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Washington County Commission On Aging, in partnership with various community organizations including Washington County Hospital, Washington County Health Department and the Department of Social Services, is offering a series of affordable workshops for persons with chronic conditions modeled after the Chronic Disease Self-Management Workshop from Stanford University.

Research has shown that around 90 percent of the care a person needs to manage a chronic disease must come directly from the patient. Evidence is growing that self-management interventions, such as self-monitoring and decision making, lead not only to improvements in health outcomes and health status, but also to increased patient satisfaction and reductions in hospital and emergency room costs.The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, known as Living Well—Take charge of Your Health , is a 7 week workshop where people with different chronic diseases attend together for 2 hours weekly. It teaches the skills needed in the day-to-day management of treatment and to maintain and/or increase life’s activities.Although there are many chronic conditions, the problems and the symptoms associated with each are similar. Many people with chronic conditions experience: loss of energy, pain, breathing difficulties, sleeping problems, depression, and a concern for the future.

The workshop helps people to change by learning how to manage symptoms, how to communicate effectively with doctors, how to lessen frustration, how to fight fatigue, how to make daily tasks easier, and how to get more out of life! The workshop is for any person over 18 years of age who has one or more chronic conditions. A caregiver of a person with a chronic condition is welcome to attend. Workshops are held at various locations and times throughout the county. For more information or to register please call 301.790.8907. Cost is $35/7weeks. Scholarships are available for financial hardship.