Regional Arthritis Center
The Southeast Missouri Regional Arthritis Center (SEMO RAC) is one of seven centers established in Missouri by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services designed to provide arthritis, osteoporosis and chronic disease education, information and services to individuals, professionals, and community groups and organizations. A local advisory board reviews and makes recommendations for programs and services in the service area.
Service Area Counties:
Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard and Wayne.
Goals
• Improve the health and quality of life for people with arthritis and osteoporosis
• Encourage early recognition, diagnosis and professional care
• Provide education for successful disease self-management
• Develop and support a network of volunteers to help meet the needs of people in our service area in their communities
Juvenile Arthritis Care
The Missouri Arthritis and Osteoporosis Program has referral service available for families who need assistance caring for a child with juvenile arthritis. Educational information is also available.
Library
Books and videos are available to check out. Free brochures provide educational information on various rheumatic diseases and self-management techniques.
Education Program
A speakers' bureau consisting of health professionals is also available to assist with programs forgroups in your community.
Physician Referral Program
Contact the Southeast Missouri Regional Arthritis Center at 888-216-3293 for a complete listing of rheumatologists in your regional area.
Arthritis Classes
If you would like to take a class or find out more information,
this listing will provide the location and contact information for
class dates and times. If you are unable to call a county for class
details due to long-distance charges, or if you have any questions
regarding the class information in this resource guide, please call
SEMO RAC at 888-216-3293.
Fees may apply for classes and vary by facility. It is recommended
to talk with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.
Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program
This low-impact exercise program is designed specifically for people
with arthritis. Using gentle activities, the exercises help increase
joint flexibility and range of motion and help maintain muscle
strength. This class can be taken in either a sitting or standing
position. Goals of this class include:
• Decreasing pain and stiffness
• Increasing flexibility and mobility
• Increasing strength
• Increasing independence in activities of daily living
Other benefits include increased socialization, motivation, personal
accountability and improved self-esteem.
Bollinger County
Location: Marble Hill Senior Center
Contact: Provided by the Bollinger County Health Department
Melissa Allen
573-238-2817
Butler County
Location: Northside Nutrition Center
Contact: Independent Living Center
Mary McKinney
888-890-2333
Location: Qulin Senior Center
Contact: Independent Living Center
Mary McKinney
888-890-2333
Location: Twin Towers Senior Center
Contact: Independent Living Center
Mary McKinney
888-890-2333
Cape Girardeau County
Location: Cape Girardeau Senior Center
Contact: Shelly Gerard
573-331-5399 or 573-331-5993
Location: Centenary United Methodist Church
Contact: Senior Learning Program
Marilee Roethemeyer
573-290-5944
Location: Delta Community Center
Contact: Senior Learning Program
Marilee Roethemeyer
573-290-5944
Location: Jackson Senior Center
Contact: Senior Learning Program
Marilee Roethemeyer
573-290-5944
Location: Oak Ridge – First Baptist Church
Contact: Senior Learning Program
Marilee Roethemeyer
573-290-5944
Location: SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence
Contact: Sara McDowell
573-651-6464
Carter County
Location: Van Buren Community Center
Contact: Whole Health Outreach Office
Marsha Towner
573-663-7757
Iron County
Location: Meadowbrook Residential Care – Ironton
Contact: Iron County Health Department
Lisa Hunt
573-546-7121
New Madrid County
Location: New Madrid County Health Department
Contact: Kim Simmons
573-748-5541
Location: Portageville Senior Center
Contact: Kim Simmons
573-748-5541
Reynolds County
Location: Ellington Senior Center
Contact: Whole Health Outreach Office
S. Rita Schonhoff
573-663-7757
Location: Reynolds County Health Department
Contact: Sheena Click
573-648-2498
Scott County
Location: Morley Baptist Church
Contact: Scott County Health Department
Brenda Freed
800-471-4044
Location: Restart – Sikeston
Contact: Angela Moore
573-472-7375
Location: YMCA – Sikeston
Contact: Chris Hodgkiss
573-472-9622
Shannon County
Location: Eminence Nutrition Center
Contact: Whole Health Outreach Office
Jessie Kincaid
573-663-7757
Stoddard County
Location: Stoddard County Public Health Center
Contact: Kathy Bowling
573-568-4593
Arthritis Foundation Aquatics Programs
This water exercise program is designed for people with arthritis and
related conditions. You do not have to know how to swim to enjoy
this fun water-exercise class. The warmth and buoyancy of the water
helps:
• Decrease strain on joints and muscles
• Decrease pain and stiffness
• Increase flexibility, mobility and strength
• Regain independence in activities of daily living
Bollinger County
Location: Bollinger County Health Department (summer only)
Contact: Melissa Allen
573-238-2817
Butler County
Location: Black River Coliseum (year round)
Contact: Mary McKinney
888-890-2333
Cape Girardeau County
Location: Fitness Plus
Contact: Saint Francis Medical Center
Shelly Gerard
573-331-5993 or 573-331-5399
Carter County
Location: Whole Health Outreach – Van Buren (summer only)
Contact: Marsha Towner
573-663-7757
Perry County
Location: Perry Parks Center
Contact: Dee Johnson
573-547-7275
New Madrid County
Location: New Madrid Country Club (summer only)
Contact: Christy Pipkin
573-748-5541
Reynolds County
Location: Whole Health Outreach – Ellington (summer only)
Contact: S. Rita Schonhoff
573-663-7757
Scott County
Location: Restart
Contact: Angela Moore
573-472-7375
Arthritis Foundation Self-management Classes
This six-week group education program is designed to complement the professional services provided by your healthcare team. The program's goals include:
• Increasing your knowledge of arthritis
• Identifying and learning the latest medical and pain management approaches
• Learning methods to manage fatigue, stress and pain
• Learning ways to deal with anger, fear, frustration and depression
• Understanding the role of nutrition in arthritis management
• Developing a partnership with your healthcare team
Other benefits include increased socialization, improved self-esteem, improved disease management, and increased personal accountability and motivation.
Bollinger County
Location: Bollinger County Health Department
Contact: Melissa Allen
573-238-2817
Butler County
Location: Independent Living Center – Poplar Bluff
Contact: Mary McKinney
888-890-2333
*Programs offered in Carter, Reynolds, Ripley and Wayne counties
Cape Girardeau County
Location: Saint Francis Medical Center
Contact: Marilyn Duncan
888-216-3293
Carter County
Location: Whole Health Outreach
Contact: S. Rita Schonhoff
573-663-7757
Reynolds County
Location: Whole Health Outreach – Ellington
Contact: S. Rita Schonhoff
573-663-7757
A local advisory board with a service area representative reviews and recommends programs and services that should be available through the Southeast Missouri Regional Arthritis Center. Members of the board are actively involved in the care of those with arthritis or teach the arthritis self-management or activity programs.
The Arthritis Toolkit
People with arthritis can live a healthy life by actively managing the physical and emotional problems that come with their disease. The Arthritis Toolkit contains information and tips that help many people with arthritis and fibromyalgia live happier, healthier, more comfortable lives.
Contact the Southeast Missouri Regional Arthritis Center to check out
The Arthritis Toolkit today.
Call 573-331-5880 or 888-216-3293, e-mail semorac@sfmc.net or contact your local Area Agency on Aging at 573-335-3331 or University of Missouri Extension office at 573-545-3516.
Toolkits are available to check out. After completing the program, individuals may return the toolkit or choose to purchase the materials for $10.
Chronic Disease Self-management Program
This six-week self-management program was developed by researchers at the Stanford University Patient Education Research Center to improve your knowledge of living a healthy life with a chronic condition. The sessions provide information about issues related to a variety of conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, arthritis, emphysema and others. Program goals and benefits include:
•
Identify ways to deal with pain, fatigue, difficult emotions and stress
•
Discuss the roles of exercise and nutrition in chronic conditions
•
Discuss ways to form a partnership with your healthcare team
•
Increased socialization
•
Increased motivation and personal accountability
This program is designed to complement the professional services provided by your healthcare team.
Butler County
Location: Butler County Health Department
Contact: Beverly Hargrove
800-339-8650, ext. 238
*Programs offered in Carter, Dunklin, Oregon, Pemiscot, Ripley, Shannon and Stoddard counties
Location: Independent Living Center
Contact: Mary McKinney
888-890-2333
Cape Girardeau County
Location: Cape Girardeau County Health Department
Contact: Sarah Pelts-Spence
573-335-7846, ext. 109
*Programs offered in Bollinger, Perry, Iron, Madison and Wayne counties
Location: Cross Trails Medical Center
Contact: Ginny Chapman
573-332-0808 ext. 135
*Programs offered in Bollinger and Stoddard counties
Location: Saint Francis Medical Center Southeast Missouri Regional Arthritis Center
Contact: Marilyn Duncan
888-216-3293
Location: Outpatient Rehab
Contact: Saint Francis Medical Center
Carrie Johnson
573-331-5153
Carter County
Location: Whole Health Outreach
Contact: Marsha Towner
573-663-7757
Pemiscot County
Location: University of Missouri Extension
Contact: Linda Morgan
573-359-0923
*Program offered in Dunklin County Perry County
Location: University of Missouri Extension
Contact: Judy Lueders
573-547-4504
*Programs offered in Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Iron, Madison and Wayne counties
Scott County
Location: University of Missouri Extension
Contact: Maude Harris
573-545-3516
*Programs offered in Butler, Mississippi, New Madrid and Stoddard counties
Educational programs and forums are available to assist individuals in learning disease-specific information about different rheumatic conditions such as:
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Gout
- Lupus
- Osteoporosis
Free brochures and pamphlets regarding disease facts, medicines, exercise and how to cope are available.
The Missouri Arthritis and Osteoporosis Program supports the development and implementation of prevention and intervention programs to reduce disability and improve quality of life for people with arthritis and osteoporosis.
Presentations on arthritis and osteoporosis are available to the entire service delivery area.
Arthritis & Fibromyalgia
Support groups are designed to:
•
Improve social interaction
•
Decrease sense of isolation
•
Increase knowledge of rheumatic diseases, self-management skills and treatment options
•
Serve as a place where reinforcement and encouragement of individual self-esteem, self-determination and self-sufficiency are promoted
Butler County
Location: Independent Living Center – Poplar Bluff
Contact: Mary McKinney
888-890-2333
Cape Girardeau County
Location: Saint Francis Medical Center
Contact: Marilyn Duncan
888-216-3293
Tai Chi From the Arthritis Foundation
This exercise program is based on the sun style of tai chi. Tai chi is
one of the most effective exercises for physical and mental well-being.
Qigong movements enhance breathing and relaxation to help decrease
inflammation and pain. Goals of this class include:
•
Improved flexibility, balance and muscle strength
•
Improved posture
•
Integration of the mind and body
Cape Girardeau County
Location: Fitness Plus
Contact: Saint Francis Medical Center
Shelly Gerard
573-331-5993 or 573-331-5399
The Southeast Missouri Regional Arthritis Center at Saint Francis Medical Center assists residents throughout an 18-county service area, which includes Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard and Wayne counties.
For more information on the Southeast Missouri Regional Arthritis Center, call 888-216-3293 or e-mail sfmc@sfmc.net.