The Central East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) which provides health care to our region, launched a series of six self-management workshops in 2016 designed by Stanford University to empower individuals with chronic health issues with the ability to take back a small measure of control over their physical well-being and improve their quality of life. Many Canadians live with at least one chronic health condition and can benefit from an active engagement in their own health care and ultimately optimize their quality of care.
Self-management refers to a person’s ability to manage their daily tasks while living with one or more ongoing health conditions. It involves gaining confidence, knowledge and skills to manage physical, social, and emotional aspects of life while living with chronic conditions. Examples of self-management activities include: increasing physical activity, healthy eating, managing pain and fatigue, managing stress, understanding emotions, and working effectively with health care professionals.
Participants in these self-management workshops build the ability and confidence to manage their own health and the symptoms associated with their chronic condition and learn how to communicate effectively with their health care team. All workshops are free of charge, and are offered at different times a various locations in the area.
Among the workshops offered is one designed to help those suffering from chronic pain, entitled Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Pain. This six-week program will be offered in Peterborough Tuesday afternoons beginning April 10th from 1:30 to 4pm at the YMCA of Central East Ontario, 123 Aylmer St.
This six-week workshop series is designed to help people with chronic pain and their caregivers to better cope with symptoms and activities of daily life. Anyone suffering from pain can benefit from the workshop, whether it is low back pain, pain from motor vehicle accidents, arthritis, fibromyalgia, etc. Residents can register themselves for a workshop and there is no referral from a health care professional required.
Workshops are highly interactive and offer the Moving Easy Program which is a gentle movement program. Topics for the Chronic Pain workshop sessions include getting a good night’s sleep, dealing with difficult emotions, better breathing and relaxation, evaluating treatments, communicating about pain, medications for chronic pain, positive thinking and planning for the future. It is highly recommended that participants attend all six workshop sessions wherever possible to obtain the best benefits.
All participants will receive the “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Pain” companion book and “Moving Easy Program” CD.
Other workshop topics include Getting the Most out of your Health Care Appointment, Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions and Living a Healthy Life with Diabetes. There is now an on-line version of the Chronic Conditions workshop available.
For caregivers, the organization offers a workshop called Powerful Tools for Caregivers. This six week program provides caregivers with a range of self-care tools to reduce personal stress; change negative self-talk; communicate their needs to family members and healthcare or service providers; communicate effectively in challenging situations, recognize the messages in their emotions, deal with difficult feelings; and make tough caregiving decisions.
For more information on these programs and to register, visit www.ceselfmanagement.ca or call 1-866-971-5545. KG
