Tips To Help Live a Healthy Lifestyle With Limited Mobility

Introduction

As we age it is important to maintain a healthy active lifestyle, it is especially important for those who live with limited mobility to keep being active.

If you do have limited mobility and are older you can eat well and stay physically fit to keep your mind and body healthy. No matter what your circumstances are there are always little changes you can make to your diet or exercise routine to help make your life easier with limited mobility.

You should not be feeling deflated about being able to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but welcome new ways to improve your well-being.

Eat Nutritious Food

Your diet is important when it comes to living with limited mobility as you will be burning less calories. Ensure you are aware of the number of calories you consume each day and that your meals are portion controlled. Try to eat lots of fruits and vegetable aim for at least the recommended 5 a day. If you find it difficult to fit in your fruit and veg, see our previous article - Getting Your 5 a Day, Healthy Eating Advice for Over 50s

If your mobility issue is due to a muscle related injury then increasing your protein amount in your daily diet can help speed up your recovery. Good sources of protein are meat, dairy and nuts.

It is also wise to reduce the amount of sugary and processed foods in your diet. If you struggle to prepare your own meals or require assistance with food shopping then you can look into the services of a home carer.

Exercise The Mind

It is important to exercise our minds. It is one of the most important parts of the body which is often forgot about. Keeping your brain active can help stave off feelings of loneliness and boredom which helps to eliminate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Adult colouring books are a relaxing task you can do which can help to relieve stress as you are focusing on just one activity. Puzzles like sudoku and crosswords are great ways to stimulate the mind.

In our previous article we shared ways you can stimulate the mind - Brain Training - 10 Activities to Stimulate the Mind!

Exercise The Body

As well as the mind, it is also equally important to exercise the body. Not only does exercising keep you strong and flexible meaning you are less likely to fall or suffer an injury, it also gets the endorphins pumping around your body, being an instant mood booster! Regular exercise helps promote a better night’s sleep and helps you maintain a healthy weight.

Exercise enhances our quality of life and helps us maintain independence in and around the home. When you do exercise if you feel any discomfort, do not push through the pain remember to be gentle with yourself and not push too hard as you could risk an injury. If you have any injuries ensure you rest that part of the body and focus on the parts that are pain free.

It is wise to always do a warm up as part of an exercise routine, stretching can help limber and loosen up your body to prevent injuries or sprains. Make sure not to forget a cool down after a workout as this will help your muscles.

Socialise

If you have always been a social person, don’t stop now!

Socialising with people may be the most imperative things we can do to maintain our mental well-being also an active lifestyle. Join clubs in your local area and get out and about through a hobby or sport, weekly book clubs and card/boardgame clubs.

Volunteering is a great way to help a worthy cause and make new friends in the process, it can be doing something that requires minimal movement like reception duties, gardening or helping out local charity shops.

How Home Care Can Help

No one should ever be afraid to seek help, at CareYourWay we put people first. We provide a wide range of domestic and personal care duties that can support you and your well-being. We offer:

• Household Cleaning
• Meal Preparation
• Support with Mobility
• Companionship
• Social Inclusion
• Running Errands and much more

Our home carers are friendly and compassionate, they ensure dignity is preserved at all time whilst getting to know their clients on a personal level.  We offer the assistance so you can maintain your independence and remain happy and comfortable at home. During our selection process we look for a carer who enjoys similar interests so that we find the right person to support you.