To Walk or Not to Walk-Mobility Issues in Dementia

As Mom has progressed in her disease, it has become increasingly difficult for her to ambulate. Walking became difficult probably 4 years ago. She has used a walker for all this time. About a year ago her PT evaluation said she was not safe to walk anymore. I rejected this as I see in the literature how important it is to keep as active as possible. Using our bodies through walking is as important as using our minds, in preventing the progression of Alzheimer's Disease. I then worked out a deal with her Geriatrician, to allow me to walk her. Since I am with her everyday, she then gets to walk every daily. In the the last 4-5 months it is increasingly difficult for her to walk the 150 feet we were doing and it now has become 75-80 feet. When I got back from vacation a week or so ago, she was very weak, because she had not walked for a week. The first few days back, it was a monumental struggle to walk starting with 25 feet and increasing a bit each day. The 2nd or 3rd day back we were struggling with the walking and she was continually saying she wanted to sit down. As I conjouled, kidded and pleaded with her to keep going I remembered her efforts with my dad after his major stroke when he was 52. She was fanatical about his rehabilitation and when they said he would never walk again she kept up the exercises and he did walk! I said to her "remember how hard you pushed dad and how great he recovered? Mom, I am just trying to help you like you helped dad." She looked at me and said "don't bring that up, that was a hard time, but I will walk a little farther."

Keeping our loved ones active is not easy, for you or for them, but the research is clear that it helps their quality of life, their health, their stiffness, and their clarity at the highest possible level. It prevents in a small way, the progression of the disease. Wheel chairs are often the fall back, but they are often a crutch which, once started, becomes increasingly used. If a wheel chair is used, it should be a transportation vehicle not a place to live. If your loved one comes to the table, they then should be transferred to a dining room chair. Again, a wheel chair is not a place to live. We can play a role in keeping our loved ones active. It is easier for all of us to just let the decline in mobility to happen, but for all us, it is better to keep struggling and keep active!!

May God keep you in the palm of Her hand.