Canada~Program helps people better manage their lives

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Chronic disease program helps people better manage their lives

Just before 2:00 on a Tuesday afternoon, people are beginning to converge at the Common House of Creekside Commons, an intentional community of 36 households located on 9 acres in southwest Courtenay.

A few have walked there; several use wheelchairs to arrive from the visitor parking lot; some walk in slowly with canes.

What they all have in common is some form of chronic disease, such as fibromyalgia, Crohn's disease, arthritis, diabetes, or asthma.

Sitting in comfortable chairs in a semi-circle,the participants greet one another, asking how their week has been.

Promptly at 2:00, one of the two facilitators begins the two and a half hour session with a discussion of a subject such as nutrition, based on the book each participant receives free of charge entitled Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions.

Each of the facilitators also has a chronic disease or condition, and research has consistently found that volunteer lay people experiencing chronic disease themselves often make better teachers than health care professionals.

Facilitators receive training from the University of Victoria Centre on Aging and bring to the table their own experiences managing chronic disease. In addition to the program teaching, the workshop also provides a forum for compassionate listening.

Sometimes the first benefit participants take away from the workshop is that they are not alone in their challenges. There are others out there with whom they can exchange ideas and mutual support.

Sponsored by the B.C. Ministry of Health and the University of Victoria Centre on Aging, the six week Chronic Disease Self-Management Program can motivate you to make healthy life changes, and can give you tools to make daily tasks easier.

Free of charge, the course allows participants to engage in problem-solving, sharing personal experiences, and learning from each other.

Offered previously in the Comox Valley area, the six-week course will be facilitated by Jonelle Soelling and John Cronin, a husband and wife team whose background includes careers in health care policy and management.

Both have been trained and have experience in leading groups, and both have facilitated this program previously.

The workshop runs from March 31 - May 5, every Tuesday afternoon from 2-4:30 pm. It is open to all those who have a chronic condition, their caregivers and spouses.

Space is limited to 16 participants, so register early by calling Mark Davies toll-free at 1-866-902-3767.