Mobility is your ability to get out and about using your own body. Walking to get your mail, cleaning your home, enjoying a day at the shopping mall with your family; your ability to perform tasks both small (like eating your own dinner) or large (painting your house) has immense effects on your social relationships and your mind. Whilst you can’t stop the natural process of growing older, there are many things you can do to reduce your loss of mobility as you age. Read on to find out more about the common causes of mobility loss in seniors.
Living a Sedentary Lifestyle
Low physical activity is a key reason behind our loss of mobility as we age. Did you know that after the age of 30, you begin to lose up to 3-5% of your muscle mass per decade? This is a natural process of aging known as “sarcopenia”. This means that as we age, it becomes more and more tiring to do things we enjoy because we simply aren’t as strong as we used to be. Exercising more allows you to reduce (or even reverse!) your loss of muscles.
Now, this doesn’t mean that you must hit the gym every other day. Even simple things like climbing the stairs rather than taking the lift or going grocery shopping rather than ordering your groceries online can pay dividends in the long run. At Discovery Village At Dominion, we run a comprehensive and diverse schedule of activities that our residents can participate in.
Cognitive Conditions
Due to the aging process, some of our family members may start to suffer from symptoms of dementia. Some of the common forms of dementia, like Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, or Parkinson’s often also make it harder for patients to control their bodies and do basic tasks for themselves. Whilst no one is exactly sure what causes the onset of such symptoms, you should consider adopting strategies to mitigate the loss of mobility in your family members.
It can be challenging to do that all on your own, so why not see what we have to offer at Discovery Village At Dominion? Our SHINE® Memory Care program is nationally acclaimed and accredited for the quality care and support we provide for persons living with dementia.
Chronic Medical Conditions and Injuries
As you grow older, it becomes harder for your body to recover from injuries. A broken leg can set you back many more months than when you were a kid. Furthermore, medical conditions like osteoarthritis or neuropathy may cause pain and weakness in the muscles and joints. Hence it is pivotal, to take further steps to look after yourself when you age and identify and avoid situations that put you at risk of injury or worsening your existing conditions. Contact our senior lifestyle coordinators to find out more about the programs, levels of care, and the help that we can provide for you at Discovery Village At Dominion.
