A Japanese community’s motto is "Extend
healthy life expectancy by having fun." How does that play out? Are
our older community members able to have fun? What would allow
an older person to have fun? Independence. Mobility. Painfree movement. Sense
of purpose. Community involvement. All of these work. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
provides Sitka chiropractic care to keep our community’s
older members healthy and prepared to have fun!
JAPAN’s AGING
The Japanese society is noteworthy as it takes a long look at the trend toward an older society and what that entails
for how the society will run, how medical care will have to change,
how services will grow to meet people where they are. Community
efforts go far to enrich and improve the quality
of life for people. One Japanese community
– Anamizu “a town know for the good health and long life” of its 8600 residents
because 45.4% of them are over age 65 years – hosted
well-received health classes via pharmacies. (1) Kobe City’s pharmacists
came together to conduct health workshops and set
up pharmacies as community health centers. They talked about
exercise to improve activities of daily living, disease
definition, nutrition, health counseling, and bone density measurement. Such efforts were designed to foster
awareness of how to live a better, healthier life and in turn a
longer life expectancy. (2) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka knows well
that change can be good.
JAPAN’S CHANGING
Influential changes are the birth and death
rates of a country as they affect its structure. In Japan, such
trends are followed closely. Its aging population is growing quickly.
The over-age 65 years group in 2013 was 25%; in 2025
it’s expected to be 30%, and in 2060 to be 39.9%. The 75-year-old and over group in 2013 was 12.3% and expected to be 26.9%
in 2060. This aging group forms what researchers term a
“super-aged” society. With aging, different healthcare challenges arise for the people and their healthcare
providers and healthcare system. Researchers report that a change
in medical thought from “cure-seeking” to “cure and support seeking” is necessary to boost the patient’s quality of life. A shift from
hospital centered care to community centered care is also necessary. Collaboration among healthcare providers particularly
those who let people remain in their own homes as
they age is required. (3) Collaboration is needed.
CHIROPRACTIC’S ROLE IN CARING FOR THE AGING
Chiropractors collaborate for the good of their patients, especially
Sitka back pain patients. Chiropractors excel at
co-managing conditions with family physicians, physical therapists and massage
therapists. They often referred older patients to
neurologists, family physicians, massage therapists, orthopedists and fellow
chiropractors. Regarding management of back pain
in older patients, 92% of chiropractors reported that they are sure of their ability to do that. (4) Chiropractic is reportedly protective against 1-year declines in functional and self-rated
health issues for Medicare patients who suffer with spine
pain issues. Plus, chiropractic patients have higher
satisfaction with follow up and understanding
of their condition. (5) Additionally, a consensus group of
researchers decided that chiropractic for older adult patients
is appropriate, especially that spinal manipulation is safe,
exercise recommendations are proper, and manipulation and
mobilization offer positive effects beyond just pain relief. (6)
Having your Sitka chiropractor at your side is valuable
throughout your life and uniquely in your later years!
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Kurt Olding on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes
a 74-year-old lady who wanted to continue being a part of her
family’s farm life. Her spinal stenosis interfered, and
Dr. Olding’s use of the Cox® Technic System intervened by creating
enough pain relief to keep active in her life with a combination
of chiropractic manipulation, rest and exercise.
Schedule
your Sitka appointment with Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka. Exercise recommendation,
spinal manipulation and clear communication about what is ailing
you and your spine await your arrival. Extending your
life expectancy by having fun and being engaged with life is feasible
when you can keep on keeping on with chiropractic’s help!