A Japanese community’s saying is "Extend
healthy life expectancy by having fun." How does that play out? Are
our older community members ready to have fun? What would allow
an older person to have fun? Independence. Mobility. Painfree movement. Sense
of purpose. Community involvement. All of these come into play. Vancouver Disc Centers
provides Vancouver chiropractic care to keep our community’s
older members healthy and equipped to have fun!
JAPAN’s AGING
The Japanese society is interesting as it looks
at the trend toward an older society and what that entails
for how the society will work, how medical care will have to evolve,
how services will grow to meet people where they are. Community
efforts go a long way to enhance and improve the quality
of life for people. One Japanese city
– 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 – held
well-received health classes via pharmacies. (1) Kobe City’s pharmacists
united to do health workshops and establish pharmacies as community health centers. They presented
exercise to improve activities of daily living, disease
definition, nutrition, health counseling, and bone density measurement. All
these efforts were intended to foster
awareness of how to live a better, healthier life and in return a
longer life expectancy. (2) Vancouver Disc Centers recognizes that change can be good.
JAPAN’S CHANGING
Impactful changes are the birth and death
rates of a country as they alter its structure. In Japan, such
trends are followed closely. Its aging population is growing rapidly.
The 65-year-old and over group in 2013 was 25%; in 2025
it’s expected to be 30%, and in 2060 to be 39.9%. The over
75 years 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, there
are different healthcare challenges 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 called
for to maximize 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 stay in their own homes as
they age is called for. (3) Collaboration is required.
CHIROPRACTIC’S ROLE IN CARING FOR THE AGING
Chiropractors collaborate for the good of their patients, particularly
Vancouver back pain patients. Chiropractors stand out at
co-managing conditions with family physicians, physical therapists and massage
therapists. They frequently referred older patients to
neurologists, family physicians, massage therapists, orthopedists and fellow
chiropractors. When it comes to management back pain
in older patients, 92% of chiropractors reported that they are confident
in their ability to do that. (4) Chiropractic is reportedly protective against 1-year declines in functional and self-rated
health issues for Medicare patients with spine
pain issues. Additionally, 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 extend positive effects beyond just pain relief. (6)
Having your Vancouver chiropractor at your side is invaluable
throughout your life and uniquely in your later years!
CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers
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 allowing her to find
enough pain relief to keep involved in her life with a mix
of chiropractic manipulation, rest and exercise.
Schedule
your Vancouver appointment with Vancouver Disc Centers. Exercise advice,
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 busy with life is possible
when you can keep on keeping on with chiropractic’s help!