Seniors who have serious mobility challenges can sometimes lose their independence, as they may need family members or caregivers to help them get around. Being mobile and active can help seniors stay healthy and provide the freedom they need to maintain their independence and enjoy their golden years.

Below are five things you can do to maintain your mobility.

1. Get Plenty of Exercise

Getting regular exercise can help you maintain your weight, improve cardiovascular health, improve flexibility and balance, and improve muscle tone, which can make it possible to stay mobile.

According to CDC guidelines, older adults should get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. Seniors who have mobility challenges should do as much as they are physically able. Walking every day can be a great way to stay active. You could also try yoga or exercise classes. If you have mobility issues, there are plenty of chair exercises for seniors that can be great options to help you stay fit.

Make sure to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program or if you begin to have mobility challenges.

2. Make Your Home Safer

If you have mobility challenges at home, you may need to make changes to keep your home safe for you. Consider installing grab bars in your bathroom, using a shower chair, replacing slippery floor tile, or using nonslip rugs. These modifications can help reduce the risk of falls or other injuries that could affect your mobility.

3. Maintain a Healthy Diet

Your body uses the nutrients from your food to repair and replace tissues, keep your heart pumping, and power your muscles, according to a Harvard Medical School Healthbeat article. If you aren’t eating a healthy diet, your body won’t get the nutrition it needs. Maintaining a healthy diet can also help prevent diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis, which can hinder your mobility.

4. Drink Lots of Water

According to a report by the Cleveland Clinic, your sense of thirst diminishes as you age. Seniors who don’t feel thirsty are less likely to drink enough water. In addition, body composition changes with age, leaving older adults with less water in their bodies than when they were younger. This decrease in thirst and reduction in water in the body can lead to dehydration.

Dehydration can cause difficulty walking, rapid heart-rate, and confusion, which can lead to mobility problems. Seniors should drink eight eight-ounce glasses of water daily.

5. Have an Active Social Life

Seniors who lack social interaction can become depressed and feel isolated. Make plans with family or friends, take an exercise class, go to church or religious services, or find other ways to interact with people. There are also volunteer opportunities for seniors in many communities, which can encourage interaction with others.

It’s important for seniors to stay as mobile as possible as they age. By getting regular exercise, eating right, drinking plenty of water, maintaining an active social life, and taking steps to make their homes safer, seniors can reduce the risk of losing their mobility.

Author’s Bio:

Joseph Jones

Joseph Jones has been writing senior care and aging-related articles for years. He got his start while writing for a personal blog before he was offered to work at California Mobility in 2018 as the Content Marketing Manager, creating highly informative guides and health awareness articles for aging adults.

He’s currently contributing to a variety of blogs in the senior health industry in hopes to spread information about taking care of seniors and what to expect in the aging process.