![\"\"](\"http:\/\/assistinghands.com\/36\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/61\/2020\/05\/Picture1.png\")
<\/p>\nThere is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed our lives. The CDC
\nrecommends that all people over 60 stay at home and that all care facilities and senior centers
\nclose to visitors, as the odds of contracting the virus increase significantly with age. Staying at
\nhome and avoiding crowds is essential for everyone, but it can lead to feeling isolated and
\nlonely, both of which negatively affects mental and physical health. Now is the time to reach out
\nand connect with others by being creative \u2013 together!<\/p>\n
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Stay connected to others.<\/strong><\/p>\n If you or your loved one have smartphones, tablets, or laptops, apps such as Skype, Zoom, and Stay active and continue living your life.<\/strong><\/p>\n Walk outdoors in open spaces, sticking to the distancing guidelines. Take up yoga or Tai Chi. Monitor your news intake.<\/strong><\/p>\n While it is important to stay informed and follow the guidelines as they are changing day to day, Send care packages.<\/strong><\/p>\n With many seniors confined to their homes, it is important that healthy younger individuals help Participate in online events.<\/strong><\/p>\n If you or your loved one enjoy art, several well-known museums have \u201cvirtual\u201d tours that you can Seek in-home care.<\/strong><\/p>\n If you or your loved one need extra help such as disinfecting surfaces in your home, light May is National Arthritis Awareness Month.<\/strong><\/p>\n May is recognized annually as National Arthritis Awareness Month. Some say that feeling stiff By new estimates, arthritis impacts more than 92.1 million adults in the U.S., making it the Osteoarthritis is the most type among seniors. It is often related to age, or to an injury, as it Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a serious autoimmune disease in which the body\u2019s immune system Gout is an extremely painful form of inflammatory arthritis and is, unfortunately common. Gout Infectious arthritis is an infection that has spread from one part of the body and settles into a All forms of arthritis attack joint tissue and bones, and all share many of the same symptoms in Currently there is no cure for any of the more than 100 types of arthritis, however, the pain Dietary changes can also help in alleviating pain. Add foods rich in antioxidants and anti- Know the Facts <\/strong>for National Arthritis Awareness Month There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed our lives. The CDC recommends that all people over 60 stay at home and that all care facilities and senior centers close to visitors, as the odds of contracting the virus increase significantly with age. Staying at home and avoiding crowds is essential for everyone, but it can lead…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":139,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nFaceTime allow you to see each other as you talk. It\u2019s a great way to connect with your
\ngrandchildren! Some seniors aren\u2019t as great with technology, and in those cases, a good old-
\nfashioned phone call is in order. If your loved one is hard of hearing, write them a letter to show
\nthem you care. Share specific things you remember about them so they can reminisce as they
\nread. For loved ones suffering from dementia and who are living in a care facility, this time can
\nbe particularly confusing, so don\u2019t forget about them. Send photos of them with family and
\nfriends, writing the names and dates on the back.<\/p>\n
\nYouTube has plenty of free workouts to explore. You can sync up with a friend and do the same
\nactivity \u201ctogether.\u201d Continue living your daily life the best you can. Wake up, get dressed, eat
\nbreakfast. Take breaks and get fresh air. Arrange a time to sit down with family and have a \u201clong
\ndistance\u201d dinner together, again, using Skype or FaceTime.<\/p>\n
\nit can become completely overwhelming. Check the news once or twice a day. The same goes
\nfor social media. While it\u2019s a great tool to keep in touch with family and friends, there is also a lot
\nof misinformation floating around.<\/p>\n
\nthem access essential products and supplies. If you have the financial resources to do so, a
\ncare package can help your loved one weather these tough times. Care packages can include
\nhard-to-find items such as toilet paper, paper towels, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes; non-
\nperishable food items like canned soups, pasta, nut butters; puzzles, games and books; flower
\nseeds or plants along with everything they need for a small kitchen herb garden. Drop it by their
\nporch or mail it.<\/p>\n
\ntake and get an up-close look at famous works. Have a guitar? Fender is giving free online
\nlessons to help during this time. Participate in online spiritual services to lift your mood. Stay
\npositive!<\/p>\n
\nhousekeeping and laundry, preparing meals, medication reminders, prescription and grocery
\npickup, consider Assisting Hands\u00ae Home Care. Their staff of caregivers are trained in
\ncoronavirus protocol and can provide safe in-home care, while minimizing your risk of exposure.
\nNow more than ever, we need to look out for one another. Our octogenarians are no strangers
\nto hardship and doing without. The seniors amongst us are the toughest, most resilient and
\nresourceful of people, and they have been deeply impacted by this pandemic. Once this has
\npassed and restrictions change, feel good in knowing you have done your part to help yourself
\nand others stay safe \u2013 mentally as well as physically, and continue these connections.
\nImportant Reminder: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, or an alcohol-based
\nhand sanitizer, before writing a letter, card, or sending gifts. If you are sending a care package
\nto a loved one in a care facility, please be sure to call ahead and ask about their policies.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/assistinghands.com\/6\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2020\/05\/Picture2.png\")
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\nand having joint pain is an inevitable part of growing older. These experiences can transition
\nfrom pains that come and go with the weather to much more serious and even crippling forms of
\nthe condition. Half of all people age 65 and older have been diagnosed with arthritis \u2013 most
\noften osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout.<\/p>\n
\nnumber one cause of disability in the country. The first steps for you or your senior loved one to
\ncombat the pain is understanding your condition and knowing that with proper care and lifestyle
\nchanges, this pain associated with arthritis can be greatly reduced.
\nSome forms of arthritis are related to lifestyle and genetics, while others are classified as
\nautoimmune disorders. The most common types of arthritis are Osteoarthritis (OA), RheumatoidArthritis (RA), infectious arthritis, and gout.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cwears and tears\u201d on the joints. It affects the hands, hips and knees and it gets worse over time.
\nAt its worst, OA can disable a person, leaving them unable to work.<\/p>\n
\nattacks healthy cells, damaging the joint tissue and leading to chronic pain. It is most common in
\nwomen over age 60.<\/p>\n
\noften starts in the big toe and is caused by too much uric acid buildup in the body. It has been
\ndirectly linked to diet and some medications.<\/p>\n
\nspecific joint.<\/p>\n
\nseniors including lasting joint pain, joint swelling and stiffness, tenderness or pain when
\ntouching the joint, problems using or moving a joint, and warmth and redness in the skin over
\nthe joint.<\/p>\n
\ndoesn\u2019t need to interfere with your quality of life. Along with taking the correct medication,
\nexercise is an essential part of living with any form of arthritis. Focus on flexibility, low-impact
\naerobic activities, and strength exercises. As always, talk to your physician before beginning
\nany form of exercise.<\/p>\n
\ninflammatory properties such as fruits, vegetables and fatty fish to your diet. Keep check on
\nfoods that increase inflammation like sugars, processed meats, and refined flour.
\nWhile doctors are able to treat symptoms, it is also up to us to do what we can to limit the
\ncondition by staying healthy which includes eating right, exercising, and reducing stress. Proper
\ntreatment and support from a doctor or physical therapist is important, as is being proactive
\nabout our personal lifestyle habits.<\/p>\n
\nBy new estimates 1 in 3 people age 18-64 have arthritis
\nThere are more than 100 forms of this crippling disease
\nAlmost 50% of adults 65 or older reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis
\n\u2013arthritis.org<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"