The Southwest Utah Public Health Department is excited to offer Living Well with Chronic Conditions, a self management course in Washington, Iron, and Kanab counties. This research-based course was developed at Stanford University for individuals with any chronic condition to learn the skills and tools to manage their symptoms. Living Well is designed to work with and enhance other treatment programs as well as disease specific education.

Classes are taught over six  weeks, one session per week, lasting 2.5 hours.  People with different chronic health problems all attend together. Classes are conducted by two trained leaders; one or both are non-health professionals with a chronic disease themselves.

Subjects covered  in the class include:

1) Techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation

2) Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance 3) Appropriate use of medications

4) Communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals

5) Nutrition

6) How to evaluate new treatments

It is the process in which the program is taught that makes it effective. Classes are highly participative, where mutual support and success build the participants’ confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives.

Anyone with an ongoing condition such as asthma, arthritis, chronic joint pain, fibromyalgia, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, care-takers or significant others of individuals suffering from chronic conditions are also encouraged to attend.

This class offers great benefits to all chronic conditions.  Individuals who took the program, when compared to those who did not, demonstrated significant improvements in exercise, cognitive symptom management, communication with physicians, self-reported general health, health distress, fatigue, disability, and social/role activities limitations. They also spent fewer days in the hospital, and there was also a trend toward fewer outpatient visits and hospitalizations. These data yield a cost to savings ratio of approximately 1:4. Many of these results persist for as long as three years. (Lorig, et al 1999, 2001)

"Living Well is a wonderful class for any chronic condition, it provides individuals with tools and methods to control their health.  When faced with a Chronic illness it is important to understand your condition and then what to do to respond to your health needs." said Tracy HeavyRunner, Chronic Disease Master Trainer.

An evidence-based program such as Living Well can capture many chronic diseases through this one channel. Other benefits of the program include self-management tools, relieving the burden that health providers shoulder, helping clients improve outcomes, contributing to patient satisfaction, reduced pain medications and improved pain management.

For more information on Living Well with Chronic Conditions please contact Kandyce McCracken at 435-986-2563. Group space is limited to 15 individuals. The health department intends to teach classes in conjunction with Sun River's Neighborhood Clinic.

Other Living Well with Chronic Conditions classes