 May is National Arthritis Awareness Month
Osteoarthritis (OA), affects 27 million Americans. OA is a chronic condition characterized by the breakdown of the joint's cartilage. Cartilage is the part of the joint that cushions the ends of the bones and allows easy movement of joints. The breakdown of cartilage causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint.
The Impact of Osteoarthritis is Vast:
- OA typically affects only certain joints, such as the hips, hands, knees, low back and neck
- After age 50, women are more often affected by OA than men.
- Symptoms of OA typically first begin after age 40 and progress slowly.
- Loss of joint function as a result of OA is a major cause of work disability and reduced quality of life.
- Arthritis and related conditions, such as OA, cost the U.S. economy nearly $128 billion per year in medical care and indirect expenses, including lost wages and productivity.
- The average direct cost of OA is approximately $2,600 per year per person living with OA.
- The total annual cost of OA per person living with OA is approximately $5700.
Learn more
Sound Options' Geriatric Care Managers and care givers help OA clients cope every day. Together, our care team is committed to sustaining quality of life for every client living with OA. |
 Stroke Awareness May is National Stroke Awareness Month
The impact of strokes is difficult to deny...
- About 795,000 Americans each year suffer a new or recurrent stroke. That means, on average, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds.
- Stroke kills more than 137,000 people a year. That's about 1 of every 18 deaths. It's the No. 3 cause of death behind diseases of the heart and cancer.
- On average, every 4 minutes someone dies of stroke.
- About 40 percent of stroke deaths occur in males, and 60 percent in females.
- The 2006 stroke death rates per 100,000 population for specific groups were 41.7 for white males, 41.1 for white females, 67.7 for black males and 57.0 for black females.
- Americans will pay about $73.7 billion in 2010 for stroke-related medical costs and disability.
Learn more about stroke and heart disease.
Sound Options offers professional care services to help those affected by stroke and heart disease complications. With your love and our care, we can assemble a support system to care for those with both temporary as well as chronic care needs. Contact us today to discuss our Eldercare services.
|
 Up-Coming Seminars!Join us for one of our May community outreach seminars.
Road Map to Retirement & Navigation the Healthcare Highway
Tuesday, May 18th - 6:30-8:30 PM
Merrill Gardens, Gig Harbor, WA
Caring for Your Parents 101
Saturday, May 22 - 10:30-12:00
Aegies of Bellevue, Bellevue, WA
|
Mary Lynn Pannen, RN, BSN, CCM 