Senior Helpers In Home Elder Care of Washington, D.C.

, and Rockville, Maryland, Raises Awareness

About Arthritis  

Learn about an “invisible” form of arthritis plaguing  thousands of seniors today  

Washington, D.C., and Rockville, Maryland  – One in five adults in the United States is experiencing
some form of arthritis. May is Arthritis  Awareness Month  and Senior Helpers of Washington, D.C., and
Rockville, Maryland (MD), a local senior care company that provides in-home and companion care
services for seniors, is raising awareness about the most common type of arthritis among seniors,
osteoarthritis, and  the most “invisible” arthritis-related condition, fibromyalgia. Maxine Cohen,
President of Senior Helpers of Washington, D.C., and Rockville, Maryland (MD) is encouraging families to
talk with their aging parents and grandparents about some simple lifestyle changes that can help reduce
the pain.

Osteoarthritis is the most common chronic condition of the joints. Osteoarthritis is a breakdown of the
cartilage that protects the ends of our bones. As the cartilage wears away, the bones become exposed
and start rubbing against each other, causing pain at the joints. There is no one specific cause of
osteoarthritis, but overuse of your joints or former injury, weight and genes all play a determining role.

Fibromyalgia can be a very uncomfortable arthritis-related condition that the medical community is still

researching because the symptoms are often “invisible.” In many cases, the most common complaints
are constantly feeling tired and pain throughout the entire body. The exact cause of fibromyalgia is still
not known.

     

“50 million people in this country are diagnosed with some form of arthritis by a doctor, according to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” says Maxine Cohen, President of Senior Helpers of
Washington, D.C., and Rockville, Maryland (MD). “Arthritis can be a ‘silent pain’ among seniors, but they
do not have to suffer through it alone. Our caregivers work side‐by-side with the elderly to keep them
moving and to help them with chores they cannot do because they are in pain. If families cannot be with
their loved ones all the time or live far away, they can use our caregivers to help.”

Fast Facts About Arthritis:  

•...Women are more likely to suffer than men  

•...Second to heart disease as a reason for work disability  

•...Results in 39 million visits to the doctor/year

•...Results in more than half a million hospitalizations/year

Get Moving, Feel Better:

Health experts say moving is the best medicine for seniors with arthritis! Exercise helps strengthen
joints, enhance bone strength and promote healthy sleeping patterns. Below is a list of the most
beneficial exercises for seniors with arthritis, according to the Mayo Clinic.  

Low‐impact, aerobic exercise is the best choice for seniors with arthritis.

•...Swimming: It is easy on the joints and does not cause pain, like running can. The Mayo Clinic
recommends seniors to swim 20-30 minutes, 3 times a week.

•...Bicycling: Keeps joints flexible but strong, and reduces joint pain. The American Academy of
Orthopedic Surgeons recommends bicycling several times a week.

•...Strength Training: Other than building muscle strength, lifting weights increases bone density and
helps protect the joints. Bicep curls and lateral raises with light, free weights are recommended several
times a week.  

•...Yoga: Helps increase blood circulation. It also strengthens flexibility and balance which is key for
seniors to avoid serious falls.

“We make sure our senior clients stay active, even if it simply means walking with them around the
block,” says Cohen. “We are here to keep them moving when families cannot be there.“

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 Sources: The Arthritis Foundation, the Mayo Clinic, AAOS, CDCP, Yoga Journal.

Media Contact: Maxine Cohen, (301) 590-1234, mcohen@seniorhelpers.com

For more information about Senior Helpers, please visit: http://seniorhelpersrockville.com/

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About Senior Helpers:

Senior Helpers provides many in-home, caregiving services for the elderly in Washington, D.C., and
Rockville, Bethesda, Potomac, Gaithersburg and Germantown, Maryland, and surrounding areas. We
offer extensive in-home health care services for seniors who embrace their independence and the
personal dignity that goes with it. Our in-home health care services are provided by bonded and insured
caregivers all of whom pass a national background check.

If a senior family member needs in-home care services in the District of Columbia or Montgomery
County, Maryland, we are an excellent choice with exemplary references. In-home care is the
compassionate choice for your elderly loved ones' continued independent living. We promise we will do
our best to make it a positive experience for them and you. For more information, please visit:
http://seniorhelpersrockville.com/.