For most of her adult life, Doris didn’t worry much about her health. Then at 67, she was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. She tried to follow her doctor’s advice to take her medications, exercise, and eat better. But often she was tired and even a little depressed. “I figured it was just part of getting older,” she recalls.
Then a friend told Doris about the Living Well with Chronic Conditions workshop—six weekly sessions held at the lower level of Sawtooth Mountain Clinic. Developed at Stanford University, the workshop has been offered at hundreds of locations throughout the United States. It helps participants with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety and others to find better ways of dealing with pain and fatigue, discover easy exercises to help improve or maintain strength and energy, learn the appropriate use of medications; improve nutrition, talk effectively with family, friends and health professionals, understand new treatment choices, and feel better about life.
Taught by specially trained volunteer leaders, the program covers a new topic each week and provides opportunities for interaction and group problem solving. “We are really more like coaches,” says Bob Carter, a leader at Sawtooth Mountain Clinic. “The answer to someone’s question is usually in the room.”
The next workshop begins Thursday, Feb. 16 and will take place every Thursday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. for six weeks. Book and materials fee is $20.
For more information or to enroll, call the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic at 387-2330.
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