BRATTLEBORO — BRATTLEBORO - Brattleboro Memorial Hospital is offering a free workshop series to help people with chronic health conditions live healthier, happier, and more active lives, starting Sept. 12.
Stanford University developed the six-week Healthier Living Workshops program to empower individuals as self-managers through education, support and skill-building exercises. Classes meet each Monday from Sept. 12 through Oct. 17, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in Brew Barry Conference Room 1 at BMH.
The sessions are designed for people with chronic health conditions, as well as family, friends and care providers. Advance registration is available now by contacting Wendy Cornwell or Jessie Casella at 251-8459, or by emailing wcornwell@bmhvt.org. At least 10 registrations are needed for the workshops to take place.
The workshops are co-facilitated by leaders who have been trained in a four-day program by Stanford-certified master trainers, and will cover techniques for dealing with frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation; breathing techniques and guided imagery to reduce stress, exercises for improving and maintaining strength, flexibility and endurance; appropriate use of medications; nutrition and more.
Healthier Living Workshops are the product of a 5-year research project conducted at Stanford University involving over 1000 participants living with chronic conditions. The program is widely implemented both nationally and internationally. Participants who have completed the program consistently report lower utilization of health services and improved quality-of-life.
Fifty-one percent of Vermonters over 18 years of age are living with a chronic condition and 88 percent of people over 65 have at least two conditions. Chronic conditions are the primary reason people receive health care.
Unlike injury or acute health care problems, chronic conditions must be managed at home, outside of the doctor's office or hospital. Individuals with chronic conditions must become their own primary health care managers.
The Healthier Living Workshops are part of the BluePrint for Health Initiative. Funding for the workshop is provided by the Vermont Department of Health.