“Arthritis is one of the top reasons people need long term care as they age and no longer are able to perform normal daily functions,” explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for long term care insurance.  “We found that 10 percent of nursing home claimants receiving insurance benefits are women diagnosed with arthritis.”

A second study revealed that arthritis is strongly connected with age.   Researchers examined how the oldest individuals, those aged 85 years or older, are affected by the disease.  They looked at adults over the age of 85. 

The findings revealed that for any arthritis the lifetime prevalence was high, with 673 (65.4%) of the participants having arthritis, they also discovered that the disease was more common in women than men (69.1% vs 58.8%).

Osteoarthritis was more common in women than men (57.1% vs 42.5%). Osteoarthritis was most prevalent in the knee joint followed by the hip and hand. Several of those participating in the study identified the knee as the most painful joint, even though the foot, ankle and lower back received the highest pain score.

“The impact of arthritis on disability, health and long term care need is significant,” Slome notes.  “The economic burden of musculoskeletal disease in the oldest old is potentially huge and its management presents a major challenge to American families.”

According to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance planning is especially important for women who are far more likely to need care as a result of living longer lives.  “Because of the need to medically qualify for long term care insurance women need to start planning well before reaching age 70,” Slome advises.  “The sweet spot is between ages 52 and 64 before Medicare kicks in and people take advantage of the free medical screenings the Medicare program offers.

Two free consumer guides on long term care planning can be accessed on the Association’s website at http://www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance-costs/ and no sign-in or personal information is required to read the guides.

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According to Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, while arthritis is strongly connected with age, few investigations have studied how the oldest individuals (those aged 85+ years) are affected by the disease.

The study looked at over 1,000 individuals aged 85 years old and revealed that for any arthritis the lifetime prevalence was high, with 65.4% of the participants having arthritis. According to Slome, the researchers discovered that the disease was more common in women than men: 69.1% vs 58.8%.

Osteoarthritis the researchers found was most prevalent in the knee joint followed by the hip and hand. A percentage of those participating in the study identified the knee as the most painful joint, even though the foot, ankle and lower back received the highest pain score.

With the exception of the shoulder and foot, for all joints women reported a higher average pain score.

The study was published today in the journal Age and Ageing. According to AALTCI, arthritis is the fourth leading cause of long term care insurance claims for nursing home care, following Alzheimer’s, nervous system conditions and stroke.

“With more Americans living into their 80s and beyond, having a long term care plan in place is more important than ever,” declares Slome. “Most people wait too long to consider their options because the right time to plan is prior to turning age 65.”

For more information on long term care insurance, visit the Association’s Consumer Information center that can be accessed at http://www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance/.

The post Women Aged Over 85 Have Higher Prevalence Of Arthritis And Joint Pain appeared first on American Association for Long Term Care Insurance.