What is Arthritis Assist?
Arthritis Assist is a support service from Arthritis NZ for anyone living with arthritis as well as those who care for them. Whether you’re wondering if it is arthritis, have just been diagnosed, are on your way to living well with arthritis, or are supporting a friend or whānau member, we’re here to help you feel informed, empowered, and supported.
Our friendly Arthritis Assist arthritis care team includes trained health coaches, a registered nutritionist, and a pharmacist. Together, we can help you make sense of life with arthritis and explore ways to feel more in control.
While we can’t prescribe or diagnose, we can help you:
- Understand your arthritis type and what it might mean for daily life
- Learn how to ask the right questions at medical appointments
- Make sense of your medication - what it’s for and what to discuss with your pharmacist or doctor
- Explore the role of nutrition and how diet might support your joint health and overall wellbeing
- Find safe and appropriate exercise options to keep you moving
- Manage pain and fatigue with simple strategies
- Improve your sleep and energy levels
- Develop tools to manage stress, overwhelm, or low mood
- Learn about lifestyle medicine - how small, realistic changes in daily habits can support long-term health
- Work through feelings of acceptance and adjustment following diagnosis
Support for carers and whānau
If you’re supporting someone with arthritis, we can help you too. We offer guidance on how to be supportive without becoming overwhelmed, and how to look after your own wellbeing along the way.
You’re not alone
Every person’s experience with arthritis is different. Whether you need practical advice, emotional support, or help navigating the health system, Arthritis Assist is here for you.