A Caregivers Guide to Arthritis: What you need to know about Arthritis

Arthritis is an umbrella term for conditions that affect the joints, the place where two or more bones meet to allow movement. In some types of arthritis, other parts of the body like organs, eyes and skin may also be affected. There are nearly 100 different types of arthritis affecting some 50 million people in the United States.

These conditions commonly impact one’s mobility, the ability to move freely without pain. They also can limit a person’s ability to do everyday tasks, such as brushing hair, buttoning a coat, walking to the mailbox or opening the refrigerator door.

It is important that you know the type of arthritis your family member has so that you can understand how you can best provide support. Two of the most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.