March 29, 2024

Getting back to better: Workshop energizes people with ongoing health conditions

For most of her adult life, Helen didn’t worry much about her health. Then at 67, she was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure. She tried to follow her doctor’s advice to take her medications, exercise and eat better. But often she was tired and even a little depressed. “I figured it was just part of getting older,” she recalled.

Then, a friend told Helen about the Better Choices, Better Health Workshop — six weekly sessions sponsored by Clarke County Public Health.

Developed at Stanford University, the workshop has been offered at hundreds of locations throughout the United States. It 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

• Feel better about life

“I now have a new sense of being in control,” Helen said. “The workshop has really helped me put life back in my life. The exercises are extremely helpful and easy to do. Making an action plan each week helps keep me on track.”

Taught by specially trained volunteer leaders, some who have health conditions themselves, the program covers a new topic each week and provides opportunities for interaction and group problem solving.

“We are really more like coaches,” said Marcia Blain, one of the leaders of the workshop. “The answer to someone’s question is usually in the room.”

The next Better Choices, Better Health Workshop begins Tuesday, April 7, and ends May 12. Sessions will take place every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for six weeks and will be held at the in Osceola First Christian Church.

For more information or to enroll in the Better Choices, Better Health Workshop, call Laura at Clarke County Public Health, 641-342-3724 or Rosie Kloppenburg at 641-342-0917.

Call today. Deadline for sign-up is April 1.