What Is It?
Every day, millions of people with chronic conditions struggle to manage their symptoms. About 80% of older adults have at least one chronic condition, and 68% have at least two. Chronic conditions place a significant burden on individuals as well as health care systems.
People with different chronic health problems attend this program together; examples of chronic health problems include heart disease, lung disease, stroke, arthritis, and diabetes. Workshops are facilitated by two trained program providers, one or both of whom are non-health professionals with chronic diseases themselves
Who should attend Chronic Disease Self Management Education Programs?
The Living Healthy with Chronic Disease Self-Management Education workshops are designed to help people with chronic disease to gain self-confidence in their ability to control their symptoms and learn how their health problems affect their lives. It is designed to enhance regular treatment and disease-specific education such as
- Better Breathers
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
In addition, many people have more than one chronic condition. The program is especially helpful for these people, as it gives them the skills to coordinate all the things needed to manage their health, as well as to help them keep active in their lives.
What are the components of Living Healthy With Chronic Disease Self Management Education Programs?
CDSMP workshops are designed to help people gain self-confidence in their ability to control their symptoms and learn how their health problems affect their lives. Small-group, highly interactive workshops are six weeks long, meeting once a week for 2 ½ hours, and are facilitated by a pair of program providers, one or both of whom are non-health professionals with chronic diseases themselves.
The workshop topics include the following:
- How to deal with frustration, fatigue, pain, and isolation
- Ways to maintain and improve strength, flexibility, and endurance
- Managing medications
- How to communicate more effectively with family, friends, and health professionals
- Healthy eating