It seems like you cannot get enough conversation about the pandemic. It feels never ending at times, so how do you march forward healthy and move on with your everyday living? What exactly is the new normal any more? It seems like it should be easy. As the seasons change, we need to remember that the pandemic affected us in several ways. One particular way you may feel the effect was the lack of exercise or movement. When people were quarantined in their home or care facilities, they did not get the exercise they most needed to keep healthy physically, mentally and spiritually.
How does the decline in movement really affect you? As you move into fall you notice more aging adults are prone to falls. With the lack of exercise and movement, your aging parents are more prone to a fall. Why, you may ask? They did not do much during 2020, especially physically, and they are now feeling that lack of exercise and energy affecting their balance and strength also known as solid footing. How can this be, you may wonder? Well hello, you are prone to falls as you age, not by choice, but it happens.
According to research, on average many adults decrease their physical activity as they age and therefore are more at risk of falling or tripping. The pandemic did not help this matter one bit. Research shows that aging adults were less active and reduced time to walk or engage in any exercise. It was evident that activities were limited as your mom or dad could not go to the grocery store, the library or other routine errands that kept them up and moving. With this reduced daily activity and other exercise facilities not open, the sedentary lifestyle became the new routine.
What happens now that the world is open and active? Your aging parents are not used to this type of activity or maybe any activity for that matter, and they get tired. Inevitably mom or dad tries to get moving and have a tendency to fall when they are tired or worn out. Falls are very common among aging adults but they can be preventable.
There are few steps you can take in your home or your parents’ home to help them be less at risk for falling. For example, look at their flooring. If you usually wax the floor maybe try something else that is less slippery. Also, do not have loose rugs by stairs or doorways that can cause a tripping hazard. Also, make sure you keep wires out of walkways and make sure the sideways and drive by their home is easily accessible and without broken pavement. Another great tip is using night lights for hallways or highly trafficked areas in their living space to help guide them when they wake in the night. The previous tips may not prevent all falls, but it sure will help to be proactive to keep your mom or dad safe from falling.
The bottomline is you still feel the aftereffects of COVID pandemic, but you can take charge and help yourself, mom or dad not be victims of falling. Help mom or dad stay active and engaged with activities and encourage them to be self aware of what is around them and what is going on so they can navigate safely from one thing to the next.
Falling is a dangerous accident that can lead to many health issues. It is important to help your aging parents be engaged in their surroundings and do what they can to avoid falls. Furthermore, as mentioned before, staying physically active can help them with mobility and keep them alert to situations that could cause a falling accident.
Would you like more advice or tips on helping your aging parents? Contact Ann at Senior Living Options and she will gladly give you experienced advice on managing aging adults.
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