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Community Corner

Healthier Living: Good News for Those with Ongoing Health Problems

Did you wake up this morning with a smile on your face and jump out of bed ready to roll? Not really? We know how it can be—many of us have ongoing health problems too. In fact, nearly 1 out of every 2 adults has a chronic condition, many have more.

Here in Solano County, we have good news for people with chronic conditions, their family members and caregivers. Solano County is now offering free Healthier Living workshops so we can learn better ways to live, gain confidence and motivation to manage our health, and feel more positive about life. Developed at Stanford University and sponsored by the Solano Department of Public Health and the Area Agency on Aging serving Napa-Solano, Healthier Living is a set of six effective self-management workshops that develop skills useful for managing most chronic diseases.

But wait, you say. Isn’t it my doctor’s responsibility to manage my chronic condition? The answer to that question is yes and no. Yes, your physician prescribes your treatments and offers valuable advice. But no, your doctor does not live with your condition 24/7. More importantly, you are in charge of what you do every day. What you do can make a tremendous difference in how you feel. One of the keys to improving how you feel is called patient empowerment. Healthier Living workshops lead to empowered patients improving their health and becoming better healthcare consumers. Don’t we all want to become empowered?

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Each Healthier Living series has six 2½-hour workshops that meet weekly. Participants learn skills needed to manage symptoms, work with health care professionals, set weekly goals for behavior change, problem-solve, handle difficult emotions, eat well, practice relaxation techniques and exercise safely and easily.

The first workshop to be offered in Benicia will meet on Wednesdays from 10-12:30 starting on October 30th at the Community Center, 370 East L Street. Call the Area Agency on Aging Serving Napa-Solano to register or for more information at (707) 643-1797.  

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This program has been made possible by Solano Public Health, and CA4Health, a project of the Public Health Institute, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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