OWATONNA, Minn. 3/15/2018 — For people with chronic health conditions, good medical care is just half of the equation. Equally important is their ability to make healthy decisions, follow their doctor’s recommendations and take care of their condition.
Living Well with Chronic Conditions, a workshop offered in Steele County, teaches people with lifelong health conditions to do just that. Participants have less pain, more energy and fewer hospitalizations.
The classes, offered weekly at Owatonna Hospital, are for anyone with a chronic disease. Chronic diseases are lifelong health conditions and include diabetes, arthritis, HIV/AIDS, high blood pressure, depression, heart disease, chronic pain, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia and others.
There’s a significant need for support for people with chronic diseases, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls the most common, costly and preventable of all U.S. health problems. They are also the leading causes of death and disability, responsible for seven out of 10 deaths each year.
“This class gives people tools to help them take charge of their condition,” says Linda Hoffman, manager, Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute – Owatonna Hospital and workshop leader. “Empowering the individual to improve the quality of their life is what this is all about.”
Living Well workshops are delivered in six, 2 ½ hour weekly sessions. Taught by specially trained leaders, the program covers a new topic each week and provides opportunities for interaction and group problem solving.
The workshop helps participants with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease, and others 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,
• and feel better about life.
The sessions are funded by a grant from the Southeast Minnesota Area Agency on Aging and South Country Health Alliance and are offered at no charge to the participants.
The next Living Well With Chronic Conditions Workshop offered begins Friday, April 13 and will take place every Friday from 1-3:30 p.m. for six weeks at Owatonna Hospital, 2250 NW 26th Street in Owatonna.
For more information or to enroll in the Living Well With Chronic Conditions Workshop, call Linda Hoffman at 507-977-2171507-977-2171.
Allina Health is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A not-for-profit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 10 hospitals / 13 campuses, 15 retail pharmacies, and many specialty care centers and specialty medical services, home care, and emergency medical transportation services.