SENIOR’S HEALTH – Mobility

Move It Or Lose It!

Mobility is essential for general independence as well as ensuring good health and quality of life. Impairment of mobility is common in older people, with prevalence of between 9%-42% in the community, 50%-65% in nursing homes and 40%-65% in the hospital population.

Elderly people with limited mobility have higher rates of mortality, institutionalisation, falls and other morbidity, and tend to deteriorate faster than those without such limitation.

Even though elderly people may have many problems related to mobility, sometimes just solving one problem may significantly improve the opportunities to solve the other problems.

Decline in mobility with age is neither inevitable nor irreversible. In population studies up to 20% of elderly people improve with time, and trials of rehabilitation both in the community & in nursing homes have shown increased capabilities, even in very elderly and severely impaired people.

Physiotherapists play an important role in keeping elderly people healthy.  blisscare^®australia Physiotherapists are able to achieve this by maximising functional ability and mobility as well as enhancing physical wellbeing. Specific exercise programs designed by physiotherapists have been shown to improve strength, balance and functional ability in older people living in the community.

Physiotherapists at blisscare^®australia promote a positive attitude towards physical exercise among our elderly clients. We provide tailor made exercise classes and individual based strength programmes for the elderly population to improve functional capacity and mobility.