Free Arthritis Peer Connect Group — Missouri | Arthritis Foundation
The Missouri Live Yes! Connect Group is the Arthritis Foundation’s free peer community for adults across the state who live with arthritis and the chronic pain, fatigue and uncertainty that come with it. With more than a hundred members, the group pairs a virtual Coffee & Conversation meetup with an always-open online forum, so Missourians from St. Louis to Kansas City to the Bootheel can find each other regardless of how far they are from a clinic or how their joints feel on a given day.
What to Expect
Coffee & Conversation meets virtually on the first Friday of February, May, August and November at 9:30 AM Central for about 45 minutes. Two trained volunteer facilitators open the call, invite everyone to introduce themselves and share what is on their mind, and then guide an exchange of tips and best practices: pacing on flare days, talking with a rheumatologist about a new medication, staying active as the disease changes, and handling the emotional weight of a condition other people cannot see. Occasional sessions feature a guest speaker on a topic members request. Between calls, members post questions and encouragement in the group’s online discussion board, and the Missouri office shares local in-person events such as walks and educational programs. Live Yes! Connect Groups are led by volunteers who live with arthritis themselves, and sessions are welcoming, encouraging and informative rather than clinical.
Who This Group Is For
Adults living with any of the more than one hundred forms of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, lupus and gout, are welcome, and so are spouses, partners and caregivers who want to understand the disease better. Newly diagnosed members and long-time self-advocates both find a place here.
Why Peer Support Works
Chronic pain is isolating, and people with arthritis are significantly more likely to experience depression and anxiety than the general population. Connect Groups are built so that participants become self-advocates, develop self-management skills and learn not just to survive with arthritis but to thrive. Hearing how another member negotiated a work accommodation or found a low-impact exercise that works turns abstract advice into something usable, and a standing quarterly date gives members something to look forward to.
How to Join
Participation is free. Create a free account and join the Missouri group at connectgroups.arthritis.org/groups/missouri, where upcoming virtual events and the Zoom link are posted. Members can also reach the facilitators through the group’s message board or follow the Arthritis Foundation Missouri office for local events.