Stanford University’s Living Healthy with Chronic Conditions program will be offered at The Meeting Place Senior Center in Columbus beginning March 19.

The workshop consists of  six 2.5 hour sessions held each Monday through April 9 at 12:30 p.m. and is facilitated by trained mentors: Jimmi Buell, of Cooperative Extension; and Gail Dyer and Pam Doty, of  The Meeting Place Senior Center.

The program is designed to provide tools for individuals dealing with chronic diseases such as COPD, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, asthma, fibromyalgia, or any chronic condition which impacts activities of daily living. The tools help individuals to be self-managers, to be partners in their own health care.

Subjects covered include: 1) techniques to deal with frustration, fatigue, pain, and isolation, 2) appropriate exercises for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility and endurance, 3) appropriate use of medications, 4) effective communication with family, friends and health care providers, 5) nutrition, and, 6) how to evaluate new treatments. Action planning, disease-related problem-solving, and decision making skills are also developed and practiced in the interactive workshops.

The foremost goal of the program is assisting persons with a chronic condition to become self-managers. The focus of the meetings is to help persons understand how they can live with their diseases in the best possible way. The emphasis is upon changing behaviors and lifestyle choices as they navigate through their chronic condition.

With the support of the Area Agency on Aging, this particular workshop is being offered at no cost. Books and CDs are provided to every participant. The only obligation is the commitment to the six sessions.

For more information, or to register, contact The Meeting Place at 828-894-0001.

– Submitted by Joshua Kennedy