TOWNSHEND — Grace Cottage Hospital is making available a number of six-week free (for Vermont residents) Healthier Living Workshops designed to help people with long-term health challenges maintain active and fulfilling lives.
Occurring on consecutive Mondays for the upcoming session, the next six-week Healthier Living Workshop is at Grace Cottage Hospital and convenes on Monday, April 4, and continues through to Monday, May 9. The sessions are held from 1:30-4 p.m. in the Holt Conference Center at GCH. To register, e-mail wcornwell@bmhvt.org or call 802-251-8459 before the start of the six-week workshop. A course textbook and CD will be provided.
Brattleboro Memorial Hospital received a grant to serve as a regional provider of the Vermont Department of Health's Healthier Living Workshops. Stanford-trained workshop leaders facilitate this highly interactive class for people with chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, fibromyalgia chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, asthma, emphysema, lupus, COPD, chronic pain, and other long-term conditions. Family and friends who help the participant are also invited to attend.
The grant also provides funding to offer these sessions to Vermont residents for free. Full of fun activities and useful tools and skills, the group builds mutual support and confidence.
Among skills participants learn are techniques to deal with frustration, fatigue, pain, and isolation; exercises to maintain and improve strength, flexibility, and endurance; managing medications; how to use your mind as an ally; imagery to manage symptoms; tips to improve nutrition; how to evaluate new health treatments; learn healthier eating; learn how to talk with family, friends, and health professionals so they understand your needs; along with goal-setting and problem-solving tips.
Based on the Stanford University School of Medicine model, this national program has helped thousands of people living with long-term conditions to live healthier lives. People completing the Healthier Living Workshops series have reported increased energy, less stress, more self-confidence, and fewer doctor visits.
Participants need to attend all six sessions and stay the full time of each class. Family members and friends who help participants at home are also invited. Enrollment is limited, and future workshops will be offered for those who can't attend this series.