Senior Care in Galion OH
Most people expect that they will experience some pain and stiffness in their joints as they get older, and will likely lose some of their mobility and range of motion. While this is not true for all people, it is common for older people to experience some of these symptoms. For 50 million adults throughout the United States, however, these symptoms are not just uncomfortable indications of getting older. For these people, accounting for 20 percent of the adult population, the issues are caused by arthritis.
Arthritis is a condition that can make a dramatic impact on your senior care journey with your elderly loved one, and on their quality of life throughout their aging years. May is Arthritis Awareness Month. This is the perfect opportunity for you to learn more about arthritis and what you can do to help your aging parent cope with the effects of this disease. This starts with recognizing the signs and symptoms of arthritis. You know your parent best and will likely be able to identify symptoms better than anyone, but a senior health care services provider can also be a valuable source of information. This care provider can let you know when they notice changes in your parent’s abilities and behaviors that could indicate arthritis. The sooner that your parent receives a proper diagnosis, the sooner that you can work with their doctor to come up with a course of management and treatment ideal for their needs.
Some of the signs and symptoms of arthritis include:
- Pain in the joints
- Reduced function or mobility within the joints
- Reduced range of motion or flexibility within the joints
- Inflammation within the joints
- Stiffness in specific joints
- Swelling of the joints
- Warmth around the joints
- Redness around the joints
- Fever
- Swelling of the glands
- Fatigue
- Overall feeling of being unwell
- Weight loss
- Tenderness around the joints
Arthritis is the leading cause of disability among adults. This is particularly true of those who do not receive proper treatment or management of their symptoms early enough in the disease and as a result suffer lasting damage. It is essential when your aging parent goes in to talk to the doctor about their symptoms that they are completely honest and upfront with the doctor. Many seniors have a tendency to minimize what they are actually going through when they are talking to a doctor. They may feel that they are being overly dramatic or that they are being a burden by discussing their symptoms with their doctor. This, however, can prevent the doctor from coming to a proper diagnosis or advising adequate treatment and management. If you notice that your loved one is not being honest with their doctor or not offering up a complete view of what they are going through, do not hesitate to fill in the gaps. The more information that you can provide, the better your parent’s chances of continuing to live a healthy, engaged, and active lifestyle into the future.
If you are considering hiring senior care near Galion, Ohio, call the caring staff at Central Star Home Health at (419) 610-2161. Providing services for families in Mansfield, Lexington, Bellville, Mt. Gilead, Loudonville, Crestline, Galion, Shelby, Ashland, Wooster, and the surrounding areas.
Sources:
http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/arthritis-statistics-facts.php
http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis-related-stats.htm
http://www.healthcommunities.com/arthritis/symptoms.shtml
http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/features/arthritis-symptoms
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