Arthritis There are over 100 types of arthritis. Each type of arthritis is different, therefore, needs different treatment. Arthritis may cause pain, stiffness, swelling, tenderness or inflammation of the joints or affected areas. It can also prevent some movements which are necessary for the activities of daily living. It is important that people should try to learn as much as possible about this disease so that they may be able to understand how to control it. Did you know that:
Functional parts of a joint: Cartilage: A tough material that cushions and protects the ends of bones. (Example of arthritis in this part: osteoarthritis.) Synovial membrane: A thin layer of tissue which surrounds the joint and contains and produces a lubricating fluid (synovial fluid). This fluid oils the joint and is also responsible for keeping the cartilage healthy. (Examples of arthritis in this part: rheumatoid arthritis, gout.) Bursa: A small sac located near the joint which contains a lubricating fluid. This sac allows smooth movement of muscle across muscle and tendon across bone. (Example of inflammation of this part: bursitis.) Muscle: The muscles are elastic tissues that work together to move the bones by contracting and relaxing. (Example of involvement of this part: fibrositis.) Tendon: Tissue fibre which attaches muscle to bone. (Example of involvement of this part: tendonitis.) Ligament: Tissue fibre which attaches bone to bone. (Example of arthritis in this part: ankylosing spondylitis.) OSTEOARTHRITIS Also called: Degenerative joint disease Degenerative arthritis Osteoarthrosis What is it? Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease which most often affects the ‘weight-bearing joints’ ie ankles, knees, hips, spine. The cartilage breaks down, tears, or rips and leaves the bone surfaces without a cushion. How do I get it? The cause of arthritis is not definitely known, but it can be caused by one or more of the following factors:
How does it affect me? Bony growths or ‘spurs’ may appear in the affected joint, causing intense pain and limited movement. Due to the lack of cartilage, bone surfaces rub together resulting in pain and limited movement. ![]() RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS What is it? Rheumatoid arthritis is a disorder which involves many of the body’s systems and often affects the toes, ankles, knees, shoulders, elbows and fingers. The synovial membrane which lines the joint, becomes inflamed. About one person in 100 of the population have rheumatoid arthritis, and two to three times more women do than men. How do I get it? There is no known specific cause of rheumatoid arthritis, but the latest theories suggest that it develops from a viral or bacterial infection. It is an auto-immune disease, which means your body is attacked by its own defence mechanism. How does it affect me? Rheumatoid arthritis causes many problems because it works on many of the body’s systems. Some of the problems are:
Reference: Healthy happy ageing: a positive approach to active living
Yvonne Wagorn, Sonia Théberge, Dr William R Orban Care Home / Aged Care Checklist Care homes and aged care facilities vary considerably and it’s important to get the best fit for your family member. It’s often hard to know what to look for. Here’s a checklist from the Aged Advisor 2023 edition which may help you decide. Consumer also put out a good checklist a number of years ago. https://d3c7odttnp7a2d.cloudfront.net/assets/8159/Rest_Homes_checklist.pdf Use this as a reference. You may wish to either tick if it applies, add ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or give a personal rating from 1-5 to help compare your options. from Aged Advisor www.agedadvisor.com Questions: Facility and Care What are the levels of care offered? (eg rest home, dementia) Is there an ORA/Entry Price? (eg $230,000) Is there a Premium Room Fee? Daily, weekly, 28 days? (eg $30 per day) Is a GP on call 24/7? Is a registered nurse on 247? (eg yes, yes) Overall atmosphere in the care home? (eg light, warm, homely) Last DHB Audit result? (eg 48 months) Individual Room Do rooms appear clean and homely? Is there plenty of natural light? Was the temperature comfortable? Adjustable heating in the room? Can residents bring own furniture? Do the rooms have an ensuite? Social Are residents normally in the lounge or own room? Can they choose? Is there a weekly activities programme? What are the activities like? Is there a Physio, Occupational or Diversional Therapist? How many hours per week are they available? Is there spiritual care available? How often? Within the home or externally sourced? Overall atmosphere in the village? Were staff / management approachable / friendly? Did residents appear relaxed and happy? Location Near friends, family? (eg yes, yes) Nice green spaces? Multiple quiet spaces / gardens? Ground floor or multi-level? Easy parking for visitors / family? Meals Do meals look appetising? What do other residents / visitors say about food? Are there tea / coffee making facilities for residents? Are special dietary needs met? Is there any additional cost? Reference: Aged Advisor 2023 edition
Retirement/Lifestyle Village Checklist From Aged Advisor www.agedadvisor.com Use this as a reference. You may wish to either tick if it applies, add ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or give a personal rating from 1-5 to help compare your options. Questions Financial
Location
Social / General
Care
On Exit
Glossary of Terms Retirement Commission This is an organisation focused on helping retirees with the financial and legal obligations of entering into a retirement village. COP – Code of Practice This refers to a legal document that sits under the Retirement Villages Act 2003 called the ‘Retirement Villages Code of Practice 2008). DMF - Deferred Management Fee This is a cost paid after a resident leaves or terminates their unit in a village. Disclosure Statement This document must be provided to an intending resident and normally accompanies an ORA. LTO – License to Occupy While this license gives you legal access to live in the unit or home you will move into. It doesn’t give you ownership of this space. ORA – Occupation Right Agreement This refers to the contract you sign with a village operator before you move in. RORV – Register of Retirement Villages The Registrar of Retirement Villages main function is to maintain the Retirement Villages Register. RVA – Retirement Villages Association A national membership body representing residents living in retirement villages RVR or RVResidents Retirement Village Residents Association of NZ A national membership body representing living in retirement villages. To print a list of the questions go to Information/Infomation and Handy Hints
![]() Having Trouble Sleeping as you Age Many of us experience changes in our sleeping as we age. We may find it hard getting to and staying asleep, or waking early unrefreshed, making us feel sleepy and sluggish during the day. Research suggests most of the sleep problems among the elderly are because of physical and psychological health problems and the medications used to treat them. Lack of sleep contributes to falls, car accidents, sensitivity to pain and a poor quality of life. The amount of sleep required by each person varies from 7-9 hours. It’s not the time sleeping that matters, it’s how you feel when you wake that’s important. There are a number of stages to sleep, dreamless periods of light sleep and deep active dreaming sleep (REM sleep). This cycle is repeated several times during the night and although total sleep time tends to remain constant, as we age we spend more time in the lighter stages of sleep than in deep sleep, which is more refreshing. This contributes to wakefulness during the night. Generally as we age we go to bed earlier and wake earlier. Here are a few tips to improve your sleep 1) Go to bed and get up about the same time every day. 2) Ensure you have a comfortable bed and bedding. 3) Have a bed time ritual that’s relaxing eg reading, deep breathing, listening to music, having a hot bath or shower. 4) Have a cool, dark and quiet bedroom to sleep in. 5) If your partner snores wear earplugs. 6) Keep your bedroom for sleep and sex only (no screens). 7) Stop looking at screens (TV and computers) about an hour before going to bed (the light tricks your mind into believing it’s day time). 8) Eat dinner at least three hours before bed. If you need a light snack avoid sweet snacks and those containing caffeine, instead have crackers and cheese or milk. 9) Don’t drink after dinner and go to the loo before bed so you don’t need to go through the night 10) Stop your caffeine intake at lunch time (coffee, fizzy drinks and chocolate). 11) Reduce your alcohol intake and stop at dinner time. If you’re having a great deal of trouble with sleeping stop drinking alcohol. 12) Get some vigorous exercise during the day, early afternoon is best and not in the evening, as this will keep you awake. 13) Vitamin D helps with sleep. Ensure you get enough from sunlight, your diet or supplements. 14) If you have a bad night’s sleep don’t worry, just try and go to bed at your usual time the next night. This will help keep your circadian rhythm on track. 15) If you are still awake after 20 minutes get up and do something quiet like reading. Keep light to a minimum and return to bed when you feel sleepy. 16) If you need a nap during the day, do so early in the afternoon and for about 20 minutes. 17) Reduce the stress in your life and don’t do anything that upsets you before bed. 18) Take any medication as and when prescribed. 19) If you have a health problem that interferes with your sleep eg Arthritic pain, reflux or a breathing problem, discuss this with your Doctor. Still not sleeping If after trying these tips for some weeks you’re still not sleeping well talk to your Doctor as you may:
Sleeping is important for our overall functioning, so take the time to think about your sleeping habits. Happy sleeping from the team at Therapy Professionals Ltd.
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AuthorShonagh O'Hagan Archives
July 2024
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