Free public workshop for those with chronic illness

Do you suffer from a chronic illness or pain? Do you feel like you are living day-to-day, a slave to your symptoms? Then a free workshop offered by Sun Life Family Health Center might be right for you.

Starting next month, Sun Life will be hosting the six-week Healthy Living workshop at two of its locations. At Sun Life’s Casa Grande office (865 N. Arizola Road) the workshop will be held on Wednesdays from Oct. 1-Nov. 5, 9-11:30 a.m. At its San Manuel office (23 McNab Parkway), workshops will be held on Fridays from 9-11:30 a.m., starting Oct. 3 through Nov. 7.

So many have benefitted from this statewide workshop. Take Kathy, for instance. Kathy was diagnosed a year ago with a rare, progressive and frequently fatal lung disease. In June, she participated in a chronic conditions self-management workshop called Healthy Living.

"I loved it," said Kathy, 56, who has conducted workshops on a variety of issues, was so impressed by the impact of the class that she is now facilitating it to her peers.

A key to the success of the workshops, which began in Prescott and Tucson over four years ago, is that people who live with chronic diseases – such as diabetes, heart disease or arthritis – help teach others how to do it.

Kathy said the workshops taught her how to be more proactive in dealing with her condition and the significance of making small changes in her life.

"It's just bunches of little, meaningful changes that have a big impact," Kathy said.

The program, developed by Stanford University, uses two trained peer leaders, one or both of whom have a chronic condition, to facilitate the small-group workshops. Each workshop lasts six weeks. Participants meet once a week for 2½ hours.

Anyone with a chronic condition such as diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, asthma, or any other on-going health problem is welcome to participate. Caregivers or family members who serve as caregivers are also welcomed.

Class sizes are limited, and pre-registration is required. To register for San Manuel, contact Melissa Zazueta at (520) 385-2704 or by email at [email protected]. To register for Casa Grande, contact Lindsey Gemme at (520) 350-7558 or by email at [email protected].

Chronic disease is a growing crisis in the state, and the Healthy Living workshop is a way to help improve the quality of life of older adults. More than 1.2 million Arizonans are over the age of 65 and 70 percent suffer from at least one chronic disease.

While studies suggest that chronic disease self-management programs like Healthy Living are successful in adults of all ages, it can be especially beneficial for older adults. That peer-to-peer conversation is very important for an elderly population. Among Arizonans 65 and older, nearly 60 percent have arthritis and about 20 percent are diabetic.

The Healthy Living workshop is one component of the Arizona Living Well Institute, and is funded with help from a two-year federal grant from the Administration on Aging awarded to the Arizona Department of Health Services, as well as three-year funding from St. Luke’s Health Initiatives.

The workshops are open to people with chronic conditions, as well as to their family members and caregivers. They're so popular that the workshop is offered in 12 counties in Arizona. Participants and program officials say the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The individuals in a workshop often become a close support system for one another during the workshop – and sometimes after it ends.

Set in an intimate and informal setting, participants learn to use tools such as brainstorming, problem-solving and "action plans." They incorporate those skills into their lives to address a host of issues – from dealing with fatigue, pain and feelings of isolation, to increasing exercise, healthful eating and better communication skills with family members, friends and health care professionals.