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Home » Do You Really Understand Arthritis?
Every family caregiver has heard of arthritis and how it can impact their aging adult. This is one of the most common health issues throughout the United States, having been diagnosed in more than 54 million people, and is the leading cause of disability in the country.
This does not mean, however, that everybody actually understands the disease. Making sure you really understand the condition your senior’s facing will help you to not only sympathize with them, but also ensure you are giving them the type of care and they need to manage it effectively. This helps them cope with their condition as an element of their life, rather than letting it take over and become their entire life.
There there are more than 100 different types of arthritis, the most common is osteoarthritis. This form of the disease impacts 31 million adults throughout the United States. With this type of arthritis, the cushioning tissue known as cartilage wears away, causing the bones to rub up against each other. This can lead to tenderness, swelling, redness, stiffness, pain, and reduced range of motion. If not treated promptly and effectively, it can lead to permanent joint damage.
This condition is unique in how prevalent it is, but also how personalized to each person living with it. This symptoms can be extremely mild, only occasionally impacting at your senior and not being enough to diminish their functioning, or severe and frequent enough to genuinely decrease functioning, health, and quality of life. This makes it extremely important that your parent reach out to their doctor to discuss their arthritis and find a course of treatment of management that is right for them. Pain and stiffness in the joints is not just part of getting older, or something they should have to deal with. Getting proper treatment can help your parents to stay more comfortable and live a better quality of life
Staying physically active can be challenging it for aging adults living with arthritis, but senior care can help. A senior home care services provider can help your aging parent not only find the types of activities they enjoy, but give them the support and assistance they need to participate in these activities as often as possible. Regular physical activity is important for managing arthritis and reducing worsening of the symptoms, but it is also important that your parents stay safe while being active. The physical support of a senior care provider can mean your parent is able to engage in activities with more confidence and reduce the risk of injuries such as falls.
Sources: https://www.arthritis.org/
https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/arthritis-statistics-facts.php
https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/