Free Online Workshop for People with Chronic
Conditions Offered by Council on Aging
Those with arthritis, diabetes, heart disease,
cancer, other chronic conditions urged to sign up quickly for limited
spaces
Aug. 24, 2010 – The National Council on Aging (NCOA)
today announced the debut of Better Choices, Better Health, an online
version of the internationally recognized Chronic Disease Self
Management Program (CDSMP), which will be available free for people with
chronic health conditions in seven states - California, Hawaii, Iowa,
Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Oregon. Spaces, however, are
limited, and availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Interested people can register at
SelfManage.org.
Better Choices, Better Health helps people with
arthritis, asthma, diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, stroke, and
osteoporosis and many other chronic conditions manage their symptoms and
take control of their health.
Developed and tested at the Stanford
University Patient Education Center, the workshop is offered exclusively
through a license from NCOA. This seven-state pilot effort is supported
with funding from The Atlantic Philanthropies.
“Nearly half of all adults live with one or more
chronic health conditions, and many struggle to find ways to manage
their condition,” said Jay Greenberg, senior vice president of Social
Enterprise at NCOA.
“Better Choices, Better Health meets people where
they increasingly are—online. The workshop represents a convenient way
for people to develop the confidence and skills they need to cope with
their illnesses. It provides a way for them to help others, while they
help themselves.”
An Evidence-Based, Six-Week Workshop—Available
Online
Better Choices, Better Health helps participants
reduce their pain and anxiety and manage a wide range of symptoms and
conditions. Led by trained instructors, participants together address
topics such as stress reduction, dealing with distressful emotions,
planning for the future, locating and using community resources,
building communication skills, and asking for help.
Participants can log onto the free sessions from
any computer with an Internet connection, including dial-up. Sessions
are posted on a secure Web site each week for six weeks.
There are no set times for workshop sessions;
participants log on remotely at their convenience to complete exercises,
read posted material, and interact with others. The workshops can be
particularly useful for those individuals without access to
transportation or who prefer the anonymity of a virtual group.
In addition to the online Better Choices, Better
Health, in-person community-based CDSMP workshops are provided locally
around the country. Through funding from the U.S. Administration on
Aging, these offerings are currently promoted to thousands of people in
45 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Information on the
community-based CDSMP program can be obtained by emailing CDSMP@ncoa.org.
About the National Council on Aging
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is a nonprofit
service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA
is a national voice for older Americans—especially those who are
vulnerable and disadvantaged—and the community organizations that serve
them. It brings together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and
government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all
older adults. NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the
country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health,
live independently and remain active in their communities. For more
information, please visit www.ncoa.org.
About the Stanford Patient Education Center
The Stanford Patient Education Research Center is
part of the Department of Medicine at the Stanford University School of
Medicine, located in Palo Alto, CA. For nearly three decades, the
Center has developed, tested, and evaluated self-management programs for
English and Spanish speakers with chronic health problems. All of our
programs are designed to help people gain self-confidence in their
ability to control their symptoms and how their health problems affect
their lives.
