Mobility challenges don’t have to mean the fun is over for your aging loved one. Instead, you can use the following activities to keep your loved one engaged and help him or her see life is still full of opportunities to learn new things and find joy.
1. Practice Yoga
Your loved one may think yoga is only for young people with impressive flexibility, but there’s a type of yoga designed for everyone. Chair yoga is one option your loved one can explore, and practitioners of this form perform their poses while in a seated position. Your loved one can also choose to have a caregiver assist with the poses when necessary. Since yoga increases muscle strength and flexibility, this activity can help your loved one retain and even regain mobility.
Caring for a senior with limited mobility can be especially challenging. If you’re the primary family caregiver for a senior loved one living in Naples, live-in care is available if your loved one’s health has become too difficult to manage without professional expertise. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we take measures to help seniors prevent illness and injury by assisting with exercise and mobility, preparing nutritious meals, helping with bathing and other personal hygiene tasks, and much more.
2. Sew Fidget Blankets & Toys
People with limited mobility sometimes need to find new ways to release their energy, and fidgeting is one of them. Fidget toys, such as blankets with zippers and ribbons built in, have become widely popular in recent years. They’re also relatively simple to make, even for someone new to sewing. Offer to help with tasks that require deft movements, such as pinning fabric together, and watch as your loved one makes unique projects to keep or give as gifts to friends.
3. Bake Some Treats
Rolling dough, mixing ingredients, and cutting out cookies can all be done from a seated position. Make sure your loved one has help with keeping groceries stocked, and store baking utensils low enough to reach. The actions involved with baking can strengthen hand and arm dexterity.
4. Enroll in a Water Aerobics Class
Seniors who can no longer engage in their favorite exercise sometimes lose interest in staying fit. Water aerobics is ideal for anyone, since the exercises can be modified to meet a variety of abilities and the natural buoyancy of water alleviates problems involved with gravity. Your loved one can even choose exercises that strengthen the muscles that aren’t used enough during his or her daily routine.
Seniors who need assistance with exercise can benefit greatly from the help of trained professional caregivers. Homecare experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.
5. Spend Time with a Pet
Playing with an adorable animal is a mood booster, and your loved one will be encouraged to move as much as possible to pick up the animal for cuddles. Alternatively, your parent may enjoy tossing a ball during a game of fetch. If your loved one doesn’t have a pet, ask a friend or family member to bring one over.
6. Head Outside
When the weather permits, your loved one can benefit from just about any activity you plan to do outdoors. From sitting on the porch to do a little bird-watching to going for a brief walk in the park, your loved one will always see something new during outdoor adventures. Just make sure to tailor the activity to fit your loved one’s abilities, and provide support from a caregiver so he or she is never outside alone. It’s sometimes a special challenge for seniors with limited mobility to get the exercise and social interaction they need on their own. The type of Home Care Naples seniors need can vary. Some need assistance a few hours a day, while others require more extensive around-the-clock assistance. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual care needs, and the plans can be adjusted at any time. We are a trusted provider of respite and 24-hour care, and we also offer specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, and stroke care for seniors. To hire a professionally trained caregiver for your parent, give us a call today.
