The ability to be mobile, to come and to go as we please, is something that many people take for granted.
Yet, as people age, their ability to be mobile can become compromised by so many different things.
For many people, this means that it is a struggle to get out and about. For others, mobility issues can make it difficult to even move around the home.
The implications of mobility issues are widespread.
For example, there are social implications, as mobility issues can cut a person off from the outside world and make it more difficult for them to find ways to interact with others.
Likewise, there are also physical implications.
For example, a person with mobility issues is likely to move less.
This is bad for their physical health and can contribute to obesity and other health problems.
There are also psychological implications to mobility issues. In particular, mobility challenges can frequently leave people feeling depressed, especially if they aren’t getting much social interaction.
Perhaps one of the biggest challenges with mobility issues is that there isn’t a single answer.
That’s because it isn’t a single problem. Instead, there are many different things that can contribute to mobility issues. Some of these might be temporary while others might be permanent.
But, there are ways to make mobility issues less intrusive.
In particular, mobility products for seniors can make movement easier for seniors, often giving them back some of their independence.
Spotting Mobility Problems
For caregivers, one additional challenge is working out when mobility problems are actually occurring for your family member. People will often compensate for mobility problems and this can make it harder to spot when they are occurring.
For example, if a senior finds it hard to walk a certain distance, they might just avoid walking that far and give other reasons for that decision.
Likewise, you might find that a person simply slows down their pace to adjust for the additional challenge with mobility. That isn’t a desirable approach, though, as it may indicate a gait issue, which can increase the chances of falling.
Looking for changes in a person’s walking can be a good way of spotting mobility issues early because they become a major issue.
A simple way of looking at it is whether the person can climb ten steps or walk a quarter of a mile without issue?
Additionally, has the person changed how they walk or climb that distance because of health issues?
The answers to those question offer key indications about mobility.
If a person is experiencing even minor issues with either of these things, then it is an indication that you should talk to a doctor. A doctor can help pinpoint the underlying causes of the difficulties and can help you to find ways of addressing them before they become a serious issue.
It’s also important to note that there can be other forms of mobility issues as well.
For example, some seniors struggle with bending down or grasping, often because of arthritis or other issues. This type of problem can sometimes occur at the same time as mobility issues that affects a person’s movement, and can sometimes occur when people have no problems with their movement.
Indoor Mobility Products for Seniors
Mobility issues can be frustrating, especially when they are severe.
Thankfully, though, there is a range of different tools that can help people to be more mobile.
In this post, I’m going to specifically focus on mobility products for seniors that are relevant inside the house.
Some of these are tools that people might carry with them while others are tools that can be used to make the house easier to move around in. Both approaches are very relevant to a person with mobility issues and they’re even relevant to people who might develop mobility issues in the future.
After all, making the house easier to move around in is always going to be a good thing.
One example of a mobility aid is a grabber. There’s an example of one in the image below and you can also click this affiliate link to check it out in more detail.
This type of tool is useful because it lets people grab things from a distance. That can stop them having to get up if they are sitting down or help prevent them from needing to bend down.
Another fairly simple example is this one here (affiliate link):
This product has been designed for the specific purpose of helping people to get their socks on. That might be too specific for some, but it is a useful tool for people who want their independence but who struggle with some actions, like bending down.
It is also useful for specific situations, like when a person has had shoulder surgery.
A bath seat like this one (affiliate link here) is also a useful tool.
This type of seat lets a person have a shower without having to worry about standing the whole time. It also dramatically reduces the risk of falling, as it means a senior can take their time and doesn’t need to rely on the strength of their legs.
There are many different examples of this type of stool, including ones that act as a bench, allowing people to slide across to get in and out of the shower. With a little shopping around you can find one that suits your bathroom setup and your needs.
For example, the following link (again, it’s an affiliate link) will take you to the Amazon category specifically for bathing benches and chairs.
Another example of a useful tool is handles.
This can include handles on the walls, at the bedside or in the bathroom.
Generally speaking, if there is a place where the senior struggles to get themselves up or risks losing their balance, handles might be a relevant approach.
For example, this product here (affiliate link) is an interesting one.
The plank part goes under the bed and the straps are used to secure it. The end result is a handle that sticks up that is secure enough for people to use when getting in and out of bed.
This approach can also be relevant for people dealing with incontinence as it makes the process of getting up and getting to the bathroom faster.
For getting around the home, canes (affiliate link) can often be a good approach. They help people to stay steady on their feet. There are a lot of different options for canes, and it is best to talk to a doctor about what is most suited for a given person and a given situation.
For example, some canes just have a single leg, while others have four legs at the bottom, which helps to make them sturdier although they do take up more space.
Another interesting tool is this one here (affiliate link):
This tool does look a little odd, but it’s a clever one. This is a car assist grab bar and it can make the process of getting out of a car much easier.
Of all of the tools on this page this one is the most overlooked and one of the most important. The challenge of getting into and out of a car is one of the reasons that seniors often end up going out less. A tool like this can make all the difference.
If you want to see how it works have a look at the link I gave earlier for it, as there are some images about where and how the tool can be used.
In the End
Mobility is a challenging problem and these tools can help reduce the challenges but they don’t remove the issue.
Sometimes a doctor can help to treat the underlying issue, but other times individuals have to get used to the idea of using mobility aids.
While seniors may often be resistant to these aids at first, they do tend to get used to them over time. After all, mobility aids play a key role in extending a person’s independence, which is a very desirable outcome.
There are also many other types of mobility products for seniors out there.
It may take some trial and error before you figure out exactly which products are best suited for your particular needs.
Leave a Reply