REGIONAL CENTER OFFERS ARTHRITIS HELP

Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
April 21, 2003

Contact:
Beth Richards, Manager
Virginia Beatty, Assistant Manager
Missouri Arthritis and Osteoporosis Program
(800) 316-0935

GUEST COLUMN

REGIONAL CENTER OFFERS ARTHRITIS HELP

By Beth Richards, Manager
Missouri Arthritis and Osteoporosis Program

If you or a person you know has arthritis or osteoporosis, help isn't far away. Your area's Regional Arthritis Center (RAC) is one of seven centers in our state designed to provide arthritis and osteoporosis education, information and services to individuals, professionals, community groups and organizations.

Your RAC is a non-profit organization. Most of the services they offer are offered free or for a nominal fee, designed to offset program expenses. Some examples of services and programs offered include:

• Providing or guiding you to the nearest source of the most accurate arthritis or osteoporosis information available;
  
• Providing several self-management courses, such as the People With Arthritis Can Exercise (PACE) Program, and other land and aquatic self-management programs;
  
• Presentations on arthritis and osteoporosis to community and business groups; and
  
• Maintaining a free arthritis and osteoporosis loan library where books, brochures and other resources are available to the general public.

Your area's RAC is concerned with helping you better manage your arthritis, in addition to providing information on arthritis and osteoporosis to people in your community. For more information about the services and programs offered in your area, call your RAC, or call me at 1-800-316-0935.

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