Are There Special Considerations for Women Suffering from Psoriatic Arthritis?

Approximately 30 percent of the 7.5 million people throughout the United States living with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis. This potentially debilitating condition can lead to pain in the lower back and feet, swelling in fingers and toes, and fatigue. As a family caregiver it is important to recognize that early diagnosis is important to ensuring that your loved one gets the care and management that they need to cope with this disease effectively. Beyond that, there are special considerations that must be made if you are a caregiver for a senior woman who is living with this disease.

While psoriatic arthritis can and does occur in both men and women, the disease must often be approached differently in women than it is in men. Some of these considerations include:

• Depression. People living with psoriatic disease are more prone than others to experience depression. This is particularly true for women. Depression can diminish your parent’s quality of life and even lead to reduced physical health, cognitive functioning, and functioning. Be aware of the symptoms of depression and be prepared to help your senior loved one address and cope with them if they do develop them.

• Metabolic syndrome. Women are at greater risk for developing a condition referred to as metabolic syndrome. This can affect the body’s functioning in various systems and result in serious health complications.

• Cardiovascular disease. Women are already at higher risk than men of developing cardiovascular disease, and those who are living with psoriatic arthritis are at even greater risk. It is important to understand the strain on their heart and how you can help them to lower this risk and protect their health as they cope with this disease.

Starting senior care for your aging loved one can be one of the best ways for you to ensure that they get all of the care that they need while also encouraging them to pursue a high quality of life as they age in place. A senior home care services provider can be there with your parent on a customized schedule to ensure that their needs are met and their individual challenges and limitations are addressed in the way that is right for them.

By being with them when they most need them to be, this care provider can ensure that you are able to remain as directly involved in their care as you can be while filling care gaps and supporting your parent’s ongoing independence and autonomy.

There are many ways that this care provider can do this. Safe and reliable transportation ensure that your parent is able to go to the places they want to go and do the things that they want to do without relying on you. Assistance with activities of daily living and personal care tasks save time and energy and help your loved one accomplish the things that they need to for a safe, clean, healthy home and body. Highly personalized services mean that your parent will get exactly what they need, when they need it for the best quality of life possible throughout their later years.