While osteoarthritis is the type of arthritis that is more commonly known as a condition that the elderly deal with, rheumatoid arthritis can appear at any age as a person gets older and can sometimes create a double punch for the elderly who are unlucky enough to have both types of arthritis. Arthritis can severely limit your loved one’s ability to perform certain daily tasks, so understanding what type of arthritis she has, along with finding resources to help her maintain her independence, is key to supporting an elderly loved one with the condition. If your loved one has RA that interferes with her ability to manage her daily living activities, she could benefit from the help of a home care team.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid Arthritis (or RA) is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks healthy tissue and causes irreparable damage. It is a progressive disease that may start manageable, but can escalate into a debilitating disease. Unlike osteoarthritis, which is caused by years of wear and tear on the joints, RA destroys the lining of the joints and eats away at the bone under them. This action will lead to painful swelling that can cause joints to become deformed. The inflammation becomes chronic and can make everyday actions a struggle.
RA can also damage other parts of the body. Those areas can include the eyes, skin, blood vessels, lungs, and even the heart.
RA Symptoms
Early joint symptoms can include:
- Joints that feel especially stiff or painful after resting for a bit or after waking up from sleep. Pain and stiffness will generally last for around half an hour.
- Joints may feel warm, swollen, and painful. They feel painful both at rest and while moving.
- An inability to make certain motions, such as gripping items, making a fist, or bending at the knees.
- Feeling fatigued at all times.
- Running a low-grade fever.
- Lack of appetite.
What Causes RA?
The cause of why some people develop RA isn’t generally known. At some point, the body begins to think the joint tissues are unwanted invaders in the body and begins to mistakenly attack them as it would a virus or germ.
Some risk factors that can put a person at a greater risk of developing the condition include:
- Age. Although it can develop at any age, most people are diagnosed at middle age or later in life.
- Being a woman. Women are more likely to develop the condition than men.
- Family history of autoimmune diseases.
- Being a smoker. People who are lifetime regular smokers are more likely to get RA and will also suffer from the symptoms more strongly.
- Being overweight can increase the likelihood of developing RA.
- Having battled a severe gum infection, such as periodontal disease, can damage the gums and lead to RA.
Getting Help With RA
Home care providers can be scheduled to visit the home and help with chores that your loved one may not be able to perform well anymore. A home care provider can help with meal preparations, chores around the house, and even some personal care activities like trimming nails or helping the person to shave. Your loved one can still live an independent and active life while living with RA when she has the resources needed to help her succeed.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care Services in Laguna Beach, CA, please call the caring staff at Canaan Home Care today! 1-844-CANAAN-1 (1-844-226-2261)
Canaan Home Care – A Premier Provider of Senior Home Care in the La Jolla, Del Mar, San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Tustin, and Manhattan Beach areas.
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