Arthritis is a joint disease that can be caused either by wear and tear on the cartilage or excessive uric acid in the blood. This condition can be found in almost everyone, however more profound in aging adults. In the United States, there are more than 49% of 65 and above people living with arthritis. Although, the number is set to rise for people above 18 in the future.
This condition is inconvenient and leaves aging adults struggling with daily activities. However, retirement communities have programs to help them prevent this condition. These are ways retirement independent living in Overland Park, KS can help you prevent arthritis:
Balanced Diet
Healthy eating has been associated with preventing different ailments as we grow older, one of them being arthritis. Having a healthy diet will improve your joint health and prevent other bone diseases. Being overweight as a result of an unhealthy diet can put unnecessary force on your ankles, feet, and knees. This can further develop into wear and tear of the cartilage called osteoarthritis.
Following a healthy diet will help your body access the right nutrients for the joints and also reduce inflammation. Foods containing omega-3 fatty acids have been known for different health advantages like reducing inflammation. Retirement communities offer dining options that are tailored toward the nutrient requirement of each resident.
Activities and Exercises
Engaging in daily activities like exercises helps prevent arthritis in several ways. It will ensure your joints is fit and also strengthens the muscle around your joints.
As an aging adult, it is important that you have an exercise routine to strengthen your joints every day. Retirement communities have various exercises to help aging adults stay healthy, these exercises are low impact so they won’t be too much on your body. In addition, these exercises are always monitored by team members so you don’t engage in exercises that will harm you.
Trained Team Members
To prevent arthritis, it is important that you visit a doctor regularly. However, if you are an aging adult living alone keeping up with doctor’s appointments might be stressful. Missing a doctor’s appointment is not advisable as you might not be able to uncover some arthritis warning signs.
If you are staying in a retirement community, you have access to medical professionals in the neighborhood. This will ensure you don’t have to move around before reaching your doctor. In cases where you need to see a doctor outside of the community, there is a scheduled transportation service to help you move around easily.
Community Support
For aging adults living with arthritis, pain management is important to help them cope with the condition. The pain from arthritis will make you lose interest in things you love. In retirement communities, there are different pain relief therapy to help you manage arthritis.
The community also offers support to residents living with arthritis. This support can be in form of educational workshops, also having people around to discuss with offer some emotional support.
Weight Management
This is also associated with having a healthy diet, excess body weight will break down the cartilage around the joint. In addition, fat cells secrete proteins (cytokines) that cause inflammation in the body. These proteins can also lead to wear and tear of the cartilage.
