A Japanese community’s motto is "Extend healthy life expectancy by having fun." How does that look? 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. New Hampshire Spine and Sport provides Southern New Hampshire 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 looks at the trend toward an older society and what that implies 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 far to enrich 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 65 years old – held popular 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 increase 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 return a longer life expectancy. (2) New Hampshire Spine and Sport 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 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 required to maximize 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 let people stay 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, particularly Southern New Hampshire back pain patients. Chiropractors stand out 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 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 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 concluded that chiropractic for older adult patients is appropriate, particularly that spinal manipulation is safe, exercise recommendations are proper, and manipulation and mobilization offer positive effects beyond just pain relief. (6) Having your Southern New Hampshire chiropractor at your side is beneficial throughout your life and notably in your later years!
CONTACT New Hampshire Spine and Sport
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 hampered her desire, 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 Southern New Hampshire appointment with New Hampshire Spine and Sport. 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 busy with life is possible when you can keep on keeping on with chiropractic’s help!