Arthritis is caused by inflammation of one or more joints. It is often a lifelong condition and can affect people of any age, even children. Although arthritis is increasingly common as we get older, autoimmune diseases, broken bones, or a bacterial or viral infection can also cause arthritic issues. There are many different types of arthritis, but the most common three are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that often develops in people over 50 years of age. It gradually erodes the cartilage lining that would otherwise prevent the bones in a joint from rubbing together. This leads to stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint. As this condition mainly affects older people, it can be common for chronic pain sufferers to live in supportive housing such as assisted living facilities. However, Advantage Care can provide an alternative to this upheaval.

Rheumatoid arthritis is also a chronic disease, but instead of cartilage breaking down, the lining of the joints becomes inflamed, leading to constant pain, loss of function and long-term damage to the joint which can cause disability. People with rheumatoid arthritis may also develop problems with other tissues and organs in their body. Again, it can be commonplace for sufferers to consider moving to an assisted living facility. Advantage Care offers a solution whereby people with Rheumatoid arthritis can be cared for in the familiar surroundings of their own home.

Juvenile arthritis refers to any type of arthritis-related condition that develops in children or teenagers under the age of 18. The most common type of juvenile arthritis is juvenile idiopathic arthritis, which is characterised by swelling of the joints for six weeks or more.