Senior Helpers In Home Elder Care of Kansas City Northland, Missouri,

Raises Awareness About Arthritis  

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

(Gladstone, Missouri  – May 2011)  – One in five adults in the United States is experiencing
some form of arthritis. May is Arthritis Awareness Month and Senior Helpers of Kansas City
Northland, Missouri (MO), 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.
Melissa Moran, Owner of Senior Helpers of Kansas City Northland, Missouri (MO) 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 Melissa Moran, Owner of
Senior Helpers of Kansas City Northland, Missouri (MO). “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 Moran. “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: Melissa Moran, (816) 455-9300, mmoran@seniorhelpers.com

For more information about Senior Helpers, please visit:

http://seniorhelpers.com/location/2907.

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About Senior Helpers:

Senior Helpers provides many, in-home, caregiving services for the elderly in the Kansas City
Northland area including Gladstone, North Kansas City, Liberty, Saint Joseph, Kirksville, Excelsior
Springs, and Maryville.  We offer extensive in-home care services for seniors who value
embrace their independence and the personal dignity that goes with it.  Our in-home 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 Kansas City Northland and
surrounding areas, 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://seniorhelpers.com/location/2907.