Arthritis has been diagnosed in more than 50 million adults throughout the United States. If you are a family caregiver for a senior who has been diagnosed with this condition, you likely know that pain is one of the primary symptoms of the condition.
Home Care Services in Dana Point CA: Arthritis
For those living with the most common form of arthritis, known as osteoarthritis, this pain is caused primarily by the cartilage around the joints breaking down. While the physical aspect of this pain can be severe, there are many other ways arthritis pain can impact your senior as well. Understanding this impact can help you to give your parent the rounded care they need to manage all aspects of their arthritis struggle.
Some ways arthritis pain can impact your aging parent include:
- Diminished activity levels that can lead to further problems, reduced function, less engagement with the world around them, and less interaction with others.
- Increased fall risk
- Fatigue
- Emotional effects, including fear of falls and depression over diminished functioning.
The severity and frequency of arthritis pain can vary from person to person.
Some people have a chronic pain that impacts their daily life and worsens with movement. Others only experience flares of pain and other effects, experiencing bouts of symptoms and stretches without any. Similarly, the severity of the pain can range from very mild to debilitating.
What is important to note is that even if your aging parent is only dealing with occasional mild pain from their arthritis, it should be addressed promptly. If left unmanaged, arthritis progresses and the damage can become severe and irreversible. Getting your parent onto the course of treatment and management that is right for them and their needs as early as possible protects their joints and enables them to make good choices that will keep their joints healthier and stronger, and improve their quality of life later.
You should never underestimate the value of companionship for an elderly adult.
Aging adults often struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness, which can have extensive effects on their daily life. For seniors with arthritis, this can even lead to worse pain and more difficult management of that pain. A senior care provider can be a valuable source of companionship and emotional support to help your parent cope more effectively. This boosts their quality of life and improves their health as they age.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care Services in Dana Point, CA, please contact the caring staff at Canaan Home Care today!
1-844-CANAAN-1 (1-844-226-2261)
Source:
Arthritis.org
Arthritis.org/statistics-facts
Arthritis.org/pain-management
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