A common situation for aging adults is that they start to shuffle their feet when they walk. This style of walking can help them to stay safer, but it can also create some issues. It helps for family members to look more closely at why seniors are shuffling and what could help them change this habit if they need to do so. Senior home care providers can offer support, especially with safety concerns and mobility assistance.
Physical Issues
Sometimes seniors shuffle when they walk because they have arthritis, reduced mobility because of weak muscles, or other types of pain. These issues may have solutions, but seniors need to talk with their doctors to determine if that’s the case. Correcting these problems could help seniors regain lost mobility.
Fear and Anxiety
Another common issue is that seniors are afraid that they might fall or they have actually fallen in the past. The fear and anxiety related to what might happen can cause aging adults to adopt behaviors that make them feel safer. Determining what’s contributing to these feelings allows elder care providers and family caregivers to help seniors leave fear and anxiety behind.
Balance Problems
As they experience worsening balance, seniors may start to shuffle to compensate. Because they’re not lifting their feet off the floor, balance is less of a problem. Regaining their balance may be something that seniors can still do, especially if they’re willing to become more physically active.
Vision Issues
Vision changes make it more difficult for seniors to react to what’s happening around them. They may not see obstacles until they’re on top of them, for instance. Or they might not be able to see well enough to know what obstacles are around them. Regular vision checks allow seniors to stay on top of vision changes and get help with vision trouble.
Safety Concerns
Safety issues in the home, like slippery floors or lots of clutter, can also cause seniors to shuffle when they walk. Addressing these issues promptly can help aging adults to not face as many of these issues. Seniors may also need to use assistive devices, like a walker, to safely move through their homes.
Is Shuffling a Big Worry?
Whether family caregivers should be worried about shuffling or not depends on what the underlying causes are. If the issue is one that can be easily corrected, then it might not be a situation that families need to worry about much. But health issues, side effects, vision problems, and safety hazards do need to be addressed as thoroughly as possible. The bottom line is that foot shuffling is a symptom that something has changed, so it’s important to understand why it’s happening.
Addressing correctible issues is always the first step to help seniors cope with shuffling their feet as they walk. A conversation with medical providers is also in order, particularly if health issues are at play. Senior home care providers can offer a lot of additional support to help seniors stay safe at home and put solutions in place as families identify new combinations to try.
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior home care in Maple Grove, MN and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.
