Today is World Arthritis Day, part of National Arthritis Week (8-14 October), and an opportune time for us to think about and understand the effects of this debilitating condition.  Arthritis is the biggest cause of pain and disability in the UK, affecting 10 million people including 15,000 children1, yet many of us do not really understand the severity of the disease.

We have all heard about arthritis but did you know there are over 100 different forms of the condition?  The most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, both causing stiff painful joints and fatigue.  Although arthritis can affect anyone at any time, the elderly are particularly vulnerable.  And, with the number of over 85s in the UK expected to more than double to 3.5 million by 20352, it can be assumed that the prevalence of arthritis will also increase.

It is therefore imperative that society is prepared, with organisations – from supermarkets to air carriers – needing to radically consider how they can accommodate this growing market segment.  For example, we have developed a state-of-the-art arthritis suit so that engineers and sales staff can better understand what it is like to suffer from the condition, helping them to reach out and empathise with prospective customers.

However, the home is a good place to start and it is worth considering what we can do to assist elderly friends or relatives that suffer with the condition, helping them to make small adaptations in the home to make everyday tasks that little bit easier.  These can include simple changes such as:

• Attaching a basket to the inside of your letter box to avoid bending down to pick up the post
• Wrapping an elastic band around rounded door handles to make them easier to grip and open
• Install special plug adaptations such as stick-on plug grips to make plugs easier to remove from the socket
• Change to a cordless phone so that you can always keep it near you, avoiding having to get up every time it rings
• Remove any loose mats or carpets to avoid unnecessary trips and falls
• Install a stairlift to ensure it is as easy as possible to reach upstairs rooms

For further information on arthritis and ways to ease the condition visit www.worldarthritisday.org

Sources:
1.    Arthritis Research UK
2.    Office for National Statistics