Chiropractic and Geriatrics: Care for the Aging

Chiropractic and Geriatrics: Care for the Aging 

With the population aged 65 and older expected to double between 2011 and 2030, the health care needs that will be created by this rapid population increase will place great demands on the country’s already-challenged health care system.

The elderly tend to suffer from chronic conditions, and often have many health problems that increase the complexity of their medical. Much of the elder population suffer from
musculoskeletal conditions, such as nonspecific back and joint pain and osteoarthritis, all of which are common causes of disability and decreased function in the elderly.

MAKING THE CASE FOR CHIROPRACTIC/MASSAGE CARE

Chronic pain is a multidimensional experience with sensory, affective and cognitive-evaluative components, each of which interacts with and contributes to the final pain response. The assessment and treatment of pain in the elderly, therefore, requires a holistic approach with sensitivity to the special concerns of this population. Up to 50% of the community dwelling elderly and 80% of institutionalized elderly suffer from chronic pain and a large proportion of these individuals do not receive any form of pain treatment. This problem has only been exacerbated by the fact that the elderly
have been systematically excluded from multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation programs that are known to be clinically effective.

The goals of multi-faceted (integrated) approaches to chronic pain programs are to:
1. Minimize pain;
2. Increase physical function;
3. Improve psychological well-being;
4. Reduce reliance on health care providers; and
5. Reduce reliance on pain-related
medications.

CONCLUSIONS: CLINICAL CHIROPRACTIC GERIATRIC PRACTICE

Doctors of chiropractic are well positioned to play an important role in health promotion, injury/disease prevention, and on geriatric care teams due to their conservative patient
centered practice style and holistic philosophy. The bottom line in aging care is that someone in the health care area must provide health promotion/ preventive services to older patients before the baby-boom generation profoundly overwhelms our health care
system. Chiropractic services are safe, effective, low cost and receive high rates of patient satisfaction. In the managed care environment, time pressures on allopathic providers may preclude them from spending sufficient time discussing health promotion and prevention with their patients. Chiropractic care is based on an active care model. Along with the hands-on nature of chiropractic care, a strong doctor-patient relationship is forged in which health and life-style recommendations may be comfortably and effectively discussed. 

Relative to musculoskeletal care in elderly patients, chiropractic adjustments (spinal
manipulative treatment) are recommended by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research for the care of acute low back pain, and the American Geriatric Society Panel
Guidelines for the Management of Chronic Pain state that non-pharmaceutical interventions such as chiropractic may be appropriate. Most geriatric health care providers have a limited number of options to offer patients with these complaints. Various chiropractic procedures are available as safe alternatives to drugs and surgery for musculoskeletal complaints in the older patient. Due to the prevalence of these
conditions in older patients, and the success of chiropractic in caring for these patients, interdisciplinary geriatric health care teams should include a doctor of chiropractic to
better facilitate a more active, healthy, aging society.

For more information about how chiropractic care can help you please call Benefit Chiropractic & Wellness Clinic at 604-534-7451.