Watching a loved one suffering from mobility issues is devastating. You can’t help but think back to when your family member could easily move from room to room and enjoy outdoor adventures, but now, everything appears to be a struggle. Even worse, you are worried about safety because mobility problems increase the fall risk for seniors.
You likely have a lot of questions about the problem. You want to know how severe it is and if your loved one needs home health care. You might even want to see what you can do to help.
The Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS) can help you determine the severity of the problem. Then, you’ll know if your family member needs assistance. If so, you can consider providing that assistance by becoming a CDPAP aide.
Let’s begin by taking a closer look at the Elderly Mobility Scale.
What Is the Elderly Mobility Scale?
The Elderly Mobility Scale is a scientifically validated diagnostic tool used to assess a senior’s mobility. Seniors go through seven tasks and receive a point value based on their performance.
The test consists of:
· Lying to sitting (0-2 points)
· Sitting to lying (0-2 points)
· Sitting to standing (0-3 points)
· Standing (0-3 points)
· Gait (0-3 points)
· Timed walk (0-3 points)
· Functional reach (0-4 points)
Let’s look at how the points are allocated for each task.
1) For lying to sitting, seniors receive:
· No point if they need help from two or more people
· One point if they need help from one person
· Two points if they complete the task independently
2) Next, seniors must go from a sitting to a lying position. They are given:
· No point if they need help from two or more people
· One point if they need help from one person
· Two points if they complete the task independently
3) Sitting to standing is the next task during the assessment. They’ll earn:
· No point if they need help from two or more people
· One point if they need help from one person
· Two points if they take more than three seconds to complete the task independently
· Three points if they complete the task independently in less than three seconds
4) Standing is next on the list. They receive:
· No point if they can only stand with help from another person
· One point if they can stand but require support
· Two points if they can stand on their own but need help reaching
· Three points if they can stand and reach independently
5) For the gait category, elderly participants are awarded:
· No point if they need constant supervision or physical support when walking
· One point if they can walk with a walking aid, but their gait is erratic or unstable
· Two points if they can walk independently when using a walking aid
· Three points if they do not require help or support when walking
6) The 6-meter timed walk is the next category. They will get:
· No point if they cannot walk 6 meters
· One point if they complete the walk-in more than 30 seconds
· Two points if they finish the walk in 16-30 seconds
· Three points if they complete the walk in less than 15 seconds
7) Finally, seniors must complete the functional reach test. They’ll earn:
· No point if their reach is less than 10 centimeters
· Two points if the reach is 10-20 centimeters
· Four points if they can reach more than 20 centimeters
Twenty is the highest possible score, but those who score 14 and over can perform tasks independently. As scores decrease, the need for help increases.
For instance, if your loved one scores a 10-13, he or she is on the borderline of needing help and maintaining independence. Your loved one can likely perform many activities but might require assistance from time to time. Also, your family member will be at an increased risk for falls, so you will need to ensure safety measures are in place.
If the score is less than 10, your loved one will need assistance with dressing, personal hygiene, and other activities of daily living. Also, the fall risk will be even greater, so having a home health aide will be necessary.
How Is the Elderly Mobility Scale Used?
The Elderly Mobility Scale has two main uses. First, medical professionals use it to gauge progress when seniors participate in mobility programs.
For example, assume that your doctor sends you to a physical therapist to work on your balance and mobility. Your doctor or the physical therapist might conduct this assessment before your program begins. That will give your provider a baseline score.
Then, your provider might conduct it a second time in the middle or at the end of the program. After comparing the two scores, your provider will know if the program is helping you become more mobile.
Second, this test is used to assess the risk for falls. After scoring the assessment, the provider will know if the senior needs a walking aid or a home health assistant.
Benefits of Using the Elderly Mobility Scale
Health care providers use the Elderly Mobility Scale because of its numerous benefits. First, the assessment is easy to administer and doesn’t require much training or equipment. In fact, everything that’s needed is already available in a medical setting.
Of course, it wouldn’t matter how easy it was to conduct if it wasn’t reliable. Fortunately, this test provides reliable results and gives providers insight into mobility.
Part of the reason it’s so reliable is due to the scoring system. The ratings are clearly defined, removing any guesswork from the equation. Providers don’t just watch someone perform tasks and choose a rating based on the eye test. Instead, they evaluate specific criteria when selecting the rating.
For example, they know that seniors receive zero points if it takes two people to move them from a lying to a sitting position. On the other hand, they will receive one point if they only need help from one person.
It’s also fast to administer. Seniors already deal with so many medical tests. The last thing they want to do is spend hours undergoing an assessment. The Elderly Mobility Scale takes about 15 minutes to complete, much to the relief of seniors and health care providers alike.
Finally, and most importantly, it can help you provide the care your loved one needs. You don’t want to overstep your boundaries. If your loved one can move around independently, you don’t want to get in the way. However, if your loved one has mobility issues that require a walking aid or home care, you need to know so you can fulfill the need.
What Causes Mobility Problems in the Elderly?
Mobility problems are extremely common in the elderly, and there isn’t one single cause. Instead, there are various contributing factors.
Let’s go over the most common reasons seniors experience mobility loss.
Lack of Physical Activity
If your loved one’s mobility is on the decline, it could be because of a lack of physical activity. Researchers poured over data from more than 130,000 seniors that participated in the National Institutes of Health – American Association of Retired Persons Diet and Health Study. They found a clear link between lack of physical activity and a decline in mobility.
When the study began, the participants were between the ages of 50-71. They filled out a questionnaire that covered:
· Medical histories
· Diet
· Physical activity
The participants were healthy and didn’t report mobility issues at the beginning of the study.
Approximately 10 years later, the participants completed another survey. The data was pretty jarring.
Participants with the highest rates of mobility loss had two things in common. They:
· Watched over five hours of television every day
· Engaged in less than three hours of physical activity each week
This group was three times more likely to have mobility issues than the group that reported:
· High activity levels
· Low sitting levels
· Less time in front of the TV
Physical activity doesn’t mean your loved one needs to tackle vigorous exercise. Doing housework, taking a walk, and other light activities reduce the risk for mobility problems.
Medical Conditions
Your loved one’s health could also be the reason for a loss in mobility. Common health problems that contribute to mobility loss include:
· Osteoarthritis
· Neuromuscular disorders
· Osteoporosis
· Parkinson’s disease
Cognitive Problems
Cognitive problems can also cause seniors to lose mobility. For example, if your loved one has dementia, he or she might have mobility problems due to disorientation and a lack of spatial awareness.
Injuries
When people age, they become more susceptible to falls. Unfortunately, that can make mobility issues even worse. Broken bones and other injuries force people to stay off their feet until they recover. Many find that they are much less mobile after the injuries heal.
How Mobility Issues Can Affect the Elderly’s Mental State
If your loved one is having trouble walking and standing, you’re probably focused on the physical impairment. However, this issue cuts a lot deeper than that. It can also impact your family member’s mental state.
First, the issues might cause your loved one to disengage socially. Researchers found that people with disabilities and mobility issues are less likely to enjoy social engagements inside or outside the home.
This group showed a reduction in:
· Participation in organizations
· Use of senior centers
· Talking on the phone
· Using the internet
In other words, people who have mobility issues are often cut off from society. If your loved one is isolated, he or she might experience:
· Anxiety
· Depression
· Accelerated cognitive decline
Your family member might also struggle with the emotional impact of losing independence and freedom. This can also lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
How Can a CDPAP Aide Help a Senior With Their Mobility Issues?
The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) allows seniors to hire family members to serve as caregivers. If you are willing and able to provide care, you can become a CDPAP aide. Then, you can help your loved one navigate this challenging process.
First and foremost, you can provide social support as a CDPAP aide. Remember, your family member is likely experiencing isolation and loneliness as a result of the mobility issue.
You will get to spend time with your loved one while providing care. Then, you can help your loved one reengage socially. This, in turn, can help your family member’s mental state and improve his or her quality of life.
You can also reduce the risk of additional mobility loss. As the caregiver, you can go to doctor’s appointments and speak to providers about strategies you can use to help your loved one be as active as possible. Since activity and mobility are linked, this might even help reverse some mobility loss.
Also, you can help your loved one eat a healthy, balanced diet. Excess weight can make existing mobility problems worse. By providing nutritious food, you can prevent weight gain and help your family member lose a few pounds if needed.
You can also help your loved one get a walking aid to regain some independence. Remember, you might still need to provide physical support, even with a walking aid. Ask a health care provider to use the Elderly Mobility Scale to assess your family member’s needs. Then, you’ll know how much physical support to provide.
Other ways you can help include:
· Identifying and removing fall hazards
· Running errands
· Encouraging hobbies and interests
· Cleaning the house and handling other tasks
As a CDPAP aide, you will be so much more than a home health provider. You’ll be a friend, companion, and support system. When you add everything together, it’s easy to see how you can help your family member live life to the fullest.
Mobility Problems Are a Family Affair
Your loved one might be the person dealing with mobility problems, but it’s a family affair. Watching your loved one struggle is emotionally challenging, but you can provide the support he or she needs. Consider becoming a CDPAP aide, so you can help your family member emotionally and physically while also taking care of household needs. You can truly make a difference as a CDPAP aide.