Throughout the United States there are approximately 50 million people who are currently living with one of the 100 types of arthritis. Elderly adults over the age of 64 are at approximately a 50 percent risk of developing this condition. Among those who are suffering from this condition, 30 percent report that their condition has a negative impact on their regular daily functioning, and 25 percent say that their arthritis causes them severe pain that diminishes their quality of life.

These statistics can be startling for you as a family caregiver, but you should also know that they are not the only ways that arthritis can impact your parent’s life. Arthritis causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of range of motion in the joints. This can cause serious mobility issues in your elderly adult and further increase the chances that they will suffer a fall that can result in serious injuries. Acknowledging these issues and helping your parent to reduce their risk is an important step in guarding your aging loved one and keeping them safer and healthier throughout their later years.

Use these tips to reduce fall risk for seniors with arthritis:

• Keep them active. Movement can be painful and difficult for an elderly adult who is suffering from arthritis, but it is important that your aging parent stays active. This will keep their body strong and support balance, control, and range of motion that both reduce the risk that they will fall and better enable them to protect their body if they do fall.

• Review their medications. Some medications prescribed for arthritis increase the chances that your parent will suffer a fall. If you notice that your aging parent has been struggling with balance or has injuries that might have been caused by falls, talk to their doctor about the medications that they have been taking and ask if they might be contributing to this increased risk. They might be able to change your parent’s medication or give recommendations for how to manage this increased risk.

• Modify their home. Make meaningful modifications throughout the home to reduce the risk that your aging parent will fall. This can include installing a chair lift so that your parent does not have to go up and down steps on their own, or replacing outdoor steps with ramps.

If your aging parent has recently been diagnosed with arthritis, or you have noticed that they are struggling more with their symptoms and limitations due to this disease, now may be the ideal time for you to consider elderly care for them. An elderly home care services provider can be with your aging parent on a fully customized schedule to ensure that they get all of the care, support, encouragement, and assistance that they need in order to manage their arthritis while also addressing their personality, goals, and thoughts. This means that your aging parent can remain safe, comfortable, and healthy, as well as pursue a lifestyle that is as independent, active, and fulfilling as possible. This care provider will develop a highly personalized set of services specifically designed to care for your loved one as a whole person rather than focusing just on one issue. Together they can ensure that your parent is able to maintain a high quality of life as they age in place. This can be accomplished through helping your parent make good lifestyle choices, encouraging and reminding them to remain compliant with prescriptions, treatments, and guidelines, and providing valuable companionship that addresses the emotional aspect of arthritis as well as encourages more motivation and engagement throughout their later years. As their family caregiver, this can ease your mind and help you to feel more confident that your senior is getting the care that they need and is at lower risk of serious issues such as falls whether you are able to be there with them or not.

Source
https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis-related-stats.htm
http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/
http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/pain-management/joint-protection/osteoarthritis-and-falls.php

If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Professional Elderly Care in Palm Beach, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff at Assisting Hands Home Care at 561­-829­-3080 Today.