Arthritis Awareness Month

By Susan Myer, RN, BSN, CCRN, CDP | May 12, 2016 |

Elderly Care in Somerset NJ

According to the CDC, arthritis impacts 53 million men and women in the United States. Did you know that there is more than one type of arthritis? In addition to that, it affects people of all ages—including children. And there’s no way to determine how mild or severe a person’s symptoms will be because the severity varies from person to person.

With so many millions of people suffering with arthritis it’s not surprising that an entire month has been designated Arthritis Awareness Month. Arthritis Awareness Month seeks to bring attention to the fact that arthritis sufferers live full lives and have victories every day. What’s especially wonderful about Arthritis Awareness Month is that everyone can get involved, because the call to action asks that anyone who are living with arthritis share their story with friends, family, and people they work with. As with many diseases, most people don’t know what everyday life is like for people living with arthritis; people who may deal with chronic pain on a daily basis. By sharing their stories, they help promote understanding and empathy.

Some fundamentals about arthritis

The risk of developing arthritis increases with age. One of the major causes of arthritis is years of stress on the joints and tissues surrounding them. The result is inflammation and/or deterioration of bones and joints. Older adults have spent decades putting stress on their bodies, so it makes sense that as we age, our risk factor for developing arthritis increases. Other risk factors include genetics, obesity, joint injuries, infection, and occupations that require a lot of knee bending and squatting.

As the person responsible for your mom or dad’s elder care, if they do not have arthritis, you may be wondering if there are symptoms you should be looking out for. Symptoms can vary depending on the type of arthritis. Also, arthritis can develop gradually, so the symptoms may not be noticeable at first. Symptoms may come and go, so it’s difficult to know there’s a problem. On the other hand, symptoms can develop quickly and be persistent.

Some of the symptoms your mom or dad may experience are:

Early morning stiffness
Joint swelling
Loss of joint flexibility
Tenderness or pain at the joint

If you think your loved one may have arthritis, take them to a doctor to be professionally diagnosed and be put on a treatment plan. If they already have arthritis, talk with them about any opportunities that may exist to share their stories with others.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional elderly care in Somerset, NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/features/arthritisawareness/index.html

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Susan Myer, RN, BSN, CCRN, CDP

Co-Owner at Generations Home Healthcare LLC

Susan is the Co-Owner of Generations Home HealthCare and has 35 years of business experience and entrepreneurship. For the last 10 years she has been a Registered Nurse working at St. Luke’s Hospital (Bethlehem, PA) in the Neuro/Trauma Unit and as a critical care nurse at Hunterdon Medical Center. She has a B.S. from Rutgers University and a BSN from Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA.Susan is currently in the process of obtaining her Master’s in Gerontology. Susan is married, has 2 children and 2 grandchildren.

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