Abstract:Usually the elderly patient with rheumatoid arthritis manifests the residual of several years of active disease. Eleven cases are cited to illustrate that effective treatment must be tailored to the current stage of the disease. Acute rheumatoid arthritis is not common in the elderly. When it develops, salicylates and complete bed rest in a hospital remain the therapeutic anchors. If symptoms do not subside in from two to three weeks, indomethacin, gold therapy and corticosteroids may be tried. In most cases, distinct improvement occurs with this regimen. Chronic deforming rheumatoid arthritis is a different story, however. It is extremely difficult to treat effectively.In both the acute and the chronic form of rheumatoid arthritis, an active rehabilitation program is the key to the prevention of functional deterioration and to the maintenance of the patient as a fairly self‐sufficient perso