One aspect of elder care and mobility is how mobile is the American family? The Census Bureau data that was published in the Gerontologist issue for February 2005 stated that elderly care wasn't being hampered by a more mobile United States society because Americans were  less on the move. For instance, only fourteen percent of Americans moved in 2003. That is the lowest percentage since 1948 the year the Census Bureau started gathering these statistics. U.S. Citizens that moved across state lines went down between 1991 and 2003. Between 1948 and 1959 3.6 % moved across state lines and  from 1991 to 2003 3.2 %  moved across state lines This shows that the mobility of the American public has slowed down and it isn't an increasing problem in families helping with elder care.

Another point concerning elder care and mobility is when should an elderly person stop driving? It can be a really emotionally hard experience for a senior to be deprived of their driver's license or car or to lose the ability to drive safely because of loss of reflexes or poor eyesight. But a study conducted by the 
Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that people  from age 75 to 84 had the same death rate from fatal accidents as the teenage rate, but it went up significantly after age 85.

To be sure your elder parent , aunt or uncle is still capable of driving observe them and see if it is time for them to stop driving. Since this is an issue of independence try to do this without offending the elderly relative. If the person is a parent it will be easier to intervene. Taking the senior shopping, on outings, and to the doctor can avoid the need for them to drive. If he or she is computer literate encourage him or her to shop online. Hiring transportation or driving your parent at night can save a wreck. Many senior services provide transportation, which you can encourage your relative to use. Your relative's church may have a van that will transport him or her to church.

The third point concerning elder care and mobility is the physical mobility of a senior. Impaired mobility is a big health problem for the elderly. It is a problem for about 25% of those over 75 and 50% over the age of 85. Some of the mobility issues involved in elder care are the ability to walk, walk up stairs, and get up from a chair.

The therapy that is used to help the elderly become more mobile diagnoses and treats particular mobility problems. Two examples of impaired mobility are reduction in strength and poor balance. Therapists provide elder care concerning mobility by aiding them in setting goals and measuring their progress. The goals are usually to improve strength and aerobic ability.

These threefold points about elder care and mobility are related. A less mobile society is more likely to live closer to their elderly relatives. They can be there to help with the driving decisions, mobility therapy decisions, and other elder care like deciding about assisted living or the need for the relative to reside in a nursing home.

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