A Japanese community’s motto is "Extend
healthy life expectancy by having fun." How does that look? 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. Apple Country Chiropractic
provides Williamson chiropractic care to keep our community’s
older members healthy and ready to have fun!
JAPAN’s AGING
The Japanese society is interesting as it takes a long look at the trend toward an older society and what that means
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 residents. 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 – 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. Such efforts were designed to build
awareness of how to live a better, healthier life and in return a
longer life expectancy. (2) Apple Country Chiropractic knows well
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, different healthcare challenges arise for the people and their healthcare
providers and healthcare system. Researchers write that a shift
in medical thought from “cure-seeking” to “cure and support seeking” is called
for to boost the patient’s quality of life. A shift from
hospital centered care to community centered care is also called
for. Collaboration among healthcare providers especially
those who help people stay in their own homes as
they age is called for. (3) Collaboration is needed.
CHIROPRACTIC’S ROLE IN CARING FOR THE AGING
Chiropractors collaborate for the good of their patients, especially
Williamson back pain patients. Chiropractors excel 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. Regarding management of back pain
in older patients, 92% of chiropractors reported that they are confident
in their ability to do that. (4) Chiropractic is reported
to be protective against 1-year declines in functional and self-rated
health issues for Medicare patients who have spine
pain issues. Plus, chiropractic patients have greater
satisfaction with follow up and details regarding their condition. (5) Additionally, a consensus group of
researchers concluded that chiropractic for older adult patients
is appropriate, particularly that spinal manipulation is safe,
exercise recommendations are proper, and manipulation and
mobilization extend positive effects beyond just pain relief. (6)
Having your Williamson chiropractor at your side is beneficial
throughout your life and uniquely in your later years!
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Kurt Olding on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he shares the case of
a 74-year-old lady who sought 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 mix
of chiropractic manipulation, rest and exercise.
Schedule
your Williamson appointment with Apple Country Chiropractic. 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 possible
when you can keep on keeping on with chiropractic’s help!