Home Care in Scotch Plains NJ
Osteoporosis is defined as a disease in which the bones become weak and fragile due to bone loss. It results in fractures of the bones, particularly the wrist, hip and spine. For those over 50 years of age, one in two women and one in eight men are predicted to have an osteoporosis-related fracture at some point in their lives.
Causes
Women are more prone to get osteoporosis than men because of the hormonal changes that occur with menopause. Decreasing estrogen levels and bone loss go hand-in-hand due to this hormones ability to preserve calcium, one of the most important minerals in the body when it comes to bone health. Men, while less susceptible, also can find their bones thinning, in part, due to a drop off in testosterone levels.
Diminishing Risk Factors
Your bones, like the rest of your body, are in a state of constant change–bone loss overtakes bone growth after age 30. The earlier you begin a bone-healthy lifestyle, the better, but don’t let age stop you from doing what you can now to maintain and create the highest bone density possible. It’s never too late to start a bone-healthy regimen.
Vitamins and Minerals
Good sources of calcium include green leafy vegetables such as kale, brussel sprouts and broccoli. Love-fat dairy products are another important food to include in your diet as well as fish such as sardines and salmon. The need for calcium increases after menopause. If you’re concerned you or your loved one may not be getting enough of this vital mineral in your diet, ask your primary health care provider about supplementation.
Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. You derive vitamin D from sunshine, fish and oysters and foods that are fortified with this vitamin such as milk and some cereals.
Reduce high-risk factors in your life. This includes smoking and drinking in excess. Caffeine and salt can also cause an increase in the loss of calcium.
Exercise
Weight-bearing exercise is the key to maintaining bone density. This includes walking, dancing and aerobics. If you or your parent have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, you will want to check with a doctor before starting an exercise routine.
Home Safety
If you’re caring for an elderly parent, insure their home environment is safe, limiting their chances of falling and finding themselves with a fractured or broken bone. In order to accomplish this, remove any throw rugs that could cause slipping. Make sure the home is free of clutter and any tripping hazards such as wires that cross pathways or furniture that is causing an obstruction. Improve lighting and consider installing sensor monitored lighting. If your parent is showing any instability, it may be time to consider the use of a walker to help with mobility. Install grab bars in strategic places such as the shower and by the toilet where you will also want to consider raised seating. If you find they are in need of additional care, consider the services of a home care provider who can prepare bone-healthy meals, accompany your loved one on daily walks, and help them navigate throughout their home as well as assisting with the daily activities of living.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring home care in Scotch Plains, NJ, call the caring staff at Helping Hands Home Care today at 908-418-4299. Providing Home Care Services in all of Northern and Central NJ, including Clark, Westfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Rahway, Linden, Summit, Edison, Elizabeth, Mountainside and the surrounding areas.
Resources:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/osteoporosis/article_em.htm#what_is_osteoporosis
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/osteoporsis/osteoporosis2005_2010.htm
After graduating from Seton Hall University with a BS in finance Helping Hands Homecare’s Owner / President, Robert D’Arienzo, went to work on Wall St. for six years. However, after Robert’s grandmother became ill with stomach cancer Robert and his family needed to find assistance in the home for her. After many trials and tribulations Robert could see that there was a great need for quality home care services here in NJ and loved the idea of being able to assist other families who were going through what his family went through with his beloved grandmother.
Thus, Robert had found his passion. After almost a year of preparation Robert opened Helping Hands Homecare in 2003. Robert wanted Helping Hands Homecare to focus on providing the highest quality of caregivers, exceptional customer service, and providing a service that familys could depend on in their time of need. Since then Helping Hands has assisted hundreds of individuals with the simplest of needs to more complex cases while preserving those standards set out many years ago.
Robert is a Google Verified Author
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