Loring Hospital and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) have teamed up to provide a seven-week virtual or in-person course entitled, “Better Choices, Better Health,” to help individuals take a more active role in managing their health and chronic conditions.
This evidence-based self-management course, developed by Stanford University, covers a variety of topics including sleep, stress, physical activity, decision making, healthy eating, time management, working with your healthcare providers, action planning, and problem solving. The course creates an environment of mutual support, which builds each participant’s confidence in their ability to manage their health and lead active lives.
The virtual or in-person workshop sessions are held once a week for seven weeks. All seven sessions will be held on Mondays from 12:30 – 3 p.m. The dates include Feb. 7, Feb. 14, Feb. 21, Feb. 28, March 7, March 14, and March 21. Participants should plan to attend all seven sessions. Sessions will be led by Jill Williams, registered dietitian and diabetes education coordinator at Loring Hospital; and Julie Gerdes, registered nurse at Loring Hospital.
This interactive program is for people wanting to learn self-management skills and learn how their health problems may affect their lives and/or for people who suffer from or care for others who suffer from conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and any other physical or mental health condition. Participants are encouraged to make weekly action plans, share experiences, and help each other solve problems they encounter. Participants can expect to learn techniques on managing poor sleep, physical limitations, pain, stress/anxiety, difficult emotions, depression, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
The cost of the course is $25.00 per person, but to defray expenses, there are a limited number of scholarships available through Sac County’s Wellness Coalition, Sac Fit.
For questions or to register, please call 712-662-6379. Participants are being asked to register by Friday, Feb. 4. Additional information about scholarships and class format will be provided upon registration.