Last Updated on September 10, 2024
Senior mobility is essential if you want to maintain independent living into your golden years. From diet and exercise to lifestyle and even the function of your home, mobility for seniors should be taken seriously. As we age, movement is often lessened, and stairs that were once a breeze to climb now feel like an Olympic event.
Read on for ways to improve your elderly mobility for you or for loved one.
Motion is Lotion
Any physical therapist will remind their patients that motion is lotion — meaning, if you move a joint or a muscle you’re also lubricating it. When you stop movement or any athletic activity, your muscles can deteriorate, and your bones may be at risk of injury in the case of a fall or accident.
Mobility issues for the elderly may start after a knee or hip replacement, when the lifestyle may become sedentary for a while and continue to be so even after rehabilitation is complete. It’s easier to stop moving than it is to restart, so it’s best not to stop. Even those in wheelchairs or recovering from a surgery can move parts of their body so blood continues to flow. Further, with blood flowing more vigorously, healing may happen quicker.
Senior mobility does not have an overnight fix or prescription. Continued movement or improvement in movement can put you on the road to recovery or prevent future injury.
How to Maintain Mobility in Old Age
For those with moderate or satisfactory mobility, maintaining it is crucial for health and longevity. Maintaining elderly mobility can take on many forms. 
Seniors and the elderly can maintain their mobility with light stretches and strengthening exercises. There is no need to deadlift or squat 100s of pounds, but those movements mimic picking up grocery bags, grandchildren, and gardening.
Another way to assist mobility for older adults is to go for walks in local communities solo or with others. Walking before or after meals is a nice way to habit-bundle activities so they’re easier to do and may even become something you look forward to.
Mobility aids are meant to offer an assist in elderly mobility. Items like resistance bands for joint mobility can help. However, items for the home like stairlifts and ramps can also assist with mobility. Hire a professional to help with stairlift installation.
How to Improve Mobility in Elderly
Just like students take academic classes to learn something new, the elderly can take physical fitness classes to help maintain elderly mobility for years to come. Many community centers and public gyms have classes geared to assist old age mobility problems. Chair yoga or mat pilates can help with flexibility while light HIIT classes can help keep blood pumping with vigor.
Lastly, senior mobility can improve with the help of personal trainers or physical rehabilitation specialists. You can work with the same trainer or therapist for as long as you’d like. Personalized sessions may help people stay focused as they increase their mobility and are also a great opportunity to socialize with others.
Senior Mobility Items for the Home
To age in place or move throughout a multi-level dwelling, aids like a stairlift, elevator, or ramps can keep the homeowner active and involved in their space.
A curved staircase requires a curved stairlift. Often, a home will have a landing between floors or have other unique characteristics that call for a custom stairlift. Further, stairlifts can be temporarily or permanently installed in your home to help those with multi-floor living remain independent.
Maintaining mobility in senior living helps you stay at home and healthy longer. Mobility issues for seniors are more than tight muscles or injured joints — it’s the freedom of movement that helps them live a long and fulfilling life. Contact Williams Lift today for more information about mobility assistance in your home.