It’s been called “The Long Goodbye.” Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) cause memory decline, cognitive impairment, and eventual loss of daily functioning. Today, 5.7 million Americans are living with the disease – with numbers projected to more than double by 2050.
Of those living with ADRD, 90 percent struggle with behavioral and psychological symptoms, from agitation and aggression to psychosis. These symptoms can be devastating for the person with ADRD and challenging for those who provide care – family members and health care staff alike.
Nearly 40 percent of seniors have at least one disability, and the majority of that number have mobility challenges too. However, senior exercise shouldn’t be impacted by limited mobility. Many creative approaches are in motion to help mobility-challenged seniors stay fit.
Adapting to the Changes
“Having a mobility issue – whether from a disability, injury, or chronic condition – changes many parts of a person’s life,” says Callie Whitwell, chief operating officer and founding partner at Lifetime Wellness. Her company provides person-centered wellness, life enrichment, and recreational programming to independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing and rehabilitation, and memory care facilities throughout Texas and Oklahoma.