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Confronting the Myths about Arthritis in Your Senior Care Journey

Senior Care in Pacific Beach CA

Senior Care in Pacific Beach CA

Senior Care in Pacific Beach CA20 percent of people over the age of 18 throughout the United States are currently suffering from arthritis. This accounts for more than 50 million people, and yet there are still many myths and misconceptions about arthritis that can impact a person’s ability to manage the disease properly. If you are on a senior care journey with an elderly loved one who is suffering from arthritis it is important that you can tell the fact from the fiction. By getting past the myths of the disease you can ensure that you understand what your parent really needs and can be the highest quality caregiver possible.

Some of the most common myths and misconceptions about arthritis include:

  • Arthritis is only an “old person’s” disease. While many people think that arthritis is something that only happens to older people, this is not the case. In fact, in addition to the 50 million adults who are currently suffering from arthritis, more than 300,000 children also have the condition. Children less than a year old can be diagnosed with certain forms of the disease. This is an important concept to understand if your parent starts to feel that they cannot possibly have the condition because they are “too young”, or that they are now “too old” to do things because they have received such a diagnosis.
  • If your parent has joint pain, they must have arthritis. Joint pain and stiffness are some of the most common signs and symptoms of arthritis, but they are not exclusive. Feeling pain and stiffness in the joints can mean many other conditions, including soft-tissue damage, bursitis, tendonitis, or even celiac disease. If your parent has started experiencing new joint pain, stiffness, or range of motion symptoms, it is important that you get them into the doctor promptly for a thorough examination. Finding the actual cause of the discomfort is essential to getting your loved one on the course of treatment and management that is right for them.
  • “Arthritis” is just one thing. Many people think that every person who is dealing with arthritis is dealing with the same condition. The truth, however, is that the term “arthritis” actually encompasses more than 100 conditions, diseases, and issues. Knowing the one that your parent has will help you to better create a senior care plan tailored to the needs and specifications of that type of arthritis. For older adults, the most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, though your parent could also be dealing with rheumatoid arthritis or another type. Getting the right diagnosis gives them the best chances of a high quality of life.
  • Your parent should just “deal”. There is a common misconception that if a senior is able to move around and is only having minor pain, then they are not really suffering from arthritis and should just “deal with it.” This is absolutely not the case. Even minor pain that persists more than a week or two could be an indication of a potentially serious condition that should be tended to promptly. Never encourage your parent to just deal with the pain or to avoid treatment because the pain is not severe. Getting proper treatment and management when the pain is still minor is key to it never increasing to a severe problem.

La Jolla Nurses Homecare can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, call 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable senior care in La Costa, CA, and the surrounding communities."}” data-sheets-userformat=”{"2":767,"3":[null,0],"4":[null,2,10667209],"5":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":[null,2,0]},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"6":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":[null,2,0]},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"7":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":[null,2,0]},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"8":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":[null,2,0]},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"9":2,"10":2,"12":0}”>For more information about how the caregivers at La Jolla Nurses Homecare can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, call 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable elder care in La Costa, CA, and the surrounding communities.

Brittnei Salerno

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