Many individuals find it difficult to manage both the physical and emotional symptoms associated with a chronic illness. However, experts agree that living a full and meaningful life shouldn’t be compromised due to health issues.
The Live Well Program is a six-week workshop series that teaches real-life skills for living a full, healthy life with a chronic condition such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, sickle cell disease or chronic pain.
The first Live Well workshop series will begin on Thursday, Feb. 20 and occur each Thursday through March 27. The workshops will be held from 1:30 to 4 p.m. in the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center Conference Room, UConn Health Center, Farmington.
The nationwide evidence-based health promotion program was developed by Stanford University. Sessions are fun and very interactive. Participants share their successes and build a common source of support. The workshop builds confidence around managing health, staying active, and enjoying life.
“Live Well workshops meet weekly for six weeks for 2½ hours a week and are facilitated by two specially trained leaders. Workshops cover new topics each week and provide opportunities for interaction and group problem solving,” says facilitator Teresa Works, a licensed clinical social worker at UConn’s Adult Sickle Cell Center.
Workshops help participants and caregivers 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
- Feel better about life
The workshop series is free and open to the public. Space is limited – register by Feb. 14. To register or for more information, call Teresa Works at 860-679-3728.
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