October 12 to 20 is Bone and Joint National Action Week, designed to bring attention to musculoskeletal disorders, arthritis, and related health conditions. This is an especially important topic among our area seniors. Here’s why:
- More than 50% (54% to be exact) of U.S. adults are affected by bone and joint conditions, according to the Bone and Joint Initiative.
- Bone and joint conditions are the most prevalent cause of severe long-term pain and physical disability around the globe.
- Back pain, arthritis, traumatic injuries, osteoporosis, and spinal deformities are among common musculoskeletal conditions.
- With the aging of the baby boomers, the number of people experiencing bone and joint conditions is expected to grow continually, the Bone and Joint Initiative reports.
During the Bone and Joint Action Week, there are five days designated with a special focus on various facets of bone health: October 12 is World Arthritis Day, October 16 is World Spine Day, October 17 is World Trauma Day, October 19 is World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day, and October 20 is World Osteoporosis Day.
If you’re taking care of a senior loved one, just what can you do to ensure they maintain their bone and joint health? Here are a few tips.
- Don’t miss those checkups. Your loved one’s doctor or health care provider can help ensure bone and joint health is up to par and offer important diagnosed scans if needed. If health problems are caught early, including bone and joint problems, they are often less likely to have serious consequences.
- Keep moving. Exercise is an elixir for better health, and that still holds true as we age. Cardio exercise, strength training, and stretching are all important components of our physical routine both for overall health and for bone and joint health. Regular exercise can also reduce the risk of falls. However, check with your loved one’s doctor about any limitations before going too hard with an exercise program.
- Work in vitamin D and calcium. These are both keys for healthy bones. Fatty fish, cheese, and egg yolks are among good food sources for vitamin D, and soybeans, spinach, kale, and okra are calcium sources, in addition to the usual dairy foods.
Call Secure Aging to Find Out How We Can Help Seniors With Care Management
At Secure Aging in Bradenton, we transform the weight of the world into a sigh of relief for our senior clients and their concerned family members. The mission of Secure Aging is to protect and preserve our client’s independence and dignity through careful and thoughtful financial and care management. As our clients age, it is their desire to remain independent and age with dignity. Our services protect our clients from talented con artists looking to exploit and deplete the financial resources of our vulnerable seniors. Secure Aging helps families in Manatee County and Sarasota County and in and around the communities of Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Ellenton, Holmes Beach, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Myakka City, Palmetto, Parrish, and Sarasota. Call us at 941-761-9338, or visit us online at www.secureaging.com.
