September is Arthritis Awareness month in Canada, so this month I'm going to share simple ways for those affected with arthritis to get arthritis related support. While statistics say that 1 in 5 Canadians lives with arthritis, 9 in 10 of my clients have arthritis, mostly because I work with older adults. That doesn't mean that arthritis doesn't affect younger people. 55% of people with arthritis are under 65 and as many as 25,000 Canadian children seek healthcare for arthritis. Arthritis is difficult to live with, so I always recommend my clients take advantage of as many support systems as they can. Here are 3 ways to get local arthritis support tailored to your own needs:
Look up the Arthritis Society Canada website for multiple resources. They have excellent information on arthritis facts, treatment options, support, education and many other arthritis related topics. They have an Arthritis helpline where volunteers answer your questions for free. If needed, the volunteers can refer you to a Peer Listener. Arthritis Society Canada’s Peer Listeners are volunteers trained to lend an ear to those when you need someone to listen and understand.
Join a support group. There are a number of in person and virtual support groups where people share and learn from each other, support each other and make a difference in each others' arthritis journeys.
Take advantage of free resources provided by federal or provincial authorities. The Health Canada website has a comprehensive section on "Living with Arthritis". The Arthritis Society Canada's website has a great page where you can look up local programs.
Living with arthritis can sometimes feel lonely and finding the resources you need can often be complicated. At in4MED, we can make this stressful time easier by connecting you to local support systems and being there for you as your trusted health advocates. As always, feel free to connect with me or leave a comment.
Nikita
Healthcare Consultant, in4MED
The author of this blog post is a Physician with over 10 years of experience working in the healthcare system as a clinician, researcher and educator. She is passionate about healthcare for older adults and strives to be a resourceful inspiration to caregivers.
*No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional.