“Help Yourself to Health,” a series of free workshops for seniors with ongoing health conditions, will take place at senior community centers and other locations throughout Philadelphia.
The workshops are designed to help those with arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease, and other chronic conditions.
“These workshops provide the knowledge and tools that will enable people with chronic conditions to live active and healthier lives,” says Helen Cooke, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging’s (PCA) assistant director for health and nutrition.
A free “Help Yourself to Health” workshop series will take place Mondays, February 7 through March 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at West Oak Lane Senior Center, 7210-18 Ogontz Avenue in Philadelphia. For more information or to register, call the center at (215) 685-3514.
Taught by specially trained volunteer leaders (some themselves have health conditions), the program covers a new topic each week and provides opportunities for group interaction and problem solving. Each session lasts two and a half hours and is aimed at helping participants set goals and take action to improve their health.
The sessions are designed to help participants to:
- Find better ways of dealing with pain and fatigue
- Discover easy exercises to help improve or maintain strength and energy
- Learn the appropriate use of medications
- Learn the importance of healthy eating
- Talk more effectively with family, friends and health professionals about managing their medical condition
- Gain self confidence and skills in managing health conditions
“Help Yourself to Health” is a chronic disease self-management program, developed at Stanford University to give seniors the knowledge and tools they need to manage their ongoing medical conditions. PCA is one of four Area Agencies on Aging to receive federal stimulus funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging for this program, through the Administration on Aging.
For information about times and locations of other “Help Yourself to Health” workshops in the community, call Ernestine Jones-Booker, PCA program coordinator, at 215-765-9000, ext. 5114.
“Help Yourself to Health” workshops are also offered in Spanish and led by Spanish-speaking volunteer leaders.
PCA is looking for sites to host “Help Yourself to Health.” Those with a site to offer may call Ernestine Jones-Booker to arrange an introductory presentation.
Volunteers are needed to be trained as peer leaders to facilitate “Help Yourself to Health” workshops. Those interested may call Diane Brown, PCA health promotion consultant, at 215-765-9000, ext. 5119.
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