A 75-year-old Palm Coast resident’s challenging year of surgeries and recovery highlights a broader trend in Flagler County, where an aging population is driving increased demand for orthopedic care.
Jan Weida, a Grand Haven resident, underwent two knee replacements in 2024 at AdventHealth Palm Coast after worsening osteoarthritis made walking painful. Months later, she fractured her femur in a fall at home.
For many older adults in Palm Coast, injuries tied to aging bones and mobility challenges are becoming increasingly common, according to regional health assessments.
Weida, a retired registered nurse, said having local orthopedic care throughout each stage made a difference. She recalled knowing she was in good hands the moment she met Dr. Michael Campbell, the orthopedic surgeon with AdventHealth who performed her surgeries.
“He looks right at you and listens,” she said. “You feel like he has all the time in the world.”
Campbell replaced both of Weida’s knees and later repaired her fractured femur. He said experiencing all three conditions in a single year is not typical, but it illustrates how quickly health needs can shift for older adults.
“Knee arthritis usually builds slowly, but a femur fracture is sudden,” Campbell said. “It’s the kind of injury pattern we often see after a fall, especially when bone strength has changed with age.”
In Flagler County, nearly one-third of residents are 65 or older. According to SG2, the community has also grown nearly 11% in the past five years, with adults 65 and older making up the fastest-growing segment.
With those shifts, support for age-friendly and orthopedic care has become increasingly important. AdventHealth Palm Coast earned Joint Commission certification in knee, hip, and shoulder replacement and is a Level 2 Age-Friendly Health System. These designations reflect efforts to better support older adults in a community where injuries from falls are common.
Campbell said he meets many patients who are active, whether golfing, walking, or cycling, yet still vulnerable to injuries that can disrupt daily routines.
“Most of my patients want to stay as active as they can,” he said. “Mobility plays into everything: confidence, independence, even how people connect socially.”
After Weida fractured her femur, she remembers the hospital’s nursing staff checking on her frequently and helping her navigate the first difficult days of recovery.
“The pain was unbelievable at first,” she said. “They were kind, patient — they helped me get through it.”
Rehabilitation took time and consistency. Campbell said that is often the hardest part.
“Surgery is one moment in a long process,” he said. “The real work is in rehab, and it only moves forward when patients stay engaged.”
Palm Coast’s rapid growth has brought more people seeking orthopedic help, from joint degeneration to fractures. AdventHealth has added new physicians, including fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons who focus on hip and knee revisions, along with new technology like TenJet, a minimally invasive treatment for tendinosis, a condition caused by degenerated tendon tissue.
“People don’t want to leave their community for care,” Campbell said. “They want to recover close to home, with support around them.”
Today, Weida is back to golfing, taking exercise classes, walking daily, and planning to try pickleball. She said mobility gave her back the routines that help her feel steady and whole.
“It feels good to be myself again,” she said.
The post Palm Coast Woman’s Year of Injuries Reflects Growing Orthopedic Needs in Aging Community first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
