Arthritis Services Helps Clients Manage Pain and Improve Mobility with Claris Companion

In a normal year, Arthritis Services of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County serves more than 500 clients with in-person exercise and physical therapy classes. These programs act as a lifeline for adults and seniors with arthritis and chronic pain, with participants typically reporting improved pain levels, mobility, overall fitness, and mood.

But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it brought these classes to a halt. Staff knew many clients would suffer setbacks in their mental and physical health without access to their regular movement classes and other programs.

In response, Arthritis Services quickly began looking for a solution that would help their clients connect online with case workers, despite many clients not having their own smartphones, tablets, or computers.

Arthritis Services decided that they needed to purchase not only the tablet hardware for  their clients to access classes and programs online, but also needed to have:

• An accessible and intuitive user interface for older seniors with arthritis.
• Remote management of all the devices from a  central online dashboard.
• Data analytics to ensure their clients were getting  the most out of the online services.
• Implementation and training services to ensure  their staff were able to get the most out of the  technology.

After a careful evaluation period, Arthritis Services selected Claris Companion, an easy-to use tablet and software solution specifically designed for older seniors.

Key features of Claris Companion include:

• Built-in 4G/LTE cellular internet service for seniors without access to WiFi.
• Seamlessly integrated messaging, video calling, photo sharing, internet browsing, games, alerts, and more.
• One-click customization for staff to remotely personalize each tablet.
• Claris Insight™, a reporting and data visualization component of the Claris  Companion platform that helps staff track how clients are interacting with their  tablets at home.

To reach as many people as possible, Arthritis Services came up with a plan to rotate the  Claris Companion tablets through its clients. Every six weeks, the tablets were collected,  sanitized, and distributed to a new group, with priority given to those who were the most  frail, vulnerable, or in need.

Clients used the tablets to join live group classes led by Arthritis Services instructors. They  also had access to simple, pre-loaded exercise and movement workout programs. Case  workers used the devices to check in with homebound seniors. And many clients enjoyed calling family and friends, or playing games to beat the loneliness and boredom of isolation. COVID relief funding paid for the tablets and cellular service.

Altogether, 89 of Arthritis Services’ most vulnerable clients used Claris Companion to  access the agency’s programs and services.

An Arthritis Services’ client survey found that 96% of participants reported that the socialization they got from  the program helped them feel more connected during the  pandemic. Importantly, the same number said that their  ability to stand up from a chair, walk, and balance all  improved thanks to the virtual classes. Some 99% said  they’d like access to the Claris Companion tablets in the  future.

Other outcomes included:

“Without Claris  Companion, I would  be bored, I would be  unhappy.”

• 56% of participants reported an increase in physical fitness.
• 39% reported improvement in their ability to do the normal activities of daily living.
• 33% reported feeling less lonely and isolated.
• 31% reported a reduction in perceived pain.

In written comments, one client shared, “I liked the classes because I met new people,  learned to exercise, and improved my balance.” Another said, “I enjoyed the exercise  classes and the card games since I haven’t been able to get together with my friends to  play!”

One extremely homebound and high-risk client with multiple chronic diseases was allowed  to keep his tablet after expressing that the program had made a life-changing difference in  his mood and physical health saying, “Without Claris Companion, I would be bored, I  would be unhappy.”

Based on the program’s popularity, Arthritis Services of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County  now plans to seek grant funding to continue the Claris Companion service.

We believe that self-management lifestyle skills will help you stay HEALTHY AND HAPPY – despite the chronic pain and dysfunction often associated with arthritis and related chronic health conditions. We are a local resource that celebrates 44 years (and counting!) making ourselves available to consult with you on your journey to health and happiness. It takes good medical care first and foremost, and then…learning skills to do YOUR part in achieving wellness.

Contact
Cindy Berrier, RN, Executive Director

704-331-4878

cinb@bellsouth.net

www.arthritisservices.org