Living with arthritis

Living well with Arthritis

Arthritis is one of the most common health conditions older adults struggle with, and depending on the severity, it can be incredibly frustrating, painful and debilitating. Here, we are taking a look at the reality of living with arthritis and the practical steps, home remedies and lifestyle changes you can make to improve your quality of life with this condition. We will also cover the different types of arthritis, symptoms you may experience, how it can be diagnosed, how to effectively manage the condition, and where to go if you need additional support or medical advice. 

At Home Instead, our aim is to help people age positively and in place by bringing expert care to their home. For nearly 20 years, we have been providing the highest standard of care, and creating industry-leading training programmes for our Care Professionals that are accredited by nursing and medical professionals. Today, we are the world’s largest global domiciliary care network, supporting over 100,000 older adults with personalised, tailored care at home. So whatever questions you have about medical concerns in ageing adults, we can help. 

What are the symptoms of arthritis? 

Arthritis can cause different symptoms for each person, depending on the type of arthritis, which joints it affects, and other health factors. These might include a combination of: 

• Joint pain – This is often the most frustrating part of living with arthritis, and is considered one of the most common symptoms. This pain can feel like a dull ache, a sharp pain, or a throbbing sensation around certain affected joints, and as mentioned, this will feel different for everyone. It can also vary in intensity depending on a number of factors, such as how advanced the arthritis is, how active the person is, their general health, and more.  
• Stiffness – Joints affected by arthritis may be stiff, and this stiffness could be particularly noticeable in the morning or after periods of inactivity. This makes moving parts of the body more difficult, and could lead to reduced dexterity. 
• Swelling – When inflammation increases the fluid in the joints, this can cause inflammation which looks like visible puffiness and tenderness around the affected joints. Swelling can exacerbate the discomfort involved with arthritis, and can affect the function of those joints by making movement more challenging. 
• Reduced range of motion – Due to the aforementioned symptoms, arthritis can often cause reduced range of motion in the affected joints and surrounding joints as the person attempts to limit their discomfort. When the ability to fully extend or flex joints is compromised by this condition, they may slowly start to reduce their amount of movement–purposefully or unconsciously–in order to prevent pain.  
• Limited mobility – For similar reasons to the reduced range of motion, older people with arthritis may attempt to reduce their pain and discomfort by reducing their level of movement around the home and outside the house. Due to chronic pain, they may stop walking as much, and eventually be unable to walk around unassisted.
• Other symptoms –  All other symptoms of arthritis can lead to additional issues, such as tiredness, sleeping problems, and mental health issues such as depression.

Collectively, arthritis symptoms can negatively impact older people by affecting their ability to perform daily activities and reducing their quality of life. Effective management and treatment strategies can help to alleviate some of the symptoms and even improve joint function, but over time older adults may require assistance to help with their arthritis symptoms.

How can an older person manage arthritis symptoms? 

Arthritis cannot be cured, so treating this condition involves managing the symptoms in order to ensure older people can maintain their quality of life by retaining their mobility and independence as much as possible. This can be done through a combination of medications, physical therapy, assistive devices and home adaptations to ensure minimum symptoms and maximum comfort. 

• Medications – Depending on the type of arthritis the person has, as well as their other health conditions or medications they are taking, a doctor may prescribe medications to help minimise their pain, inflammation and swelling as much as possible. These could include NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to manage pain, corticosteroids to relieve severe inflammation, DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) to slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, and more. 
• Physical therapy – This can be an essential treatment to help improve joint function, strength and mobility, particularly for older adults who are at risk of mobility issues. An experienced physical therapist will recommend tailored exercises and techniques to help target the affected joints and ensure they are being exercised as safely as possible without exacerbating symptoms. 
• Assistive devices – This might include things like braces, orthotics, mobility aids and more, and can help to support joint stability and make daily activities like cooking and cleaning easier and more comfortable. 
• Home adaptations – Making adaptations to an older person’s home can help them to retain their mobility and independence, and this can be especially helpful for those with arthritis. It may be recommended that an older adult with arthritis have things like grab bars installed, have their furniture adjusted to reduce strain on affected joints, or have other tools added to their home to make walking around easier and safer, and to enhance their overall comfort. You can read more about this in our guide to home adaptations for disabled older people.

With a combination of these strategies, an older adult (possibly with the help of a loved one or a professional home carer) could effectively manage their arthritis symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.

What lifestyle changes could help arthritis? 

Sometimes, a specialist may recommend certain lifestyle changes in order to help reduce the severity of arthritis symptoms. Alongside other treatment options, like medications and physical therapy, lifestyle changes could play a crucial role in managing arthritis effectively. 

• Exercise – Getting regular, low-impact exercise such as swimming, walking, gentle yoga or tai chi could help to maintain joint health, enhance flexibility, and reduce pain in older adults with arthritis without putting excessive strain on the joints. While movement may feel uncomfortable to those with this condition, the more movement and exercise the joints get, the better symptoms can become. You can learn more about fitness techniques for this age group in our guide to fitness and exercise for older adults.
• Nutrition – Eating a healthy diet (for example, one that is rich in anti-inflammatory foods, omega-3 fatty acids, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) can help to manage symptoms of inflammation and support overall joint function, which can reduce the severity of arthritis symptoms. 
• Weight management – Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to reduce stress on the joints affected by arthritis. Excess weight can worsen arthritis symptoms by overloading the joints, so managing weight can be highly effective in older adults to provide relief from strain on joints.
• Stress management – It may seem strange that stress can impact arthritis symptoms, but incorporating stress reduction techniques such as mindfulness, meditation and other relaxation exercises have been shown to help manage symptoms of arthritis. Additionally, stress reduction could help to manage the emotional impact of arthritis and contribute to overall wellbeing and quality of life. 

Although these lifestyle adjustments may be challenging for older adults, they can help to make a drastic difference to arthritis symptoms by improving joint function and alleviating pain. A loved one or professional home carer can help to support these changes. 

Can any other remedies help to alleviate arthritis symptoms? 

If you or your loved one experiences severe arthritis and you are looking for additional ways to reduce symptoms, several other remedies have the potential to alleviate these alongside conventional treatments. 

Applying heat pads and ice packs to affected joints can provide significant relief from arthritis symptoms. Heat helps to relax and soothe the muscles around the joints, while ice reduces inflammation and numbs the area of pain. However, if a loved one has difficulty moving independently, it’s important not to leave heating or ice packs directly on the skin. Always check the skin for signs of burning, irritation, or other issues. Additionally, individuals with conditions like diabetes, epilepsy, or multiple sclerosis (MS) should consult their healthcare team before using heat or ice therapy.

There are also certain supplements thought to provide relief to those suffering from arthritis symptoms. These include glucosamine and chondroitin, which can support joint health and potentially reduce pain. Turmeric also boasts natural anti-inflammatory properties that could offer additional relief. Remember, if you or your loved one plan to try any of these supplements, it is vital that you let your doctor or the specialist in charge of care know. Some supplements can interfere with other medications or could pose a health risk for those with certain other health conditions, so it is important to ensure they are safe and appropriate. 

It could also help to explore other complementary treatments to see if anything improves symptoms, such as acupuncture to manage pain and improve joint function, massage therapy to temporarily reduce stiffness, or chiropractic care to help with joint alignment and pain relief. 

All of the above remedies could provide symptom relief, but should be used alongside traditional treatments provided by your doctor, and you should always consult your doctor about what remedies you plan to explore. 

Where can older adults turn for support with arthritis? 

Older adults with arthritis may also find support to help manage their condition effectively through support groups where people share their experiences, gain emotional support, and learn from others facing similar challenges. Due to the commonality of arthritis, there are also plenty of online resources providing additional support, educational materials and more. You may find some useful advice at:

• Age UK has information on arthritis, as well as advice on the financial support you may be able to claim for if you live with arthritis. You can find out more on their website. 
• Arthritis Action provides information on living well with arthritis, as well as resources such as cost of living support. You can find out more on their website. 
• Versus Arthritis provides many online resources and a dedicated helpline for those living with arthritis. You can learn more on their website, or call their helpline on: 0800 5200 520 (lines open Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm)

Older adults may require additional support from loved ones, family caregivers, or professional home carers who can provide practical help with daily activities and emotional encouragement, while also staying informed about the latest arthritis management techniques. 

If you require advanced care, your doctor will likely refer you to a consulting rheumatologist or orthopaedic specialist where you can receive a tailored treatment plan and additional help to manage severe symptoms.

By utilising some of the resources mentioned, you can enhance your overall wellbeing and quality of life if you are struggling with arthritis symptoms. If you are caring for a loved one with arthritis, use some of the above suggestions to help them maintain their independence at home and manage their symptoms more effectively.

Can home care support those with arthritis? 

A professional home carer can provide regular or live-in support, depending on the nature of the older person’s condition and their level of need. This can help them to effectively manage symptoms of arthritis and ease the discomfort of painful, swollen or stiff joints. 

As an example of this, experienced home carers from Home Instead can provide:

• Encouragement and reminders from Care Professionals to move around regularly and move affected joints (if recommended by a doctor or a physical therapist)
• Reminders to take medications to help with arthritis symptoms 
• Help with meal planning, housekeeping and other regular home tasks that can be more challenging and painful for someone with arthritis
• Help with personal care activities that can be more difficult and dangerous for older adults with arthritis 
• Support the use of assistive devices and home adaptations in order to keep the home environment safe for an older person living with arthritis. 
• Work alongside physiotherapists to be trained to help with exercises. 

Through a combination of medical treatments, lifestyle changes and effective support systems through companionship, older adults with arthritis can still manage their symptoms well and retain their quality of life, mobility and independence for many years to come. 

At Home Instead, we understand there’s no place like home, so our home care offering aims to help older adults retain independence and stay in familiar surroundings. We offer a number of bespoke services which can be tailored to your needs, and our Care Professionals are highly trained to deliver the individualised service you need. Reach out to the team at Home Instead to learn more.