Living Well About Chronic Disease Self-Management Program

 

The Living Well, Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is an evidence based program created at Stanford University's Patient Education Research Center. The program includes six weekly workshops that discuss techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation, appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance, appropriate use of medications, communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals, nutrition, and, how to evaluate new treatments.  Workshops are held in community settings such as senior centers, churches, libraries, clinics, and hospitals. The workshops include people with many different health conditions and are lead by two trained leaders who may be professionals or peer leaders living with a chronic condition or caretaker of someone with a chronic condition. Workshops can also be done online at Better Choices Better Health.

The program is built upon three underlying assumptions:

1. Regardless of the chronic condition, people have similar problems and concerns and face similar challenges.
2. People can learn the skills needed to better manage their disease and the day to day issues they face.
3. People who understand and take control of their condition will be healthier and happier.

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. Download the Review of Findings on Chronic Disease Self-Management Program Outcomes to learn more about CDSMP.

Workshops

The program includes six weekly workshops focused on pain management, healthy eating, exercise, medication use, emotional management and communication with clinicians. Participants share practical advice on how to live with their health conditions using action plans and interactive learning. Workshops meet in settings such as clinics, senior centers, churches, libraries and hospitals. The workshops include people with many different health conditions and are run by a pair of trained leaders who may be professionals or peer leaders who are also living with a chronic condition.

Click on a county to see the available workshops for that county. Enter New Workshop