What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects more than 1.5 million people in the United States. It’s a painful condition that can make mobility difficult. If your elder parent has been diagnosed with RA, you may be wondering what that means and if help is available. Arming yourself with knowledge about RA is the first step in ensuring that your parent receives the care and help they need.

Elder Care Springfield PA – What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

How RA Affects Joints

RA is considered an autoimmune disease because it causes the body’s immune system to attack the joints. When this happens, the lining of the joints, called the synovium, becomes inflamed and the joints swell and become painful.

Over time, if RA goes untreated, it can cause the cartilage to break down and may even damage bones. The space between the bones in the joint becomes smaller and the joints may be deformed, loose, or unstable. Unfortunately, joint damage cannot be reversed, so early treatment is essential.

RA is different from other kinds of arthritis because it typically affects joints on both sides of the body. That is, if one knee is affected, the other knee is affected as well. RA can also have an effect on the eyes, blood, skin, lungs, and heart. Because RA can affect other parts of the body, it is called a systemic disease.

Risk Factors for RA

Although doctors are uncertain what causes RA, they have identified several risk factors that increase the likelihood that a person will get RA. Some of the risk factors are:

• Age: RA can start at any age, but it usually when a person is age 40 to 60. Men generally get RA later in life.
• Sex: Women get RA nearly three times more often than men.
• Weight: People who are overweight have a slightly higher chance of being diagnosed with RA, especially women diagnosed before they turn 55.
• Smoking: Smokers are more likely to get RA, especially if their genetics predispose them to RA. In addition, smokers are more severely affected by RA.
• Family History: If someone else in your family has had RA, your risks are higher.
• Environment: Evidence suggests that people who are exposed to certain environmental factors, like asbestos or silica, are at a greater risk.

How an Elder Care Provider Can Help

Because RA can cause joint deformity and mobility issues, hiring an elder care provider through an in-home care agency can help your parent to safely remain independent in their home. An elder care provider can assist your parent with things like dressing, which may be difficult if their hands have been affected by RA. They can also help your parent to safely get about the house and to also be able to continue doing things outside the house, such as going to appointments, social gatherings, and on outings. In addition, an elder care provider can help your parent to complete tasks around the house that have become difficult, like light cleaning, cooking, and laundry.

Sources:  http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/rheumatoid-arthritis/what-is-rheumatoid-arthritis.php
http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/guide/rheumatoid-arthritis-basics
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/home/ovc-20197388
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/symptoms-causes/dxc-20197390

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elder Care Services in Springfield PA, please contact the caring staff at True Direct Home Health Care today.

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Perry C. Doc Alleva, Owner & Administrator

Owner & Administrator at True Direct Home Health Care

True Direct HHC owner and administrator, Perry C. Doc Alleva has been in the health care community for over 10 years as a therapy solutions provider, as well as a home care services coordinator. He has extensive experience in caring for the disabled and the surgical acute, sub-acute, and rehab population. Rooted in his home-town city of Philadelphia, with strong ties to it's vast neighborhoods and communities, he's now focusing all his energies towards innovating the home health care agency's role in providing the essential care needed from individual to the family throughout the community.

Doc, as he is called by everyone - staff, patients and clients - first experienced home health care and hospice care while as a colleg student at King's College as he cared for his mother every day while she first battled COPD and then lung cancer. It was during this time that he came to understand that caring for a patient was more than just clinical expertise.

"Admittedly, my strongest attribute is my communication skills and the simple fact that I love to help people. Even the smallest thing you can do for someone really can mean so much to them long term. In fact, it could change them forever. That's what providing quality personal home health care should be all about."

In his spare time, he cooks for homeless shelters and children's music and arts events. He also is highly involved in his local youth sports soccer academy as a coach and Board member.

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