Mainers can register for Healthy Living for ME’s free summer workshops, scheduled for June.
The workshops now open for registration include A Matter of Balance, Living Well for Better Health, Better Health Now, Living Well with Chronic Pain, and Living Well with HIV+.
Mainers who are caregivers or supports for individuals living with conditions addressed in these workshops are also invited to participate.
“The workshops we are offering this summer address a variety of health conditions and concerns. Mainers who deal with these health issues can benefit not only from the information presented in the workshop, but also from being a part of a supportive group of people who may be in a similar situation,” said Jen Paquet, Training Manager of Healthy Living for ME, according to a news release from the organization.
The schedule and details for Healthy Living for ME’s June workshops are as follows. Workshop times are at healthylivingforme.org.
A Matter of Balance (in-person): This workshop will be held Monday, June 6, at the Alfond Youth & Community Center, 126 North St., in Waterville. Topics covered include practical strategies to reduce fear of falling and increase activity levels.
Living Well for Better Health (in-person): There will be three sessions of this workshop offered; the first is Tuesday, June 7, and will be held at SeniorsPlus, 8 Falcon Road, in Lewiston. The second is June 16 and will be held at the Caribou Wellness Center, 55 Bennett Drive, in Caribou. The third is June 22, and will be held at Mt. Ararat High School, 73 Eagles Way, in Topsham.
The workshop can help participants deal with ongoing conditions such as diabetes, COPD, arthritis and high blood pressure. Topics covered include: handling frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation; appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility and endurance; appropriate use of medications; communicating effectively with family, friends and health professionals; nutrition; and evaluating new treatments.
Better Health Now (by phone): This workshop will begin on Thursday, June 9. It is designed to help those living with chronic conditions, including heart disease, arthritis, diabetes or other conditions. Participants in this workshop receive a toolkit in the mail and work with a leader either by themselves or in small groups.
Topics covered include: techniques to deal with frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation; appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility and endurance; appropriate use of medications, communicating effectively with family, friends and health professionals; nutrition; and how to evaluate new treatments.
Living Well with Chronic Pain (in-person): This workshop will be held at the Alfond Youth & Community Center in Waterville June 16. It is designed for people who are dealing with persistent pain such as back pain, post-surgical pain, headaches, and other ongoing pain.
Topics include: dealing with frustration, fatigue, isolation, and poor sleep; appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength; appropriate use of medications; communicating effectively with family, friends and health professionals; nutrition; pacing activity and rest; and evaluating new treatments.
Living Well with HIV+ (online): This workshop will be offered virtually June 16. It is designed for individuals managing HIV and their caregivers/natural supports. Topics include medication management; techniques to deal with frustration, fear, fatigue, pain and isolation; communicating effectively with family, friends and health professionals; sex, intimacy and disclosure; nutrition; evaluating symptoms; advanced directives; and decision-making.
Program participants make weekly action plans, share experiences, and help each other solve problems they encounter in creating and carrying out their self-management program.
For virtual workshops, participants who do not have the necessary technology may be eligible to borrow an iPad from Healthy Living for ME in order to participate.
Registration is required for these workshops. Contact Healthy Living for ME at 800-620-6036 or info@healthylivingforme.org for more information and to register, or visit healthylivingforme.org.
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