Arthritis is a common condition that many elderly people live with, often impacting their ability to manage personal care and daily tasks. It occurs when the tissues of the joints are attacked, breaking down the cartilage and causing the ends of the bones to rub against each other. This leads to pain, swelling, and often a loss of movement in the affected area. When it affects the hands, it can make performing essential activities even more challenging for your loved one.
Three Types of Arthritis That Can Affect the Hands
#1 Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes swelling in the joint lining, leading to pain, stiffness, and loss of function. It’s an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue. The inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis destroys the cartilage at the ends of bones and then erodes the bone as well. The joints lose their shape and alignment when the surrounding tendons and ligaments of the bone weaken and stretch.
Rheumatoid arthritis commonly affects the smaller joints of the wrists, hands, and fingers, making common tasks difficult without the help of personal care services.
#2 Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative arthritis, the most common type of arthritis. Years of wear and tear lead to cartilage (the smooth cushion covering the ends of bones) breaking down and wearing away. Without the protection that cartilage offers, the ends of bones then rub together, causing pain, stiffness, and loss of movement over the years.
Osteoarthritis is commonly located in the wrist, the joint at the base of the thumb, and the middle and top joints of the fingers (near the fingernails), also making routine tasks challenging without the help of personal care or family caregivers.
#3 Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis that affects both the skin (psoriasis) and the joints. With psoriatic arthritis, the fingers become swollen, leading to joint pain and morning stiffness.
Symptoms of Arthritis in the Hands
- Morning stiffness in the hands upon waking.
- Aching and pain in the hands after using them more than normal.
- Swollen joints in the hands.
- Stiffness may make it difficult or impossible to fully stretch out the fingers or open the hands.
- After a time, the joints of the hands may become larger and deformed, making many daily tasks difficult to perform.
Getting Personal Care at Home to Help Support Independent Living
If arthritis is affecting your loved one’s ability to perform certain tasks at home, she doesn’t have to give up living in her home. She might just need someone to come in and offer daily or weekly assistance with activities she can no longer do. In-home personal care providers can step in and support your loved one by offering services with activities that she can no longer do.
For example, a personal care provider can help your loved one with personal care needs like trimming and cleaning her nails. The personal care provider may help your loved one with shaving, styling hair, or other tasks. They can also help with chores around the home that your loved one may find too difficult when her arthritis is flaring, such as folding clothes or preparing meals.
With personal care services, your loved one can customize the care she needs to remain independent in her home and not let the limitations that arthritic hands may create stop her from enjoying her home safely and thoroughly.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Personal Care in Bethany, CT, please contact the caring staff at Talem Home Care & Placement Services of New Haven, CT, today. Call (203) 538-6273
At Talem Home Care & Placement Services of Fort Hartford CT, we provide passionate, understanding, and flexible caregivers in New Haven, Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Cheshire, Derby, Milford, Naugatuck, Orange, Prospect, Seymour, Shelton, Stratford, Trumbull, West Haven, Woodbridge, and Woodmont and surrounding areas in Connecticut.
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