Anonymous wrote:Left out a couple of sentences.
Anonymous wrote:My father had health issues in his 70's and after he turned 80, he fell at one point, landing behind a desk and couldn't get up. He was there for almost 2 hours before my mother found him. She told him that if he started taking care of himself, she would care for him until he passed (she was 6 years younger, but in great physical shape). But if he did not care for himself, she would not take care of him and let him manage himself. That inspired him to make the effort. He went to a gym and got a personal trainer. The guy at the gym knew a private personal trainer who sometimes worked there. He got them in touch. This personal trainer (who is my age), started working with my father. They had 3 sessions per week and after each session, my father would take his trainer to lunch. At the time, the trainer was scrimping on money, so the meals my dad took him out for was the best meals he had all week. And they became good friends. So good, that when my father had to give up driving (around 83 or so), the trainer would drive to his house, pick up Dad and take him to the gym for their session and then they would still go out for lunch.
My father was so much healthier in his 80's than he was in his 90's. I was the youngest of his kids and I had kids late, so my twins were not born until Dad was 85. My siblings all had girls, and I had two boys. I am fully convinced that without his trainer, my father would not have lived to see his only grandsons and he got a wonderful 8 years with them before he passed. I have thanked Dad's trainer and I gave him a "thank you" bonus when Dad passed. Dad continued his training sessions at the gym until he was 91, when his health deteriorated a bit more. But the trainer actually still came by twice a week and he and Dad would go out for lunch.
I am convinced that the trainer's friendship is what kept Dad at his training for as long as he did and kept him alive as long as he did because it kept him as healthy as possible.
So, I would start by trying to find a trainer who was willing to work with an older woman and try to restore her physical mobility. The trainer might be able to inspire your mother better than you can.