Alberta earns ‘D’ grade pertaining to arthritis care: Arthritis Society of Canada

a man has pain in his thumb

More than 620,000 Albertans are affected by arthritis, making it one of our provinces leading causes of disability, affecting children, adults and seniors.

“It robs people of mobility, mental health, education, employment, and their independence,” said the Arthritis Society Canada in a Wednesday news release.

However, the society’s latest report card shows Alberta earned a ‘D’ grade, meaning there’s improvement needed when it comes to access to care and patient wellness.

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“Canadians living with arthritis deserve better,” said Trish Barbato, president and CEO of Arthritis Society Canada.

The society hopes to “confront this crisis with the urgency it demands,” teaming up with more than 100,000 patients, researchers, clinicians and advocates nationally as part of Arthritis Action Now.

“My last teen years were spent in significant pain — at one point, I couldn’t even stand for 10 minutes. Thankfully, medication turned things around,” said William Ducas of Quebec City, who was diagnosed with arthritis in his late teens.

“Arthritis Action Now gives me hope that the system will better support young people with arthritis – that they’ll get diagnosed faster, access treatments sooner and won’t have to fight as hard as I did just to stand.”

The Arthritis Society of Canada says Canadians wanting to affect change can contact elected officials to “refuse the status quo” and “demand action.”

“We will no longer accept incremental change. Governments at every level must act on these findings with the urgency this crisis demands,” said Barbato.

“Arthritis Action Now provides the roadmap - now we need the political will and investment to make it happen.”