Caregiver Challenge: Getting Outside With Limited Mobility

Challenge: When you or your loved one has limited mobility, what are your options for enjoying the fresh air? 

Solution: If your loved one is dealing with mobility issues, the simple act of going outdoors can be a daunting one. But breathing a little fresh air can do more than help diminish boredom. Stepping outside on a daily basis goes hand-in-hand with good health. According to one 2008 study, people who went outside on a daily basis were less likely to have a wide variety of health problems like chronic pain or sleep disorders and remained more active than those who kept indoors.

For those who require assistance getting around, there might not be any interest in going outside—and not be just because it’s difficult. It’s common for embarrassment and frustration to surface when going out requires a walker or wheelchair. How can you begin the process of getting your loved one interested in the outdoors? If he or she is resistant to the idea of going outside, you might need to look for ways to develop a desire for fresh air: 

• Suggest your loved one sit by an open window for a few minutes every morning.
• Set up a window box or bird feeder outside a window and serve meals at the window.
• If you have the space, consider planting a small garden. Not only will it bring some nature close to home, but new seedlings are exciting to watch as they grow and change each day.
• Even a plant or vase of flowers on the nightstand can bring the outdoors to a bedridden loved one.
• If you’re afraid that you or your loved one would forget to water the plants, ask your local nursery about self-watering pots.
• You or your aide might then suggest sitting on the deck or porch, or perhaps going on a short walk to a nearby park. 

Partners in Care nurses and aides will work with you and your loved one to ensure that the desire for enjoying the outdoors is matched with your or your loved one’s mobility and safety. 

If you’d like to go outside, “your nurse will evaluate the safety of your situation and determine whether a device such as a walker or wheelchair is necessary,” says Vladimir Kotelnik, RN and Geriatric Case Manager. Your nurse can also show you how to transfer your loved one to a wheelchair safely.