Your mother used to garden every morning. Now she says her knees are "just old" and spends most of the day in her recliner. Her hands ache when she opens jars, and she's started skipping showers because getting in and out of the tub hurts. It's easy to accept this as normal aging. Often, though, arthritis pain can be eased and function improved.
This guide explains the main types of arthritis in older adults, how they're treated, and how families can help. It's general information; your parent's doctor can tailor treatment.
The main types of arthritis
Arthritis means joint inflammation, and there are many kinds. Two matter most for older adults.
Osteoarthritis is the most common. It develops when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones wears down, so bones rub together, causing pain, stiffness and swelling1. It most often affects the knees, hips, hands and spine1. Risk rises with age, past joint injuries, extra body weight and family history1. Symptoms usually build slowly. Stiffness after rest that eases within about half an hour of moving is typical.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease: the immune system attacks the lining of the joints2. It often affects the same joints on both sides of the body, like both wrists or both hands, and can cause fatigue and long-lasting morning stiffness2. It can begin at any age, including later in life. Because it can damage joints and affect other organs, it needs prompt treatment, usually by a rheumatologist2.
Other types include gout, which causes sudden, very painful attacks often in the big toe, and arthritis linked to psoriasis. Bone thinning, covered in our guide to osteoporosis, is a different condition, though many older adults have both.
Signs to watch for
- Pain or stiffness that's worse after activity or in the morning.
- Swelling, warmth or redness around a joint.
- Less range of motion, like trouble raising an arm or bending a knee.
- Changes in how your parent moves, such as limping, holding onto furniture or avoiding stairs.
- Giving up tasks like cooking, buttoning clothes or opening medicine bottles.
- Poor sleep and low mood, which often travel with chronic pain.
Older adults often under-report pain. A parent with memory problems may not be able to say what hurts at all. Watch for grimacing, guarding a joint, or new irritability. Our guide to chronic pain in older adults covers how to recognize pain when words fail.
Getting the right diagnosis
It's worth a doctor's visit rather than assuming it's just age. The doctor will ask about symptoms, examine the joints, and may order X-rays or blood tests to tell osteoarthritis from rheumatoid arthritis or gout12. The type matters because treatments differ. New, sudden swelling of one joint with fever needs urgent care, since it can signal an infection.
Bring a list of current medications to the appointment. Many older adults take several medicines, and some pain relievers interact with blood thinners, blood pressure drugs or kidney problems. See polypharmacy in older adults.
Treatments that help
For osteoarthritis, NIAMS describes a combination of approaches: exercise, weight management, medicines, physical and occupational therapy, assistive devices, and sometimes surgery1.
- Exercise. Low-impact activity such as walking, water exercise, cycling and strength training can reduce pain and improve function1.
- Weight management. Losing extra weight eases the load on knees and hips1.
- Medicines. Options include pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, creams and joint injections13. Anti-inflammatory pills can raise risks of stomach bleeding, kidney problems and high blood pressure in older adults, so ask the doctor which is safest.
- Therapy. Physical therapists teach exercises; occupational therapists teach easier ways to do daily tasks.
- Heat and cold. Warm showers or heating pads ease stiffness; cold packs can calm a swollen joint.
- Joint replacement. When pain and disability are severe, knee or hip replacement can help1.
Rheumatoid arthritis is treated with disease-modifying drugs that slow the immune attack, along with other medicines and lifestyle steps2. Some of these drugs affect infection risk, so keep vaccines up to date. See vaccines for seniors.
Making exercise safe and doable
Many people with sore joints stop moving, which leads to weaker muscles, stiffer joints and more pain. Gentle, regular movement breaks that cycle. Start small: a 10-minute walk after breakfast, chair exercises during a TV show, or a warm-water class at a local pool. A physical therapist can design a safe plan, especially after a fall or surgery. Some pain during or after exercise is normal, but pain that lasts more than a couple of hours afterward is a sign to ease off.
Strong leg muscles also protect against falls, which matter even more if your parent has thinning bones. Combine exercise with the steps in our fall prevention guide.
Help around the house
Small changes can make a big difference for painful hands, knees and hips:
- In the bathroom: grab bars, a shower chair, a raised toilet seat and a handheld shower.
- In the kitchen: jar openers, lightweight pots, easy-grip utensils and frequently used items at waist height.
- Getting dressed: clothes with elastic waists, slip-on shoes, button hooks and long-handled shoehorns.
- Getting around: a cane or walker if recommended. Medicare Part B covers walkers as durable medical equipment when a doctor orders them for home use4.
- Seating: firm chairs with arms, or a lift chair, make standing easier.
An occupational therapist can do a home visit and suggest changes. See home modifications for older adults and what Medicare covers for equipment.
If joint replacement comes up
When knee or hip pain stays severe despite other treatment and limits daily life, a surgeon may suggest joint replacement1. Age alone doesn't rule it out; what matters more is overall health, the ability to take part in rehab, and support at home afterward. Ask the surgeon about expected recovery time, how much therapy will be needed, and whether your parent is likely to go home, to inpatient rehab or to a skilled nursing facility after the hospital. Our guide to inpatient rehab vs. skilled nursing explains the difference.
Plan the home before surgery: clear walkways, move the bed downstairs if needed, set up a raised toilet seat and shower chair, and line up help for the first weeks. If your parent lives alone, arrange for someone to stay or check in daily. Good preparation often makes the difference between a smooth recovery and a fall that sets things back.
Questions to ask the doctor
Bringing a short list to appointments helps your parent get clear answers. Useful questions include: What type of arthritis is this, and how sure are you? Which pain relievers are safest with my other medicines and conditions? Would physical or occupational therapy help? What exercise is safe for me, and how much? Is my weight affecting my joints, and what would help? What signs mean I should call you sooner, such as a hot, swollen joint or fever? If my pain gets worse, what are the next options? Write down the answers or ask the doctor for a printed plan, and keep it with your parent's medication list.
When arthritis means more help is needed
When arthritis makes bathing, dressing or cooking hard, your parent may need regular help. Options range from a few hours of in-home care each week to assisted living, where staff help with daily tasks. Our guide to types of senior care compares choices. Arthritis also often comes with other conditions like diabetes and heart disease, so coordinated care helps.
Pain, sleep and mood
Chronic joint pain wears people down. It disrupts sleep, makes it hard to stay social, and is linked with depression. Keep an eye on your parent's spirits as well as their joints. Encourage them to stay connected with friends and activities they can still enjoy, adapted as needed. If your parent seems persistently sad or withdrawn, talk to the doctor; see depression in older adults. Treating mood often makes pain easier to manage, and better pain control often lifts mood.
Sleep can be improved with a regular bedtime, a supportive mattress, a warm bath before bed, and pain relief timed for the night if the doctor agrees.
Talking with your parent about it
Many older adults downplay pain because they don't want to be a burden or fear what a doctor will say. Ask specific questions: which tasks have become harder, what time of day hurts most, what they've stopped doing. Offer to go to appointments and help write down questions. Frame treatment around their goals, such as walking to church, playing with grandchildren or getting back to the garden, rather than around the diagnosis. If your parent resists using a cane or shower chair, try a trial period, or let a therapist suggest it; advice from a professional is sometimes easier to accept than from a son or daughter.
An example
Rosa's father had stopped walking to the corner store because of knee pain. His doctor confirmed osteoarthritis and suggested physical therapy, a cane, and a cream instead of the anti-inflammatory pills he'd been buying on his own, which weren't safe with his blood pressure medicine. Rosa added a shower chair and grab bars. Within two months, he was walking to the store again, slowly, with his cane. This is an illustration; treatment depends on each person.
