IN SHORT: Is your parent having a harder time standing from a chair, reaching for your arm while walking, or managing everyday tasks? These small changes may be early signs of declining strength. Recognizing them can help you protect your parent's independence and keep them doing the things they love.
1. Everyday Movements Are Becoming Harder
One of the earliest signs of strength loss is when ordinary movements take more effort than they used to.
Getting up from a chair becomes difficult. Your parent may rock back and forth before standing, push hard with their arms, or need help getting up.
Getting in and out of a car requires help. You may find yourself lifting a leg into the car, helping your parent swing their legs out, or offering a hand to help them stand.
Stairs become more challenging. Your parent may pull on the railing, take one step at a time, pause to rest, or avoid stairs whenever possible.
2. Your Parent Wants to Hold Your Arm When Walking
Perhaps your parent reaches for your arm when walking through a parking lot, visiting a store, or moving through a crowded public space.
They may say they simply feel safer that way. But if this is a new behavior, it is worth paying attention to. Your parent may feel less steady or less confident when walking, especially in unfamiliar or busy places.
3. Your Parent Has Started Using a Cane or Walker
Perhaps your parent recently started using a cane or walker when they never needed one before. You may have noticed them reaching for furniture at home or relying on a shopping cart for support before they began using a walking aid.
A new cane or walker may signal a change in your parent's strength, balance, or confidence when walking. Although a walking aid can improve safety, it is worth paying attention when your parent begins needing more support than before.
4. Your Parent Is Going Out Less Often
An older parent who once enjoyed shopping, visiting friends, or taking family outings may begin turning down invitations.
Sometimes the reason is not a lack of interest. Your parent may find going out more tiring or uncomfortable, or worry about walking through a large store, navigating steps, or keeping up with others.
When favorite activities become harder, your parent may gradually begin doing less. You might notice fewer outings, fewer visits with friends, or more time spent at home.
5. Everyday Chores Require More Help
You may notice that your parent is asking for help with tasks they once managed independently.
Laundry becomes harder. Carrying a basket, bending down to retrieve clothing, or standing long enough to fold and put things away may feel exhausting.
Grocery shopping becomes more difficult. Your parent may need help walking through the store, carrying bags, or putting groceries away at home.
Household activities take longer. Your parent may need more breaks, leave tasks unfinished, or depend on family members for chores they previously handled alone.
When everyday tasks become harder, it may be more than a matter of convenience. These changes can affect how independently your parent manages daily life.
What Does Research Tell Us About These Changes?
Research has found that lower muscle strength and difficulty with physical activities are associated with a greater risk of losing independence. Getting up from a chair, walking safely, and managing household chores may become harder or require help from others.
These changes do not always mean your parent is losing strength. Balance problems, pain, illness, and other health conditions can also affect movement. However, when several everyday activities become harder, it is worth talking with a healthcare professional about what has changed.
Research to explore:
- Wang et al. (2020), Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle - a meta-analysis examining muscle strength, physical performance, and independence in everyday activities. Read the research article
- Denkinger et al. (2015), American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry - a systematic review examining fear of falling and activity restriction in older adults. Read the research abstract
Why Leg Strength Matters
Leg strength supports many of the movements your parent relies on every day: standing from a chair, climbing stairs, getting in and out of a car, and walking safely.
When these movements become harder, families often step in to help. While that support is valuable, it can be difficult to watch a parent gradually lose the ability to do things they once managed on their own.
The good news is that older adults can build strength at any age. Appropriate, progressive exercise can help improve the strength needed for everyday activities and support continued independence.
Learn more about leg strength and independence and how targeted strengthening can help older adults maintain everyday abilities.
How Tandem Strength & Balance® Can Help
When your parent begins struggling with everyday activities, it can be difficult to know what to do next. You may find yourself helping more often and worrying about whether your parent will be able to remain independent.
At Tandem Strength & Balance®, we help older adults build the functional leg strength needed for everyday life - from standing up from a chair and getting in and out of a car to walking and managing stairs.
TandemSB provides private-pay, in-home physical therapy focused on progressive strengthening tailored to each person's abilities and needs. A physical therapist works with your parent in their own home, focusing on the movements that have become difficult and helping build strength to support greater independence.
Recognizing the signs is the first step. Helping your parent maintain the strength to keep doing the things they love is what comes next.