What is Osteoporosis?
As osteoporosis is a health condition that weakens bones slowly over several years it is often only diagnosed when a fall or sudden impact causes a bone to break. Osteoporosis is not usually painful until a bone is broken, but broken bones in the spine are a common cause of long-term pain.
Bone is a living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced by the body. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone doesn’t keep up with the loss of old bone, creating fragile and porous bones.
The most common injuries in people with osteoporosis are broken wrists, broken hips (hip fracture), and broken spinal bones (vertebrae). The locations of these bones, along with the average age of people with osteoporosis, mean that recovery can be slow, and in most cases of hip fracture, the outcome can be very poor indeed. Meaning preventing falls and fractures is critical for a person with osteoporosis.
What Causes Osteoporosis?
Causes of osteoporosis are varied, with no one factor being responsible for causing the condition. However, the factors can include hormonal dysfunction, age-related bone loss, and other medical conditions. There are also some predisposing factors (things we cannot change) to take into consideration.
Some risk factors for osteoporosis that are out of one’s control, include:
- Gender – women are much more likely to develop osteoporosis than men
- Age – the older you get, the greater your risk of osteoporosis
- Ethnicity – you’re at greater risk of osteoporosis if you are of white or Asian descent
- Family history – having a parent or sibling with osteoporosis puts you at greater risk
- Body frame size – men and women who have small body frames tend to have a higher risk (this is thought to be due to the fact that they have less bone mass)
- Hormone imbalances – people with hyperthyroidism can suffer increased bone loss, and lowered sex hormones tend to weaken bones also – examples of lowered sex hormones include menopause in women, treatments for prostate cancer that reduce testosterone levels in men, and treatments for breast cancer that reduce oestrogen levels in women
Some risk factors are due to lifestyle, diet, and medications:
Certain medicines can affect bone strength if taken for a prolonged period, such as high-dose steroids and oral or injected corticosteroid medications.
- Eating disorders – severely restricting food intake and being underweight weakens bones
having a low body mass index (BMI) - Not exercising regularly – weight-bearing exercise is particularly useful to build bone strength
- Heavy drinking and smoking
- Low calcium intake contributes to early bone loss and an increased risk of fractures
- Gastrointestinal surgery – surgery to reduce the size of the stomach or to remove part of the intestine limits the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, including calcium
Treating Osteoporosis
While there is no treatment currently available to cure osteoporosis completely there are a number of treatment options to strengthen bones.
They include:
- Bisphosphonates slow the rate at which bone is broken down by the body, this maintains bone density and reduces the risk of a broken bone
- Selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are medicines that have a similar effect on bone as the hormone oestrogen, they help to maintain bone density and reduce the risk of fracture, particularly of the spine
- Biological medicines are made from proteins or other substances produced by the body, they work by slowing down the rate at which the bones are broken down and speeding up the rate at which cells build bone
- Parathyroid hormone treatments (such as teriparatide) are used to stimulate cells that create new bone
- Calcium and vitamin D supplements
- HRT (hormone replacement therapy) can be taken by women who are going through menopause to reduce bone loss
Live-in care for Osteoporosis
People living with osteoporosis must be very cautious and take preventative measures in their daily lives to ensure they do not suffer a debilitating fracture. Even getting out of bed or climbing up and down steps can pose challenges. As osteoporosis most commonly affects the elderly, the risk of trips and falls is significantly elevated in this group. Often elderly people already experience limited mobility so persistent pain and fractures can hinder daily life even more.
If you or a loved one is living with osteoporosis you know only too well how challenging daily tasks can be and how worrying the risk of a fall is for you and your family. Live-in care can be incredibly beneficial for someone living with osteoporosis, in many ways.
How a live-in carer can help
Carers can help with a broad range of practical and personal tasks, such as getting out of bed, washing, dressing, and general housekeeping. They can also support you in the community, driving and accompanying you to appointments or social events, grocery shopping, or encouraging exercise, such as walks in the park.
In addition, carers can help prepare nutritious meals which are vital for those living with osteoporosis. They can ensure medications are taken in the appropriate dosages at the correct time. And are there to provide companionship and emotional support. With a Trinity carer by your side, you will gain a new sense of confidence and independence, free of worry.
Benefits of live-in care
Knowing that a carer is on hand round-the-clock and that your home has been assessed for fall and trip hazards by your carer, reduces your fall risk considerably.
Knowing that someone is cooking and caring for you in a way that positively impacts your osteoporosis means peace of mind that you are in the best of hands.
With the support of a Trinity carer, you can maintain your independence in the community you love as opposed to a move to residential care or moving into a family member’s home.
The quality of one-to-one personal care, companionship, and support is unrivaled by residential care homes or other settings. Not only are Trinity carers highly trained and experienced but Trinity Homecare has been awarded the highest ranking ‘Outstanding’ in our most recent audit by the Care Quality Commission. This puts us in the top 3% of home care providers in England.
For you and your family knowing there is someone with you, day and night, ready to help with anything you need, provides great comfort.
The friendship and reassurance offered by a live-in carer cannot be underestimated in maintaining a person’s well-being. In fact, most our clients say their carer is more like one of the family, someone they can trust completely.
Home care is easy with Trinity
At Trinity we know that no two people with osteoporosis are the same, that’s why we offer flexible care and create a personalised individual care plan for each of our clients. Setting up osteoporosis care with Trinity is easy – we’ll support you every step of the way.
Simply call our friendly care team today and we can arrange a no-obligation at-home care assessment in order to understand all your needs, wishes, and preferences. We will create a tailored care plan bespoke to you and give advice and recommendations about what type of care suits you best.
We work hard to match you with a carer based on your health conditions, lifestyle, and preferences. We can very quickly implement care, in urgent cases as quickly as 24 hours. If your needs or wishes change, so does the care you receive. With a Trinity carer by your side, you can live life to the full.
Call us today on 01908 183 4648 , lines are open every day between 7.30 am and 5.30 pm. Alternatively, complete our online enquiry form and we will get in touch with you.