Do you have a chronic health condition like diabetes, arthritis or high blood pressure? Do you have a New Year's resolution to improve your health? If you answered yes, the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department encourages you to consider enrolling in an upcoming “Tools for Better Health” workshop.
“Tools for Better Health,” an evidence-based program created by Stanford University, is a free, seven-week workshop that empowers people to better manage their chronic conditions and live a more fulfilling life. Participants meet weekly for a 2 1/2 hour interactive session with trained community leaders who also are living with a chronic condition. Each participant receives the book “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions."
Workshop topics include: techniques to deal with problems such as isolation, frustration and pain; exercise; nutrition; appropriate use of medications; communicating effectively with family and doctors; decision-making and goal setting; and how to evaluate new treatments. Workshops are available:
• Mondays, Jan. 11-Feb. 22, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Just Food, 1000 E. 11th St.
• Tuesdays, Feb. 2-March 15, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Meadowlark Estates, 4430 Bauer Farm Drive.
• Tuesdays, March 1-April 12, 2:30-5 p.m., Babcock Place, 1700 Massachusetts St.
To enroll, contact Health Promotion Specialist Michael Showalter at 785-856-5340 or mshowalter@ldchealth.org. The Health Department also can help coordinate transportation.