A message from Arthritis Ireland

Reference: June 2024 | Issue 6 | Vol 10 | Page 30

Arthritis Ireland is the national charity in Ireland for people living with arthritis. We are the ‘go to’ destination for people living with arthritis and provide a range of support, information, training, and education programmes. We seek to ensure that every person living with arthritis in Ireland is supported to live a full and active life, having access to appropriate health services and treatments. We work to ensure an enhanced quality-of-life, minimising the devastating effects that arthritis can have.

At Arthritis Ireland we recognise the central role that empowering people to self-manage with a chronic condition such as arthritis plays in enabling them to live well with their disease. Our self-management programmes equip individuals with practical skills to mitigate the effects of arthritis on their daily lives.

Living well with arthritis

Developed by Stanford University, this six-week, award-winning programme, which is available online and in-person, covers every area of self-management including decreasing pain, reducing reliance on health professionals and medication, and improving a person’s overall sense of wellbeing. Participants learn about pain and fatigue management, healthy eating, dealing with emotions, and sleep and exercise techniques.

Behind the pain

Managing mental health is an essential part of an arthritis treatment plan. Led by an accredited psychotherapist and delivered in a group setting, this six-week course delves into the lived emotional reality of living with arthritis and related conditions. Discussion topics include coping with an invisible illness, the grief cycle, dealing with fatigue, and asking for help.

Be Active with Arthritis

Be Active with Arthritis is an adapted exercise programme that was developed by Arthritis Ireland and the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists. This is a one-hour class held over six weeks, directed by a chartered physiotherapist, that can be delivered in-person or online. Classes allow participants to partake in an appropriate exercise programme that improves strength, mobility, and conditioning, and therefore, enhances quality-of-life.

Core services

One of our core services is our free national helpline. An accredited member of the Helplines Partnership, our helpline is a confidential service available from Monday-to-Friday, 10am-to-4pm. It offers emotional support and guidance, catering not only to newly diagnosed individuals, but also to anyone facing day-to-day challenges in managing their arthritis.

As well as being fully trained and treating all calls and information with the strictest confidence, our helpline volunteers live with and have vast experience of arthritis. The helpline number is 0818 252 846 and offers a call back service for those who leave a voicemail, or people can email helpline@arthritisireland.ie.  

The Arthritis Ireland Clinic Referral Programme (CRP) is an additional support for people living with arthritis at various stages of their disease journey, whether newly diagnosed or living with arthritis for a number of years. The programme is an integral part of the rheumatology model of care, offering an introduction to self-management, tailored information and support, and a direct route to Arthritis Ireland’s suite of services and supports. To register interest in becoming a referral centre for the CRP service, please contact Peter Boyd at pboyd@arthritisireland.ie. 

We also offer free information booklets by post and on our website, covering various aspects of arthritis management. Our advocacy efforts continue to raise awareness and drive positive change. Through targeted campaigns, we educate the public about arthritis, dispelling myths and fostering understanding.

Our fortnightly blog covers everyday topics that impact the lives of those living with arthritis, providing regular engaging content for our audience. Our podcast series ‘Inflammation Nation’ continues to grow from strength-to-strength, informing people living with arthritis, as well as clinicians and researchers working in musculoskeletal health, about new developments in the space, and offering insights into challenges of living with these chronic conditions. 

Despite being an integral part of the arthritis community for over four decades, Arthritis Ireland recognises that the number of people living with arthritis is projected to increase in the coming years. Our commitment remains steadfast, ensuring that those affected by this often-invisible disease can regain control over their lives. Arthritis Ireland encourages anyone living with the disease to seek support and utilise the available resources to reclaim their wellbeing.

For more information visit arthritisireland.ie or call 0818 252 846.