Cheryl Wallen, Director of Givens LifeMinistries and Lisa Rogers, Community Nurse successfully completed training as program leaders of the Stanford University Chronic Disease Self-Management Program.

This six-week evidence based Chronic Disease Self-Management Program empowers older adults living with chronic conditions such as asthma/C.O.P.D., arthritis, back pain, diabetes, anxiety/depression, fibromyalgia, and heart disease, to recognize and carry out health strategies that help them better manage everyday life.

Stanford University research found that people who complete this 6-week program:

• Feel healthier and have a better quality of life.
• Experience fewer sick days and days in depression.
• Are better able to manage symptoms like fatigue, pain, shortness of breath, stress, and sleep problems.
• Are more physically active.
• Improve communication with their doctors.
• Feel more confident managing treatment decisions and medications.

Participants get peer support, learn self-management and problem-solving strategies, learn a variety of ways to deal with pain, fatigue, stress, emotions, learn how to eat healthy, get better sleep, choose personalized goals and make personalized step-by-step plans to live a healthy life with a chronic condition. Participants also receive a companion workbook “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions” as a resource tool to help gain skills and confidence needed to achieve lifestyle improvements and become an expert in dealing with their own health challenges.

The 6-week Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is free. The program will be offered at Givens Gerber Park on Mondays, beginning September 25^th, from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. in Building 50 Community Room with the last session concluding October 30^th.  Residents from Givens Estates are also invited to participate in this wellness program.

For more information please contact: Cheryl Wallen at 828.771.2638.