You can live a healthy life even with a chronic condition! There are techniques to manage your chronic disease and make your life more comfortable and productive. Through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Northeast Missouri Regional Arthritis Center, a wonderful new program is available to help provide a better life for those with chronic conditions. Stanford University developed this program, which offers a variety of ways to self-manage chronic disease. The parish nurses will offer the six-week workshop, "Chronic Disease Self-Management," on Wednesdays, September 26, 2007 through October 31, at 1:15 - 3:45 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.

Each class participant will learn about activities to help better manage specific conditions and to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The program topics include: management of pain, fatigue, frustration, and isolation; appropriate physical activity to maintain and improve strength, flexibility and endurance; medication management; effective communication with health care professionals, family and friends; evaluation of new treatments; and nutrition issues. The class uses the workbook, "Living a Healthy Life With Chronic Conditions, 2nd Edition." The book contains many illustrations and provides additional resources which people may use. While there is no charge for the course, there is a nominal cost for the book.

This program does not replace current treatment programs, but is intended to enhance regular treatment, disease-specific education, and support groups. This workshop will also help those experiencing more than one simultaneous chronic condition. People can develop the skills they need to co-ordinate all the issues related to health management.

Both Kristen Thompson and Nicki Reynolds are trained to lead this workshop. They encourage you to participate, if you have a chronic condition. Please call the parish nurses at 314-837-1090, ext. 107, for more information or to register for the class.