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A common issue faced by people as they age is arthritis. 30.8% of the Malaysian population above the age of 55 suffer from it, while about 25.4% suffer from osteoarthritis.
Arthritis makes going about day-to-day life difficult. It can be a difficult condition to live with and people suffering from it require care, attention and a lot of empathy.
If you are caring for someone suffering from arthritis or suffering from it, then this article is for you. Read on to learn about how to make an arthritis patient’s life easier for them.
The swelling and tenderness of one or more joints is known as arthritis. People suffering from arthritis face joint pain and stiffness, which worsens with age. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis leads to the gradual breakage of cartilage, the slippery, hard tissue that covers the ends of the bones where they form joints. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is when the immune system attacks the joints, starting from the lining of joints.
Arthritis makes it difficult for someone to go about their daily life. Carrying out simple, everyday tasks can be difficult and painful. If you are living with someone suffering from it, it is important to know that helping them go about their day is the most loving thing you can do.
But how can you help them? Here are a few ways.
Start by learning about arthritis as much as you can. This will improve your understanding and as a result your empathetic caregiving ability. You will be surprised to know how much knowledge can make a difference to your caregiving capabilities.
Your awareness of the disease will also ease the process of sharing with your loved one, as they will know that you will understand what they’re going through. It will also show them that you care about them so much that you have taken the time to understand their symptoms and therapy options.
You can also accompany your loved one to appointments and be up to date with what the doctor says as well as learn about arthritis medication that they need to take. You can ask questions for further understanding. As a caregiver, you must know what you can about the disease and how you can care about your loved one.
Living with arthritis is not easy, it is not only painful, but it can be emotionally draining too. The fact that this is an invisible condition can make one feel isolated. Knowing that you are available for your loved one can be emotionally helpful for them.
Sometimes just being there can be so helpful for your loved one. Simply you being there can make someone’s day brighter. Try to talk about things other than the disease, this can help relieve the stress for them.
Attending doctor’s appointments with them is another way you can show your emotional support. While you learn about the different arthritis care tablets they need to take, it can also raise the confidence of your loved one.
Suffering from arthritis pain can be difficult. The pain can make one feel dejected and withdrawn, losing the will to do anything. Encourage your loved one to participate in arthritis management for arthritis self-care. A little bit of encouragement can go a long way.
You can also encourage them to move their joints and limbs regularly which can make the flare-ups more manageable. Encouragement from a loved one can be more effective than that from doctors and therapists.
Assist your loved one with small tasks, without them feeling irritated. You can help them with tasks around the house or out-of-home activities. The idea is to help them rest their aching joints and take some of the burden off them.
As a caregiver, it will be your instinct to step in and do things for them, but this can impact them negatively. However, it is important to do this tactically, without making them feel less capable. Communication is key in this case.
An important aspect of caring for someone with arthritis is to include them in plans. However, it is natural to not consider them given their constant struggle with pain. But just because they are suffering from a medical condition doesn’t change the fact that they are a part of your family or friends group.
Ensure they are invited to social gatherings and events and make sure you take them with you. It is an essential part of making them feel respected and loved. If they struggle with movement, make plans that they can participate in. Make sure they don’t feel overwhelmed or forced to do something which is not meant for them.
Make them feel loved and as an integral part of your family and friends circle.
A balanced diet is an integral part of arthritis management. Healthy eating will give them the nutrients they need and maintain a healthy weight.
Their diet should consist of five food groups including:
If they are overweight, losing weight can help them cope with arthritis. The extra weight places excess pressure on the joints of their hips, knees, feet and ankles, making the arthritis worse.
These are some of the many actions you can take to make someone suffering from arthritis easier for them. You can follow other practical tips such as installing handrails to make their movement easier and keeping things within their reach.
Finally, take people around you on board so that everyone around the patient makes a consorted effort to make their life easier for them. Working together can work wonders in making a patient feel loved and cared for.
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