The most common form of arthritis affecting people today is osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease. It is estimated that over 20 million Americans are afflicted with osteoarthritis and it remains the biggest cause of disability among adults. But this number is expected to skyrocket in coming years as the growing numbers of baby boomers retire. Still, young people can also acquire osteoarthritis from severe joint injuries but it remains a major health concern for older persons.
Although diagnosed in over 20 million people, it is estimated that half the population has osteoarthritis in at least one or more joints. Basically, it is a very common affliction and risks increase as we age. And unfortunately, osteoarthritis is common in both men and women. Oddly enough, however, the condition is more common in men before the age of forty-five. After 45, osteoarthritis is more prevalent in women.
So how exactly does osteoarthritis affect the body? Well, the disease mainly affects the cartilage in our bodies. Cartilage is important to us because it is what covers the ends of our bones. Those bones come together in joints and the cartilage is what prevents them from rubbing together. Cartilage is also a natural shock absorber and helps our bodies weather the physical activity we put them through.
However, osteoarthritis causes the surface layer of the cartilage to break down and dissipate. What then happens is the bones no longer have the same level of protection so when they rub together. The result will be painful and a person will lose movement as the disease progresses.
The joint itself will actually start to lose its shape as osteoarthritis progresses. This may then allow bone spurs to grow on the edges of the joints. When these bone spurs break off, they may become lodged in the joint and cause further discomfort and injury. In time, osteoarthritis can all but incapacitate a person and leave them immobile.
Unfortunately, there is not a lot physicians can do in order to stop the progression of osteoarthritis. Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen will generally help alleviate the swelling in the joints and thus lessen pain, but no actual treatment exists. However, research has shown that maintaining a healthy diet and active lifestyle tend to delay the onset of the condition.
Osteoarthritis is a very painful and debilitating disease that afflicts millions of people every year. As our population ages and the baby boomers begin to retire in force, osteoarthritis will become an even larger health issue. Research is currently being conducted that hopes to one day be able to repair the cartilage itself and thus repair the damage caused by osteoarthritis. For now, those with the condition should consult with their physicians in order to determine the best pain management strategy for their osteroarthritis.
Parents of Baby Boomers look toward their sixties, seventies and eighties as golden years, with the chance to enjoy the fruits of their labors. But what happens when those days become tarnished gold? What if nothing you or your parents do can restore the shine you all were expecting? This is what faces the Sandwich Generation each year when their parents are diagnosed with Alzheimer's, senile dementia or stroke.
Today, dementia of some kind has affected 14% of Americans over the age of 71 and the incidence is rising. Caring for these seniors generally falls to their Baby Boomer children; studies indicate that one in four families now take care of an elderly parent. Often the caretakers are women. According to a recent AARP study, 8.7 million American women aged 45 and older are caring for both aging parents and growing children. How they, and their brothers in some cases, cope with these demands is of increasing concern.
Now even Hollywood has begun to look at the dilemmas faced by these Boomers. With the Academy Awards season right around the corner, the buzz is out about "The Savages," a film looking at Sandwich Generation reactions to an estranged, aging father. Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman play siblings, Wendy and Jon Savage, who can be described as Open Face Sandwiches - suddenly thrust into caring for their abusive father while they deal with on-going crises in their personal and work lives. How they respond, and what they learn about themselves in the process, mirrors the situation for many Baby Boomers.
If, like the Savages, you are propelled into caring for a difficult parent, undoubtedly you will sacrifice many things - time, sleep, emotional stability, money, energy, days at work, dreams of your own. Because of these extreme pressures, family caretakers report having some kind of chronic condition at more than twice the rate of non-caregivers and research suggests that this additional stress can shorten lifespan by up to 10 years. Here are seven tips to help lighten your load as you attend to your infirm father or mother.
1. Give up your ideas of perfection and be realistic about the path ahead. You will not have the benefit you had imagined of involved, wise, old parents in your life. Acknowledge that the dementia will steadily increase and your parents will become less and less responsive to you. Be respectful of your parents' dignity even as you transfer control over their circumstances from them to you.
2. Evaluate your options as you keep an open mind. There is not one correct solution for everyone in your situation. It is helpful to hear from others what they have learned but you are still the only one walking in your shoes.
3. Look for resources in the community to help you. Recognize that you can't, nor do you have to, do everything yourself. Contact local gerontologists, talk with hospital social workers, meet with health care aides, visit nursing homes, join a caregiver support group.
4. Be honest with your siblings about their responsibilities. Even if you've been in conflict when them in the past, resolve to have an on-going dialogue now and be firm about finding a way to share the caregiving duties.
5. Take care of yourself to decrease the burnout that is common. A good support system gives you the opportunity to express your emotions and receive comfort. Set aside time for rest and relaxation, difficult as that may be to arrange. A sense of humor will get you through some tough times, as you laugh through your tears.
6. Look at how your past relationship with your parent has affected your present way of life. This is especially important if your parent was abusive when you were growing up. Decide to let go of the tendency to define your behavior today as a response to the memories you hold of your childhood. Make up your mind to make changes in your behavior that benefit you now.
7. Grow up. As you take on the complex chores of caregiver, you are the one ultimately making decisions about your own life as well as that of your parents. Both Wendy and Jon Savage matured as they reconnected with each other and their father, making dramatic changes in their lives after his death. They were able to trust themselves and take chances to achieve what they wanted, both professionally and personally.
Just as in the aptly named children's game, tug-of-war, you in the Sandwich Generation may feel like you are in a battle zone - pulled simultaneously from both sides and stretched to the limit in the middle. It is a struggle to sense the breaking point, which must be done to protect yourself for the long haul. It's not easy to put limits on the connection with your aging parents, but you need to place that relationship in the context of the rest of your life. Trust yourself as you design a plan that works for all of the family, yourself included.
Both Steve Vaile & Rosemary Lichtman are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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