Program Helps Residents With Ongoing Health Conditions Live Well

Local residents living with chronic diseases can learn how to take control of their health and feel better by attending free, self-management education workshops being presented this fall by Alberta Health Services (AHS).
Better Choices, Better Health, formerly known as Row Your Own Boat, is a series of six workshops designed to support people living with ongoing health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, chronic pain and obesity.
Sharing information and best practices to prevent and manage chronic diseases is among the goals outlined in the 5-Year Health Action Plan, jointly developed by the Government of Alberta and AHS, and supported by the province’s stable, 5-year funding.
Better Choices, Better Health sessions are led by AHS staff and/or trained volunteers, many of whom live with a chronic disease. This approach ensures an understanding of the challenges participants face and provides a supportive and welcoming environment.
Family members and caregivers are also welcome to attend.
The workshops will address such topics as:
Handling pain and fatigue.
Managing medication.
Dealing with difficult emotions.
Healthy eating and activity.
Problem solving and goal setting.
Communicating with health care providers.
Better Choices, Better Health workshop sessions will be held in Black Diamond Wednesdays from October 5th to November 16th at the Black Diamond Hospital, 717 Government Rd. There’s no workshop on November 2nd. Sessions will run from 9:30 am to noon. For more information, or to register, please call 403-943-2584. These six free AHS workshops started on October 5th but you can still register until October 19th.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than 3.7 million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.