Solutions for Arthritis

Arthritis is a disease impacting millions of Americans. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common forms of arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage on the ends of the bones wears down over time. This type of arthritis can occur anywhere in the body but is most often found in the hands, knees, hips and spine. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that generally attacks the joints but can impact internal organs in severe cases. It is estimated that 54 million Americans are diagnosed with arthritis.

Living with Arthritis

The most common symptoms of arthritis, joint pain and stiffness, can greatly impact the quality of life for those who suffer with this condition. Activities that should be simple, such as eating, grooming, bathing and housekeeping, can be difficult or even impossible to complete. If a person isn’t able to complete these activities it can lead to more long-term concerns regarding adequate nutrition, good personal hygiene and safety within the home. The services of a professional caregiver can be the key to allowing the person with arthritis to continue living and thriving in his or her home.

How SIGMA HomeCare Can Help

The professional staff of SIGMA HomeCare are a wonderful fit to assist patients with arthritis to complete at home. Skilled, compassionate and screened caregivers are available to help with meal preparation, light housekeeping, daily self-care routines and other necessary tasks. Help with meal preparation, for instance, ensures that the symptoms of arthritis (pain and stiffness) don’t lead to skipped meals resulting in poor nutrition. Help with other routine tasks, such as light housekeeping and grooming, can ensure that the person with arthritis maintains safety and a good quality of life within their home.

SIGMA HomeCare Individualized Care Plans

An individualized care plan will be developed that is specific to your needs. Below is a list of items your care plan might include:

Assistance with bathing, dressing and grooming
Help with meal preparation
Monitoring for safety and providing medication reminders
Help with light housekeeping
Running errands and completing grocery shopping
Providing physical assistance with transfers in/out of bed/chair/wheelchair
Assistance with ambulation
Assistance with light exercise
Help to schedule appointments, including social activities
Assistance with feeding
Assistance with toileting
Safety and supervision with routine daily tasks
Emotional support

Help for Caregivers

Caring for a family member with arthritis can be difficult if you live in another city or state. There are an estimated seven million Americans, according to the Arthritis Foundation, currently providing care for a loved one from a distance. Living far from a family member in need can be stressful.

Putting strategies in place to help check on a loved one when you don’t live nearby are important. Things such as knowing the name and contact information of the person’s doctor, pharmacist, friends and neighbors can allow you to check in and get objective observations of how your loved one is doing. Another practical option is to look into adding professional homecare services. The highly skilled staff at SIGMA HomeCare can assist your loved one with everyday tasks providing you with peace of mind. SIGMA HomeCare is ready to provide you and your loved one with a free in-home assessment to determine the best plan of care.