Healthy Living Workshops

A Matter of Balance is an eight-week workshop which helps participants manage concerns about falls. Participants learn to view falls and fear of falling as controllable, set realistic goals to increase activity, change their environment to reduce fall risk factors, and exercise to increase strength and balance. The program is suitable for community-dwelling older adults in small group sessions led by a trained facilitator.

Chronic Disease Self-Management is a six-week workshop designed to provide older adults with education and tools they need to help them cope with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, or arthritis. The program teaches the benefits of physical activity and good nutrition and helps participants manage stress, communicate more effectively with family, friends, and healthcare providers, and develop action plans through structured planning and feedback exercises.

Diabetes Self-Management consists of six 2½-hour classes led by health coaches who have successfully completed a course in diabetes management. Workshop topics include techniques to deal with the symptoms of diabetes, exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance, healthy eating, appropriate use of medication, and working more effectively with healthcare providers.

The Chronic Pain Self-Management Program consists of six 2½-hour classes led by two trained facilitators. The workshop includes techniques to deal with pain symptoms, fatigue and depression; manage medications; eat well; increase activity; and communicate more effectively with family, friends, and health care providers.

Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention is a series of 16 small-group workshops that help participants increase their balance and flexibility. The program has been shown to improve balance, increase muscular strength, improve mobility, increase flexibility, improve psychological health, decrease pain and prevent falls.

Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives, or PEARLS, offers one-on-one support for people who are experiencing depression or persistent sadness. The program consists of eight sessions over six months to help develop skills for self-sufficiency and more active lives.