Signs & Stories Early Detection & What Parents Can Do

July - Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month

Understanding Juvenile Arthritis

When we hear the term arthritis, we usually think of the aching, stiff joints of older people, or the rheumatic hands, twisted and gnarled. But JA is a reality, a painful disease affecting as many as 300,000 U.S. kids. It’s not “just growing pains.” It’s a chronic condition that can disrupt a child’s life on a daily basis — physically, emotionally and socially.

A True Tale: Lily’s Way

One morning when she was just 7, Lily woke up to find her knees swollen and wrists aching. It was hard for her to get out of bed and she couldn’t hold the pencil at school. When one day she refused to walk, her parents dismissed the pain as a sports injury, but weeks later, she was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).

Attuned as she was to the dynamics of domestic violence and the kinds of stress involved in single motherhood, Lily got back on her feet, with a little help, and reclaimed herself, but it wasn’t easy. Her experience is a testament to the fact that early detection and intervention matter.

Juvenile arthritis symptoms you need to know

Parents, teachers and other caregivers should be on the lookout for these signs, especially if they last for six weeks or more:

• Morning stiffness or stiffness when waking from naps

• Joints (especially knees, wrists, ankles) are puffy

• Limping without injury

• Fatigue or mood changes

• Red, painful, or light-sensitive eyes (a uveitis symptom)

If you notice such signs, see your pediatrician or a pediatric rheumatologist promptly.

How Parents Can Help

At Havenova Home Care Solution, we stand behind families providing care for a JA child. Here are some thing you can try:

Build a Routine:

Schedule consistent meal and medication times, as well as “valuable downtime,” with light morning stretching.

Assemble a Care Team:

Collaborate with doctors, PTs and a home care agency to create a personalized plan of care.

Support Their Mental Health:

Living with a chronic illness can be a lonely experience. Support your kid in expressing their feelings and forming new relationships — say, by joining support groups or seeing a therapist.

Make Everyday Tasks Easier:

Ergonomic gadgets, supportive footwear and adaptations to a daily routine can also help to pass some of the burden off of aching joints.

Collaborate with Schools:

Work with your child’s teachers and school personnel to create a 504 Plan or IEP as needed. Your child may need extra free time, rest breaks or altered physical activity.

How Havenova Home Care Makes a Difference for Families

We provide families with trustworthy, accurate in-home care for children with juvenile arthritis. Our services include:

• Daily activity assistance

• Medication reminders

• Physical therapy coordination

• Transportation to appointments

• Family education and emotional support

We know that no child should ever have to endure the agony of untreated pain.

July Is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month Read more on how to help kids with arthritis.

No, let’s speak up for the thousands of children with JA. Accurate and early diagnosis, ongoing management and support from communities can save lives.

Interested in how you can support Havenova to do even more?

Contact us now to discuss this with a care coordinator.