement in her exercise routine than you or she expect.
It’s really difficult to watch your senior struggle with anything, especially if she’s trying to help herself to be stronger and more independent. If you can learn to let her ask for help when she needs it, that will serve you both better. Working with elderly care providers can help both of you to learn how to do this well.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING ELDERLY CARE IN SUMMERLIN, NV, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE OF SUMMERLIN. 702-800-4616.