Disabilities are very serious. However, there’s quite a bit more variation to them than people realize. For example, someone might have fairly severe loss of hearing, but it’s quite possible that their lifestyle can help them easily compensate for the loss.
But other disabilities are far more difficult to cope with. Of these, few are as worrisome as loss of mobility. When people hear about it they usually picture someone who has suddenly lost the ability to walk. But it’s far more common that someone will lose a percentage of their overall ability to get around. This is one of the more frustrating things about the situation.
When one has lost all of their mobility, it’s easier to know where to go from there. But limited mobility is something very different. It means that you’ll sit on a couch and look out into the kitchen. Part of your mind will insist that the exercise will help you regain a measure of your mobility. And another will yell that it’s only going to risk your remaining health while also putting yourself at risk. And it’s often almost impossible to know which of these two ideas is correct. In fact, often times the truth is a mix of both at the same time.
An obstacle course called life
People find themselves in a situation where their home is suddenly an obstacle course. Some movement becomes a risky challenge, another movement might seem impossible. Finding ways around it can feel too much to handle at times.
Doorways might even seem hard to get through. This might seem obvious in the face of walkers and the like. But people forget that people often can walk short distances, but are uncertain on their feet. This can even make doorways or small spaces between furniture hard to navigate. And stairs usually seem almost impossible to deal with.
Strategies to cope with limited mobility
There are methods to get around all this though. For example, stairs can be navigated through the use of an EasyClimber. Furniture might be beyond your ability to rearrange. But friends are usually more than eager to help. And even doorways can be modified with something as simple as a hand bar to keep a grip on.
You can also consider getting some of your mobility back by reconsidering how you go about things. For example, you might consider different ways of creating holiday decorations which don’t require much running around. And you can also talk to friends and family about switching around your usual activities. Often times there’s plenty of things which are important but don’t really call for that much mobility.
The larger issues
People usually assume that the hardest part of decreased mobility will be the physical issues which caused it, but that’s seldom the worst part of a mobility issue. The most difficult aspect is actually coming to terms with it.
This might not make much sense from an outside perspective. People on the outside are usually quick to simply put a label on it. But when you’re living it, you’re forced to confront all the shades of grey that come along with mobility concerns. You never know just what it means in terms of how your life will work from here on out or how to regain your normal place in the world.
But all the subjects addressed so far point to a single vital fact about the situation. You don’t have to fully fit yourself back into every single task you used to fill. You don’t even have to get upstairs or through a hallway in the exact same manner. What matters is finding a way to get through the doorway or up the stairs at all, and finding the strength to really talk to friends and family about your concerns. Once you’ve managed that, you’ll find that you can find new ways to fit into familiar roles.
In the end, it’s important to remember that most people want to help. For example, there’s often citywide initiatives to help provide increased transportation options for people with mobility issues, and that’s just the random strangers. Loved ones are usually more than happy to help.