Keeping your feet busy is important, as it promotes alertness and balance to your body. This can reduce risks of falling, ensuring safety and keeping you independent.
There are 6 ways to staying active on your feet:
1. Hydrate and eat nutritious food
It is important to stay hydrated as lack of water can lead to dehydration, weakness and dizziness. This increases the chance of falling and hurting yourself. As well as hydration, eating healthily is crucial. As we age, our bones become fragile. So when you keep a balanced diet, your body will have enough nutrients to build strong bones and muscles.
Therefore, encourage your senior to drink at least 1.5 litres of fluid a day. Also, maintain a nutritious diet. If help is required, refer to a dietician for appropriate health support.
2. Monitor bowel movements
If you have a bladder or bowel condition that causes you to rush to the toilet, this may increase your risk of falling. This is especially the case for older adults who generally have slow mobility or have trouble moving around. To reduce the risk, monitor your toileting habits, frequencies and times of visiting the toilet.
Constipation is another complication to keeping your feet active, as this provides discomfort to your daily life. To prevent this, drink lots of fluids and seek professional help if required.
3. Get your walks in everyday
You can benefit immensely from being active. Australian guidelines for physical activity states that increasing your physical activity, even just by a little, can help an individual function daily, enhancing his or her quality of life.
Physical activities as simple as walking can improve a sense of balance and prevent falls for aged adults. So, encourage your loved one to participate in daily exercises, mobilising them whenever possible.
4. Wear comfortable clothes and footwear
Equipping the senior with comfortable clothing and appropriate footwear can reduce the risk of falls. Soft, secure shoes with non-slip soles and laces, velcro or buckles are best for mobility, especially ones with a supporting collar at the back. Stay away from slippers as they offer little, if no, support.
5. Take care of your feet
It is important to make sure that your feet are in good condition to move around. To do this, make sure your older adult’s toenails are trimmed and their corns and calluses treated. Refer to a podiatrist if required. Also, ensure skincare is attended to, as dry, cracked heels may reduce confidence in walking.
6. Fall-proof yourself
To keep away from falling, it is important to minimise obstacles in the surrounding that may pose risks. Here is a check-list to monitor environmental risks:
- Ensure the room is free from clutter, and access ways are clear and clutter-free.
- Ensure the bathrooms are well lit and clutter-free.
- Ensure rugs and carpet are risk-managed and have anti-slip underneath.
- Clean up all spills immediately.
- Ensure the correct use of mobility aids, and the equipment used is safe and intact.
If you would like support with keeping a healthy, supported lifestyle, contact us.
