Osteoporosis is an abnormal bone density condition that weakens bones. This makes them more prone to fractures, breaks and damage. It develops slowly over a number of years and can remain undiagnosed until someone falls and breaks a bone, or suffers bone damage after a sudden impact or even a heavy cough or sneeze. People who have osteoporosis are most likely to break a bone in their wrist, hip or spine. Other common areas for fractures include the arm and pelvis.
Effects of osteoporosis
While osteoporosis itself is not painful, it can cause long-term pain following a bone fracture if not treated carefully. It can also affect some people’s posture, causing them to stop as bones in the spine break and are no longer able to support them properly. Osteoporosis can be supported with medication and bones protected through a vitamin D and calcium-rich diet, exercise and falls prevention.
Osteoporosis is more common in older people as it can take a while to develop. Post-menopausal women are particularly at risk and it can also accompany hormone-related conditions, anorexia, low body mass and inflammatory conditions. People who smoke and/or drink heavily and do not do much exercise can also be more prone to developing osteoporosis. This National Osteoporosis Month, we take a look at some ways in which care home managers can help residents living with the condition and how to help them prevent suffering a bone fracture or other damage.
Diet and nutrition
When planning meals in your care home, think about ways to get extra vitamin D and calcium into the diet. This will help not only those residents who have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis, but it will help everyone’s overall bone health. Some foods that are rich in vitamin D include tuna, salmon, mackerel and other oily fish, red meat, liver and eggs. Green vegetables are good too, including spinach, kale and okra. Calcium is present in dairy foods (milk, cheese, butter, yoghurt etc.), beans and lentils, almonds and leafy greens. Plenty of choices there for several interesting, nutritious meals that can all be planned using Care Vision’s digital care management system. Aim to reduce consumption of alcohol, caffeine and fizzy drinks.
Safety first
A key way to jeep people with osteoporosis safe, along with all other residents, is to make sure there are no tripping hazards or areas where they are more likely to fall and break a bone. Move all cables and wires to safe places and leave plenty of room between piece of furniture for people to move around the building. Avoid slippery rugs and mend any carpets that are torn or partly sticking up. Never use wax on bare floors or staircases to clean or polish. Keep the building well-lit and install hand rails wherever convenient. Outside, keep paths clear of fallen leaves and debris. Make sure that residents have shoes that are sturdy, fit well and are in good repair. Use Care Vision to keep track of repairs and maintenance needed in the care home.
Vitamin D and sunlight
Speaking of going outside, this can be extremely helpful for bone health. Vitamin D is essential for keeping bones strong and supporting bone density. Encourage outdoor activities such as walking in the grounds, light gardening, bird watching and picnics or outdoor afternoon tea in the summer. Keep the curtains and windows open on warmer days so residents can enjoy the effects of sunlight even while indoors. On duller days, or in autumn and winter, you can increase people’s exposure to vitamin D by adjusting meals and adding supplements to their medication regime where appropriate and safe to do so. This is also helpful when osteopenia is diagnosed – often seen as the precursor to full osteoporosis.
Fitness fun
Exercise that provides light impact can be highly beneficial to people with osteoporosis and osteopenia as it helps strengthen bones and keep the body fit, healthy and less prone to things like dizziness or fatigue that could lead to a fall. Walking, swimming, dancing and aerobics can all help. Other useful exercises include weight-bearing activities using kettlebell weights or barbells, body-weight resistance and flexibility training. That said, any form of exercise will be beneficial, so long as people warm up and cool down to prevent injury, stay safe during the activity, drink plenty of water and know when to stop in order not to overdo things.
