Chronic Disease Workshops

Chronic Disease Workshops – “Living Again”

 A series of chronic disease workshops in the Twin Cities…the need is here, right now, and increasing daily. These workshops have an immediate and lasting impact on people’s lives that are living with pain, diabetes, arthritis or any other ongoing health problem.

We are currently offering these workshops in the Robbinsdale and Crystal area, but with additional funding, we hope to expand these to the greater metropolitan area and eventually, state-wide.

Information about the workshops can be found at www.livingagainworkshops.com. Here are some pertinent details about the chronic disease self management workshops:

• These workshops have been developed by Stanford and have been proven to be effective to help patients adapt to their illnesses and make lifestyle changes.

   

• Merit Care has been successful in implementing these in Fargo. Kaiser-Permanente in California offers these workshops to their members.

   

• They are useful for a wide range of chronic conditions including arthritis, obesity, diabetes, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, etc. Many patients have co-morbidities and not just one condition. The rates of chronic diseases will be skyrocketing in the future and these workshops can give patients some skills.

   

• The workshops are based on self-efficacy and teach a number of skills: ways to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation; appropriate exercise for maintain and improving strength, flexibility and endurance; appropriate use of medications; communication with family, friends and health professionals; nutrition; how to evaluate new treatments.
  
  
  
• The intent is to have these based at community centers, churches, doctors’ offices, etc.

Anyone who works in healthcare or has friends or relatives living with long-term illness knows how important this effort is. Please consider a donation of: $250…$500…$1,000 payable to: “MAFP Foundation – Chronic Disease Workshops” and mail to:

MAFP Foundation
600 S. Highway 169, Suite 1680
St. Louis Park, MN   55426