{"id":68456,"date":"2016-08-16T13:32:35","date_gmt":"2016-08-16T13:32:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/toronto\/fall-prevention-senior-loved-one-need-mobility-help\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T19:08:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T19:08:43","slug":"fall-prevention-senior-loved-one-need-mobility-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/toronto\/fall-prevention-senior-loved-one-need-mobility-help\/","title":{"rendered":"Fall Prevention: Does Your Senior Loved One Need Mobility Help?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mobility is a serious safety issue. Within a year, 20% of people with hip fractures die from complications.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We all experience a decrease in balance and mobility as we age. In fact 20% to 30% of Canadian seniors experience a fall each year. The good thing is through exercise, proper medical care, good nutrition, and some preventative measures, seniors can dramatically reduce their risk of\u00a0 mobility issues.<\/p>\n

As we grow older, problems associated with aging can affect a person\u2019s ability to move around, or mobility. Mobility problems may include unsteadiness while walking, difficulty getting in and out of a chair, or falls. Muscle weakness, joint problems, pain, disease, and neurological difficulties can all contribute to mobility problems. Sometimes several mild problems combine and occur simultaneously, affecting mobility. It can also make the difference between living at home or in a facility.<\/p>\n

Senior Falls: How To Determine If Your Elderly Loved One Need Help<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Falls are a major cause of injury and death, so prevention is important. Older bones break more easily, heal less quickly, and may not heal completely. If a hip is fractured, canes, walkers, or wheelchairs might be permanently needed. If the senior is afraid of falling, address it, or he or she may become afraid to move around.<\/p>\n

Doctors often check for heart and lung problems, and screening for mobility can be put off, or even overlooked. This can be surprising, since tests for mobility can be relatively simple. With the “Get Up and Go Test\u201d, a person is asked to stand up from sitting in a chair, walk 10 feet, turn around, walk back to the chair, and sit down. How long it takes and how steady the person is can then be noted. Another way is just to watch how quickly people walk. They should walk faster than a yard per second. If you walk that or faster, you\u2019re in the normal range; if you\u2019re slower, you may have a gait problem, which increases the chances of falling.<\/p>\n

An approach the University of Alabama researchers use is to ask two simple questions:<\/p>\n

For health or physical reasons . . .<\/em><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Do you have difficulty climbing up 10 steps or walking one-quarter of a mile?<\/li>\n
  2. Have you modified the way you climb 10 steps or walk a quarter of a mile?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    These questions can be asked prior to testing. A senior probably knows if he or she is having trouble climbing stairs \u2500 and walking one-quarter of a mile is equal to one lap around a medium-sized mall\u2019s upper level.<\/p>\n

    Tips For Preventing Falls In Seniors<\/strong><\/h3>\n