Elderly Mobility and Independence
As we get older, our mobility can decrease due to general wear and tear to joints, previous injuries or ongoing problems. This can mean that even simple tasks, like getting up from a chair or climbing the stairs, become more difficult to manage, and can have a knock-on effect on your independence, meaning you start to rely on help with more and more tasks.
However, at Trinity Homecare, we firmly believe that by making use of mobility aids and technology and getting the support of our dedicated home carers, we can help provide the support you need while still fostering a sense of independence.
In this article, we explore some of the common problems that cause mobility issues for older people and share ways to help alleviate the symptoms to enable you to continue living independently in the home you love.
Knee and hip problems
As two of the largest joints in the body, it is hardly surprising that knee and hip problems can cause significant mobility issues for elderly people. The hips and knees both bear a lifetime of physical activity and are susceptible to damage through injury, inactivity or excessive exercise. Over time, all these factors can cause damage to components in the knee and hip joints, causing pain and impacting your mobility.
In some cases, hip and knee replacement surgery can offer elderly people a new lease of life. However, there are lots of other ways to help reduce knee and hip pain to help boost mobility.
5 ways to help alleviate hip or knee pain
- Exercise regularly – although it might sound counterintuitive, staying as active as possible can help to reduce hip and knee pain. However, it’s important to do low-intensity exercises like swimming, seated exercises or yoga which put less strain on your joints. Even if you have never exercised before, your GP or a physiotherapist can offer advice about exercises to try to help with pain management.
- Watch your weight – Having a high BMI can put excess strain on your hip and knee joints causing even more discomfort. So, keeping your weight in check or trying to lose weight, if you are overweight can be beneficial.
- Take pain relief – if your pain is fairly manageable, you can simply take over-the-counter pain relief like paracetamol as and when needed, such as after a busy day on your feet. However, if you are experiencing more sustained pain, your GP may be able to help by prescribing a stronger or more long-lasting pain relief.
- Introduce anti-inflammatory foods into your diet – eating foods high in anti-inflammatories, like sweet potatoes, nuts, spinach and salmon could help to reduce the pain you experience in all your joints.
- Use mobility aids – using a cane or a walking frame can help to take some of the weight off your knees or hips which can help reduce your pain. But home adaptations like adding rails in your bathroom or up your stairs can also be beneficial to provide additional support and security. You can even look at investing in a riser recliner chair or bed if you are finding getting in and out of your favourite chair or bed by yourself more challenging.
Feet and ankle problems
Feet and ankle problems can also significantly impact your mobility, making walking more painful and even affecting your balance, which can put you at increased risk of falls. As a result, managing foot or ankle problems is essential to maintaining a sense of independence both in and outside your home.
Below, we share some common foot problems elderly people may experience:
- Achilles tendinitis or tendinosis
- Bunions
- Hammertoes
- Osteoarthritis in the feet or ankles
- Calluses or corns
- Plantar fasciitis
- Gout
- Damage to nerves and circulation in the feet caused by diabetes
Managing feet or ankle problems
Some foot and ankle problems are relatively simple to treat at home using over-the-counter remedies or pain relief. For example, corns or calluses will often resolve on their own if you wear well-fitting, comfortable shoes that don’t rub, or you can try softening the skin in warm water or using a pumice stone to remove hard, dead skin and relieve pain. However, other conditions, such as gout or damage to the nerves and circulation in the feet caused by diabetes require management by your GP.
As a result, if you are experiencing foot or ankle pain and you feel it is impacting your mobility, it’s important to seek help from a healthcare professional. They may offer treatment or advice on the ways to manage your condition.
Back problems
Another big cause of mobility problems in the elderly is back problems. Our back is made up of vertebrae, muscles, ligaments, discs and nerves, which wear down over time, resulting in pain. This natural wear and tear can be exacerbated by previous injury or damage to your back as well as poor posture, causing significant pain that impacts your mobility.
Common causes of back pain in older people include:
- Sciatica – a trapped nerve in the lower back
- Osteoarthritis of the spine
- Spinal stenosis – when the spinal canal narrows over time
- Slipped discs
- Fractures – usually caused by falls
As well as causing pain and reducing mobility, back problems can affect elderly people’s balance and motor control of their legs, increasing their risk of a fall and further mobility issues.
Helping older people manage back pain
The best way to manage your back pain will depend on the underlying cause. If you have been assessed by a medical professional, they will offer specific advice on how to manage your pain, but things like mobility aids around the home or out and about, as well as having the support of a dedicated home carer can help provide security and reassurance day-to-day.
However, if your back pain is simply caused by muscle strain, you can try:
- Taking over-the-counter pain relief
- Gentle stretches
- To keep moving as much as you feel able
- Applying a cold compress as soon as the pain starts to reduce inflammation, and then applying heat or taking a warm bath to aid muscle relaxation and increase blood flow
Living well with limited mobility
Reduced mobility as we age can affect every aspect of life, from our strength and fitness to our mood and overall health.
Pain when moving can mean you are more likely to start neglecting aspects of your well-being. For example, you may start to avoid going to the bathroom, preparing meals, or getting up to get a drink as often as needed simply because it’s too painful. While reduced mobility can impact your ability to access social interactions leading to increased feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can cause low mood and even depression.
That’s why it’s so important to seek help if you feel that your mobility is starting to impact your quality of life.
Simple steps to live well with limited mobility
To ensure you can continue to live well despite having limited mobility you can:
- Get home adaptations fitted – this could be simple adaptations like rails on your stairs or in your bathroom to provide additional support for higher-risk activities, or more comprehensive adaptations like adding ramps to your home to avoid you having to climb steps. Our complete guide to home adaptations for the elderly offers more advice on the options available and funding support.
- Make use of technology – riser recliner chairs and beds can make getting up and down from your chair or bed easier, while automatic lighting can help reduce your risk of falls. You can also get many smartwatches or devices that can monitor your step pattern and alert you if you are less steady on your feet than usual, which can help indicate you may need to take a rest or slow down.
- Try to stay active – although it may feel hard at times, trying to do small amounts of movement each day can help keep your joints working and fill you with a sense of achievement that boosts your mood and overall well-being.
- Arrange home care – accepting you need the support of a carer should not be seen as giving up your independence. The right home carer will support you to live as independently as possible by encouraging you to get involved with tasks and activities where possible, providing much-needed companionship and reassurance and ensuring you perform any daily exercises you have been prescribed to help aid your mobility.
How Trinity Homecare can help?
At Trinity Homecare, we have years of experience delivering bespoke home care to support elderly people’s mobility while fostering a sense of independence. Whether providing visiting care a few times a week or 24/7 support through live-in care, our carers will get to know more about you as a person so that they can provide support in a way that works for you.
This more personal and holistic approach to care ensures that not just your needs are catered for but that you feel respected and heard by the people providing care. It also helps ensure you can retain a sense of independence despite any mobility challenges you may face.
Trusted home care from Trinity
If you’re looking for home care to support your mobility and independence, trust Trinity Homecare. For the past 25 years, we have provided the highest standards of care in the comfort of people’s own homes. We understand that many elderly individuals want to retain a sense of independence whilst benefitting from some additional support with their mobility. That’s why we are committed to providing bespoke home care that enables you to live a full and meaningful life in the home you love.
Trinity Homecare is a fully managed care agency with an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating, placing Trinity amongst the top 4% of all nationwide care companies in England. With this in mind, you can rest assured that your loved one will receive the highest standard of care and specialist support.
If you have any questions about arranging home care, simply get in touch with our helpful and knowledgeable care team.
Arranging nationwide home care with Trinity is straightforward. Simply follow these five steps:
- Call our care team
- Undergo a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your care needs and arrange a care assessment
- After the assessment, a plan of care is created
- A well-suited carer is found and placed
- Care can be adapted at any time