Services available only in Ontario
Now Offering Virtual and In-person Care
To better safeguard your health, we now offer virtual care, from initial assessment to delivery of care and education, in a method that works best for you. Individual virtual care can be delivered by telephone, email and/or personal video*. Virtual group education programs are also available for registered clients.
To make a self-referral for a free appointment:
Call: 1800-321-1433 ext. 3307
Email: [email protected]
Health professional wanting to refer a patient:
Email: [email protected]
fax: 1.888.519.6869
*requires computer/laptop/tablet, internet/wi-fi access and email address
Looking for help to better manage your arthritis?
The Arthritis Rehabilitation and Education Program (AREP) provides a range of treatment and education services for adults and children with arthritis. Services are free, at no cost to you. Services are funded by the Ontario Government if you have an Ontario Health Card and a confirmed diagnosis of arthritis.
Our team of specially trained physiotherapists, occupational therapists and social work professionals will provide you with the care, strategies, guidance and education you need to better manage your arthritis and live well. Services are available in most regions in Ontario.
How It Works
Get Assessed
An arthritis trained professional will assess your needs and develop a customized care plan with you.
Receive Service
Receive treatment services from one of our specially trained therapy or social work professionals.
To make a self-referral for a free appointment:
Call: 1800-321-1433 ext. 3307
Email: [email protected]
Health professional wanting to refer a patient:
Referral Form
Email: [email protected]
fax: 1.888.519.6869
What People Say About AREP
"Helpful"
This has to be the very best group of positive, informative and helpful individuals that I have ever worked with. My needs and questions were answered quickly and honestly and they are always there for support. I could not have asked for any better. Thank you for being there for me 🙂
"Informed"
I was feeling really lost when diagnosed with RA after being in excruciating pain and loss of mobility. It was good to have a place to reach out to inform me about this disease and what my options were
"Supported"
My therapist has gone way above and beyond the call of duty to help me cope with and effectively manage my complex and rarely recognized disorder every single time I have contacted her to ask for assistance. She has been such a source of strength and hope for me, especially during times when other supports had let me down, and I am extremely grateful to the Arthritis Society for giving me the opportunity to work with her! She does so much research and advocates so passionately for her patients, there are days I don’t know how she manages it all! If not for the work she does on behalf of the Arthritis Society, I can say with certainty that I would not have the quality of life, understanding of my conditions, or access to resources, care, or hope for the future that I benefit from today. She’s amazing, all of the staff at the Arthritis Society have been so good to me, and I regularly recommend their services to people I meet in the community, my family, and my friends. I hope The Arthritis Society will continue to be such a strong and progressive presence in my community for a long time to come!
Your AREP Care Team
Physiotherapists and occupational therapists receive specialized training in arthritis and use chronic disease management principles in their practice. Customized treatment recommendations may include education on symptom control, therapeutic exercise instruction and splint solutions.
Social work professionals work with clients to access resources and learn strategies to manage the challenges presented by their arthritis.
Your AREP care team is part of a larger interprofessional team that is committed to collaborating on your behalf. With your consent, your therapist/social work professional will collaborate with and refer you to other professionals as required to ensure that you receive all of the services you need to live your best life with arthritis.
Virtual Group Education Workshops
Learn more about managing your arthritis with our informative Virtual Group Education workshops. Our team of skilled physiotherapists, occupational therapists and social workers provide useful tips, strategies and resources to help you reduce arthritis pain and manage daily activities with greater ease. Topics include managing different types of arthritis, an introduction to mindfulness meditation, and getting better sleep with arthritis.
The sessions are conducted using a confidential computer software called Zoom that allows you to participate in the workshop via the internet. All you need to participate is a computer, tablet, or cellphone with internet access, as well as a valid Ontario health card.
Closed captioning is available. Please let us know when registering if you would like us to enable this option for your session, or if any other accommodations are required.
ASL/LSQ interpretation is available on request with at least 2 days advanced notice.
Read Our Client Experience Charter
Learn what you can expect as part of our AREP Program, and how together, we can create a supportive, respectful and empowering care experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
AREP provides a range of services for children and adults with arthritis, at no cost to clients with a valid Ontario health card number. Services include:
- Consultation and guidance on arthritis self-management in the home/workplace/community
- Group education that includes information and management techniques for arthritis
- A customized arthritis service plan
Services are provided individually (in person, by telephone, or videoconferencing) or in a group setting.
The physiotherapist or occupational therapist may address the following:
- Assessment
- Education and support
- Information on how to control symptoms
- Exercise to improve strength, endurance and flexibility
- Examination of gait and mobility issues
- Evaluation of functional problems that limit activities of daily living or leisure
- Home or work place adaptation
- Recommendations on splints, mobility or assistive devices
- Links to other healthcare or community resources
The social work professional may address the following topics:
- Community social services, income and benefit programs
- Government resources in your community
- Work, transportation or housing challenges
- Coping with your emotions and managing stress
- Talking with your family about how arthritis affects you
- Meeting other people with arthritis to share your experience
There is no fee for services for eligible clients, however, you will be required to pay for splints and equipment if required. AREP operates under the terms of a ‘Multi-Sector Service Accountability Agreement (M-SAA)’ with the Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network (MH LHIN).
As per the transparency requirements of the agreement, please find the most up-to-date copies of the M-SAA and our Declaration of Compliance below. These documents are available for public viewing and printed copies may be obtained at all Arthritis Society AREP locations in Ontario.
We handle and protect your personal health information in accordance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA) and any other laws that we are required to follow. We provide training, follow established policies, and take other steps to ensure that our staff and anyone else acting on our behalf protects your privacy.
Collection, Use, and Disclosure of Personal Health Information
Your request for care from us implies consent for our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal health information for the following purposes:
- to provide and assist in the provision of health care to you through our services, programs, and facilities;
- to get payment for health care and any related goods and services provided to you, including from OHIP, your private insurer, WSIB, and others as necessary;
- to plan, administer, and manage the operation of our services, programs, and facilities;
- to manage risk and improve the quality and safety of our services and programs;
- to educate or train our agents to provide health care;
- to conduct research activities as approved by a research ethics board;
- to comply with legal and regulatory requirements; and,
- to fulfill other purposes that are permitted or required by law.
From time to time, we may communicate about your care with your other health care providers, including collecting, using, and disclosing your personal health information through electronic medical information systems (sometimes called electronic health records, eHealth records, electronic medical records, etc.). If you would like more information about the electronic medical information systems we use, please speak with our Privacy Contact.
Any uses of your personal health information other than those mentioned above would require your express consent.
Your Rights and Choices
PHIPA provides you with certain rights related to your personal health information under our custody or control. Please communicate with our Privacy Contact for more information related to your rights:
- to see and get a copy of your personal health information;
- to ask us to make corrections to inaccurate or incomplete personal health information;
- to withdraw your consent to our collection and use of your personal health information or its disclosure to other health care providers (subject to certain legal obligations); and,
- to be informed if your personal health information is lost, stolen or improperly accessed.
Our Privacy Contact
For more information or to raise a concern about our privacy practices, please contact our Privacy Contact:
Name: Shawn Brady
Phone: 416-979-7228 ext. 3334
Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address: 220 Bay St, Suite 300
Toronto, ON. M5J 2W4
The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario is responsible for making sure that privacy law is followed in Ontario. For more information about your privacy rights, or if you are unable to resolve an issue directly with our Privacy Contact and wish to make a complaint, contact:
Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400
Toronto, ON M4W 1A8
Email: [email protected]
Toll Free: 1-800-387-0073
TDD/TTY: 416-325-7539
We accept self-referrals. You may call us at 1.800.321.1433 ext 3307 or email us. We will contact you about an appointment.
To be eligible for our services, you must have a valid Ontario health card number and have a diagnosis of arthritis.
For enquiries or appointment booking/rescheduling in French please contact 1.800.321.1433 ext. 1513. We will do our best to accommodate your request.
As a government funded program, we are accountable to manage our funding responsibly to serve all Ontarians. We appreciate you playing your part in preserving the resources available in our health system. As your appointment is reserved specifically for you, we require 48 hours notice to cancel or reschedule. The penalty for failure to give 48 hours notice without significant reason (e.g. illness or emergency) may result in a $30.00 fee. For more details, read the Arthritis Rehabilitation and Education Program Cancellation Policy.
Contact Us
To learn more about AREP and the services we provide, please contact us at:
Telephone: 1.800.321.1433 ext. 3307 and leave a message
Email: [email protected]
