According to Ability Magazine, 61 million people in the USA live with a disability. As the years go by and we get closer to old age, the chances of these problems appearing are higher. Therefore, at some point in our lives, mobility devices and aids become essential.
Wheelchairs are among the tools that can help older adults when they suffer from reduced mobility. There’s a manual wheelchair and a folding wheelchair with motor that suit any budget and needs.
However, many of us still don’t know how to determine if our family members need them unless an accident occurs or they lose their mobility skills completely.
Causes of Reduced Mobility
When we think of reduced mobility or problems related to getting around, many of us think of accidents.
Serious falls and knocks can have a major effect on mobility, as they can cause fractures or other serious injuries. However, other causes may be behind the inability or difficulty to move as we age, including:
Trips and Falls
As we mentioned, this is one of the main causes of mobility problems. When an older adult trips and falls, he or she could suffer fractures, lacerations, bruises, internal bleeding, and broken limbs, and others. Many of these injuries could also have a permanent effect on mobility.
Diseases and Disabilities
Some diseases and disabilities can also cause limited mobility, whether orthopedic or neuromuscular, including cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and arthritis.
Although many of us are unaware of its link to limited mobility, diabetes may cause nerve damage and complications in the extremities, especially the feet. In some cases, amputation is necessary.
Mental Health Disorders
While not all have visible physical consequences, mental disorders or illnesses can affect the brain or cause coordination and balance problems, creating mobility issues. One example is Alzheimer’s disease, considered a type of dementia.
Lack of Strength
Senior people also experience muscle weakness, loss of strength, or stiffness. Sometimes, as we approach senior years, our bodies may have difficulty supporting our own weight. As a result, elderly people may have trouble walking, moving from one place to another, and doing simple daily tasks.
Consequences of Reduced Mobility
Having the freedom to move around is essential for carrying out basic activities and feeling better about ourselves as seniors age. Therefore, when there is limited mobility, aging people might face the following:
- Discouragement or loss of interest in life
- Difficulty eating, dressing, or bathing
- Increased risk of falls and trips
- Deep sadness, depression, and anxiety
- Problems at the muscular level
- Loss of employment or social relationships
- Loss of strength and aerobic capacity
- Metabolic disorders
- Pressure ulcers
- Lung diseases
- Incontinence
However, some signs can help identify whether your elderly relatives have mobility problems and need assistance of some kind.
Does your Senior Parent Have Mobility Issues? Signs to Detect It
According to researchers at the University of Alabama in the United States, cited by Harvard University, to determine whether a person has mobility problems and might need a wheelchair, it is essential to answer the following two questions:
- Do you have difficulty climbing ten steps or walking a short distance for physical or health reasons?
- Have you altered the way you climb ten steps or walk a short distance for underlying physical or health reasons?
If the answers are affirmative, they may indicate that there are mobility problems or they are beginning to appear.
Other signs that it’s time to look into wheelchairs or other mobility aids include:
- Frequent falls, especially if they occur at home or if the body seems unable to support its own weight
- Increased fatigue when walking or just standing for long periods of time
- Voluntary isolation due to tiredness or fatigue (when older adults do not want to leave home because they cannot easily keep up or find it difficult to move around)
- Loss of balance or coordination (they cling to walls and furniture to get around or are afraid of falling)
- Difficulty moving, even if the road is flat and there are no obstacles
Final Thoughts
Seeking assistive devices such as canes or wheelchairs can also be of great help for periods of time when mobility is affected, even though the condition is not permanent. For example, when senior parents feel sick and tire easily, when recovering from a minor fall, or when undergoing some treatments.
So, whether you are just beginning to notice the signs or are certain that the seniors in your care have limited mobility, a wheelchair or similar assistive device could become an essential item for your family members.