Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions is a workshop series offerred in community settings such as senior centers, churches, libraries and hospitals.  People with different chronic health problems attend together. Each workshop is facilitated by two trained leaders, one or both of whom are non-health professionals with a chronic disease.

Classes are highly participative, where mutual support and success build the participants' confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives.  Classes teach the following:

• Cognitive symptom management
• Effective communication with family, friends, and health professionals
• Regular physical activity for physical and emotional health
• Future planning skills
• Maintaining a healthy weight and meal planning
• Sleep and medication management
  

Many participants have more than once chronic condition. The program is especially helpful for these people because it teaches them them the skills to coordinate everything  needed to manage their health and stay active.

Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions is being implemented throughout the state. To find a class in your area please call your local Area Agency on Aging.

The Self-Management Program will not conflict with existing programs or treatment. It is designed to enhance regular treatment and disease-specific education such as Better Breathers, cardiac rehabilitation or diabetes instruction.
 
Stanford University developed the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program.
 
 
Last Updated May 2010