Lack of Physical Mobility in Elderly People of UK

This study explores the public health problem of lack of physical mobility in elderly people of the UK. It discusses the determinants, areas for improvement, appropriate interventions, and stakeholder engagement. The main causes of lack of physical mobility include lack of exercise, lack of access to healthcare services, and unhealthy diet. By focusing on exercise, nutrition, and changing behavior patterns, the health and mobility of older people can be improved.

Lack of Physical Mobility in Elderly
People of UK

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Public health problem and determinants within particular population of physical mobility. 1
Areas or needs required to change..........................................................................................3
Appropriate ways to intervene, intervention and ethical consideration and evidence based
approach.................................................................................................................................4
Identification of stakeholder engagement and resources that require....................................6
Identification of evaluation measures.....................................................................................7
Setting an action plan.............................................................................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Lack of physical mobility can be defined as limitation in independent, physical
movement of the body (Ferreira and Duran, 2019). This present study is going to show problems
and disease occur related to lack of physical mobility or ability to perform body functions in an
effective manner. This lack of mobility in elder people makes them dependent to others or on
their family members which can makes them frustrated and can hamper other works as well. This
study has also discussed main causes which lead to increasing rate of lack of physical mobility as
well as lower life expectancy in people of the UK. Some causes which this study will show
include: lack of physical exercise, lack of access to health care services, having junk food rather
healthy food etc. Further, it will also show appropriate and relevant areas which needs to be
improved and by doing so, health of older people can be improved and they can be made able to
increase mobility and performing their functions at their own. Lastly, it will, discuss roles of
stakeholders which they play like health care providers, government, family members and others
in improving health of older people by making use of resources and effective strategies like
development of exercise programmes for older people and others. An action plan also plays an
important role as it helps health care professionals and stakeholders to identify main cause and
provide appropriate interventions and treatment to people related to the problem for improving
health and living standard.
Public health problem and determinants within particular population of physical mobility
In the context of physical mobility it can be said that it is an ability of people to move
around their environment. In elderly people it is often seen that they find difficulties in
performing functions in a proper manner and as like a normal and young people, limitation in
independent, physical movement is known as lack of physical mobility. With the age it becomes
a complex health care problem which involves different many different members of the health
care team (Asp and et.al., 2017). There are some cases in which this lack of mobility is common
and happen such as leg fracture, stroke and others. Due to all these problems people find
difficulties in proper body functioning and it leads to different other problems.
Public health problem/lack of physical mobility: Problems associated with the ageing
affect an individual’s ability to move around. Some examples and problems related to mobility
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include: unsteadiness while walking, difficulty in sitting on floor standing up or falls. Joint
problems, muscle weakness and other neurological problems lead to physical mobility. In the
context of the UK it is found out that it is increasing day by day and before the age people are
facing problems in proper functioning and this problems is considered a public health problem
and one of the main reason of people of the UK is lack of nutrients in food or lack of healthy
food. By having junk food and coping up with this changing world and working all the time
leads this problem. In the context of solutions it is also being found by physical team that regular
physical activity helps people of older age of becoming mobile and independent and also prevent
them against chronic disease. In the context of UK it is also found that after the age of 40 people
find difficulties in body functioning and it becomes easier to detect deterioration of the function
of physiological systems with ultrasound changes (Physical Activity in Older Age: Perspective
for Healthy Ageing, 2016.). It leads to several health problems such as: ageing-related declines
in bone mineral density lead to osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Determinants: It can better understand by life expectancy and the expected age of living a
healthy life. In the year of 2008 life expectancy for women was 66.3 and for men it was 65 years
but in the year of 2013 it had fallen down to 64.8 in women and 64.4 in men. One of the main
disease and reason which is found as the main reason of decreasing life expectancy was
musculoskeletal disorders or disabling condition which s now affecting around 14% of total
people with the age above 60 years. People aged over 75 years this is found more as it is 30%.
One of the other main reasons found which shows that why lack of physical mobility is high in
older people in the UK is higher body mass index in them due to increase fatness, weaker muscle
in legs as well as educed cardio respiratory and metabolic function (Neil-Sztramko and et.al.,
2019). Individual behaviour is considered one of the main determinants which include: unhealthy
diet, lack of physical activity, smoking, drinking alcohol, lack of hygiene etc.
In addition, in the context of the UK it is also found that increasing rate of decline in
physiological function as it is mainly associated with slower walking speed, finding difficulties
in sitting position and others. It all happens because of development of technologies as because
of advanced technologies, people often use lift rather using stairs, making use of vehicles ,
avoiding walk and all. Now a day’s all these problems are increasing only because of advanced
technology and work pressure because of this, people forget to have their meal at time which
weaken their muscle. As per the measurement scale, people who got 12 score are more likely to
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perform body functioning in an effective manner and it is easily being achieved by a healthy
person and score lower than8 shows indicates sarcopenia and frailty as well as score between 8-
11 shows moderate physical impairments. (Condello and et.al., 2017)
So, overall from the above discussed problems and determinants it can be said that
increasing use of technology, lack of physical exercise or activity and not having nutrition in
meal are main causes of lack of physical mobility and lower life expectancy in elders.
Areas or needs required to change
In the context of lack of physical mobility in elders of the UK some main causes have been
found which can help in identifying all those areas which needs to be improved for solving this
problem, improving health of people and preventing them against lack of physical mobility. The
lack of mobility in elder people makes them dependent to others or on their family members
which can makes them frustrated and can hamper other works as well. This study has also
discussed main causes which lead to increasing rate of lack of physical mobility as well as lower
life expectancy in people of the UK. Managing mobility problems in seniors is important
because it increases overall life expectancy of people of the UK and also makes them able to
become independent. Before understanding areas for improvement related to lack of physical
mobility it is important to understand disease and problems which occur due to this problems
because by knowing rate of problems in people it can be easier in understanding the main root
cause. It is found that lack of physical mobility mainly is being experienced by older people by
failing. Falls leads injury and even death when it directs hit to head so, from this it can be said
that prevention is important which can be done by knowing areas (Arhin and et.al., 2019). So, in
the context of area for improvements it can be said that lack of exercise is one of the main cause
which weaken muscle. It is also found that excessive fat and increased body mass index is one of
the causes of lack of physical mobility so, by focusing on exercise and using technology to the
less extent it can be solved out.
For identifying other main area, other main reason needs to be identified which is
increasing this public health problem. By research it is found that with the age bones become
weak and it breaks easily and also take too much time in healing. If a hip fractured in older age
than people require wheelchair permanently because it becomes difficult to cure them. But it can
also be found that some older people in the age of 60 looks fresh and energetic while some looks
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weak and unhealthy all the time. Rather, lack of physical exercise, other main cause of this
difference is lack of nutritional values in meal. People who focus on having effective meal with
having proper nutrition in a timely manner from starting are more likely to have strong bones and
look fresh. Those people who have junk food in young age and do not add nutritional values of
food in their meal also not take proper rest become weak before the age and improving health of
them becomes difficult. So, other main are which needs to be considered is having nutritional
values of food as it makes bones strong and people find less difficulties in older age than those
who do not have such kind of food.
In addition, other main area whose improvement can improve health of people with age of
60 and above and can also make them able to perform their own daily routine functions their
own is changing behaviours patterns like do not smoke, maintaining hygiene, not having alcohol,
walking, exercising and others. Behavioural patterns are the one main cause which shows
difference between people’s health. Health services is other main reason as access to health
service as well as quality of health services also affect health (Lam and et.al., 2018). It happens
due to income and wealth gap between the rich and poor as when people do not have health
insurance then they are less likely to take participation in preventive care as well as more likely
to delay medical treatment which increases health risks in them. So, some barriers and areas
related to this found are: lack of availability, high cost of health care services, some treatments,
lack of insurance converge and limited language access. So, in this context it can be said that by
encouraging people and making them aware about having insurance, taking health care services
on the time, health and mobility can be improved in elder people.
Appropriate ways to intervene, intervention and ethical consideration and evidence based
approach
There is requirement of using the best and effective evidence based practices and
approaches for improving mobility in older people of the UK. There are main 3 components of
evidence based approach which can make it effective and allow healthcare professionals and
public health team of local community to provide better interventions and also make them able to
make the best medical decision include: Individual practitioner’s clinical expertise, patients’
preference and the best external evidence (Carroll and et.al., 2017). In addition, in the context of
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evidence based practice it can be said that it refers making an effective use of the current best
evidence for making decision about care of patients.
In the context of lack of physical mobility and physiotherapy which is one of the best ways
and therapy of improving mobility it can be said that health care profession have updated
this therapy in order to make them appropriate and effective. There are several of
psychosocial trials have been done in order to know whether it can help and allows
healthcare professionals in improving health of older people of the UK or not. In the regards
to physical therapy for improving physical mobility, evidence based therapy is open as well
as thoughtful clinical decision making as it integrates the best and effective available
evidence with clinical judgement as well as patients’ preferences.
An effective use of strengthening exercise is one of the best practice or approach which
can allow and encourages health care professionals to improve health and make older people able
to move their body parts in an effective and smooth manner (Liébana-Cabanillas and et.al.,
2018). Investigators have found several benefits of strengthening exercise in people with lack of
physical mobility and disability. There are some exercises have been found by evidence base
practice which includes: isotonic exercise, behavioural identification exercise, lifting exercise
etc. Resistance exercise is also being considered one of the effective treatment strategies.
Movement therapies have also being applied and given to some people with disability and
lack of physical mobility and it is found that people who were given this movement
therapies are more likely to perform their function at own and become independent.
In addition, there are some other interventions and evidence based practice for those
who are suffering from pain, weaker bones, fractures by which they are facing problems in
body functioning. Bed rest for back pain, joint pain is also known as the traditional and
effective treatment. Suggesting exercise to all people can be harmful because in some cases
rest is being suggested because it is the only option left for preventing people and improving
health. But for all people who are not suffering from fractures but there is only lack of
physical mobility then in such kind of situations, early mobilisation in intensive care
setting, individualized prescription inter professional team approach by including family,
patient, residence staff and others are some key interventions and evidence based guidance
which can work in an effective manner.
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So, from the above discussed evidence based practices and interventions it can be said
that life expectancy of people of the UK can be improved by making them able to become
self dependent and also improving physical mobility.
Identification of stakeholder engagement and resources that require
In the context of lack of physical mobility it is identified that it creating several health
related problems in elder people of the UK and it is making them dependent on others so, it is
important to solve this problem. There are several people who take interest in it and actually
want to improve health of people and these people are known as stakeholders. Some stakeholders
related to health care and increasing mobility in older people include: Public health team
working in local health authority, government, family members of patients or older people,
society etc. All these stakeholders play an important role as by making use of effective resources
and strategies they try to improve health (Stakeholder Involvement in Improving Mobility by
Group Exercise Program, 2016). Roles and resources used by each stakeholder is being
discussed below in a detailed manner such as:
Public health team: Public health team working in local authority is one of the main
stakeholders who want to improve health of people and improving overall life expectancy. One
of the main strategy on which they focus is developing group exercise program for older people
by excluding timing and coordination of movement. One of the main aims of them to identify
reasons of disability and mobility and improving health of older adults with exercise by making
use of disability instruments. In such kind of exercise programme, public health team makes all
people aware about importance of physical exercise and why it should be done under physicians
and trainer otherwise it can cause some problems (De Biasi and et.al., 2020). Exercising in a
proper manner is important as without having knowledge if people do exercise then it leads some
side effects like pain in muscles etc. Community based exercise programmes developed by
public health team focus on providing appropriate exercise training to older as per their problems
and disease.
Government: Government is also playing a vital role in improving mobility in older people of
the UK as they have taken several steps towards this after identifying that this public health
problem is decreasing life expectancy. In this regards it is found that government is allowing all
people to have access to better health care services. There are some treatments which are free for
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people with age of 60 and above. It is allowing older people to take better treatments and get
daily routine checkups which help them out in identifying suggestions and disease at early stage
and it becomes easier to prevent them when it is found at early stage. It is also found that
government is making sure that all people with the age of 60 and above has medical insurance as
by so, it becomes easier for people to have access to medical treatments and also take
participation in health development programmes (Fenton, Chimenti and Kanda, 2020).
Family member: At the age of 60 and after that people require extra care and attention as
it makes them feel valued. Older people require someone who can take care of them who can
bring them to doctors for treatment and daily routine checkups. By understanding behaviours of
older people, family members are trying to improve health of them and when older people feel
valued and motivated then they are more likely to live a healthy and happier life. When public
health team and doctors suggest family involvement therapy and patient centred care then family
members play an active role by providing all details related to patients to doctors and also
cooperate them in improving health of older people.
Identification of evaluation measures
The lack of mobility in elder people makes them dependent to others or on their family
members which can makes them frustrated and can hamper other works as well. This study has
also discussed main causes which lead to increasing rate of lack of physical mobility as well as
lower life expectancy in people of the UK. It is necessary to evaluate the measures that has been
taken. Through that it becomes easy to find out whether goals are attained or not and health
problem is solved. Along with it, by evaluation it becomes easy to find out what changes needs
to be made and where. Basically, it is found that physical mobility in old age people occurs
due to change in things (Arhin and et.al., 2019)
Setting of goals- this is a measure taken where goals are set and then it is measured with
outcomes. With that it will be easy to find out whether public health problem is solved or not and
also what goals are achieved in it. However, on basis of goals it can be evaluated that what
changes or strategy needs to be made. It will give relevant data and info that short or long term
goals are accomplished or not.
KPI- key performance indicators are common evaluation measure which can be applied in
overcoming this issue. Here, certain KPI’s can be used in it such as health standards, use of
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resources, etc by which outcomes are measured. There are other ways as well related to it in
which KPI can be used as measure to evaluate. Apart from it, here performance can be measured
as well of trainer or person who is involved in care services of old age people.
Measuring services- it is an evaluation measure in which care services delivered to old age
people is measured. This will ensure that services are delivered as per set plan and relevant
action are taken into it. Besides that, it will allow in finding out that what type of services is
provided in it and how (Carroll and et.al., 2017)
Setting an action plan
In order to overcome problem of physical mobility in old age people there is need to set up
an action plan. By that it will enable in taking crucial steps in overcoming this problem. When
things are changed it
So, here an action plan is developed that will be implemented in it and with it problem is
solved. It is as follows:
Defining roles and responsibilities- it is first thing in an action plan in which roles and
responsibilities of government, hospitals, public health team, etc. needs to be assigned. Through
that it will enable in performing their roles in effective way and fulfilling goals. So, in providing
care services each one will be responsible for it. Moreover, defining of roles will state that
who does what and when. Therefore, by this way physical mobility in old age people issue can
be solved. Here, local authorities and NGO must play effective role in it as they directly interact
with old age people family member and are aware about surrounding environment (Liébana-
Cabanillas and et.al., 2018)
Framing of goals – this is most important activity in plan where short and long term goals needs
to be framed. It provides framework that what needs to be done to resolve issue. This state that
how there are other things to be added into it and what changes is required. Thus, focus should
be on providing high quality care services and establishing a framework to proceed further. In
this way it becomes easy to resolve issue.
Providing training- within action plan training can be provided to trainers and health care
workers who deal with old age people. they will gain skills and knowledge to communicate with
people and solve issue. Besides that, it will allow them provide care services to old age people.
therefore, through it physical mobility issue is old age people is resolved.
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Allocating resources- here, resources are allocated to those who are engaged in public health.
This has to be done according to the needs of stakeholder. Thus, having adequate and proper
resources enable in delivering care services timely. Within plan along with duties and roles the
resource needs to be allocated as well. It is found that many times due to lack of resources
public health issue arises. Hence, it has to be ensured that resources are sufficient to fulfil
resolve this problem (Neil-Sztramko and et.al., 2019)
Eliminating barriers- within the plan the barriers which occurs in this issue must be removed or
eliminated. It allows in sharing of clear data and info to health workers regarding what issue is
and how it can be resolved. However, new method or process of dealing with physical mobility
issue has to be developed.
Conclusion
From the above presentation it has been summarized that physical activity and exercise
played an important role in improving health and making people able to performing their normal
and body functions in an effective manner. This present study has discussed problems which
occur due to lack of physical mobility or increasing rate of dependency in older people as it leads
to muscle pain, weaker bones before the age and decreasing life expectancy. Further it has also
discussed some determinants as well as causes which ate leading to this main problem such as:
lack of physical activity, avoiding walking and others due to using advanced technology to the
great extent and having junk food rather having nutritional values of food.
In addition, some ways and strategies have been discussed which are being taken by
stakeholders and health care team for improving health of older people and making them able to
functioning in a proper manner. Some resources which have been discussed in this study using
by stakeholders include: focusing on exercising by encouraging them to take part in exercise
programme developed by them, stopping smoking, drinking alcohol, social support interventions,
collaborative leadership etc. Lastly, it has shown as effective action plan including all those ways
and interventions by which this problem can be reduced and health can be improved.
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REFERENCES
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findings from a large population-based Swedish survey. Public Health, 147, pp.84-91.
Carroll, J.K. and et.al., 2017. Who uses mobile phone health apps and does use matter? A
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literature review. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical
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Aging, 4(1), p.igz044.
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ONLINE
Physical Activity in Older Age: Perspective for Healthy Ageing. 2016. Online Available through:
< https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4889622/>
Stakeholder Involvement in Improving Mobility by Group Exercise Program. 2016. Online
Available through: < https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5035644/>
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