Remote Delivery of Arthritis and Chronic Disease Programs

CDC’s Arthritis Management and Wellbeing Program promotes self-management education and physical activity programs that improve quality of life for adults with arthritis. These programs can also help people prevent or manage other chronic conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer.

Organizations that develop and deliver in-person programs are now offering them remotely to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote delivery is being evaluated and tested among older adults, caregivers for older adults, and adults of any age with arthritis. Examples include:

• Video conferences with trainers and participants
• Online web-based program availability and virtual support
• Phone conferences and email support
• Mailings of manuals and other resources

Many partners are offering programs originally developed and proven effective for remote delivery, and others are collaborating with evaluators to test alternative, remote delivery methods for in-person programs.