Health Management Classes to begin March 29

New Workshops Energize People with Ongoing Health Conditions

With the costs of health care rising steeply, people are looking for ways to manage their health and monitor health related expenses.  Kossuth Regional Health Center and Kossuth County Extension are working together to offer health management classes designed to help individuals and their caregivers to take charge of their health.

This six-week series of classes begins on March 29 and ends on May 3, with classes offered from 2 to 4:30 p.m. or from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Van Buren Terrace apartments in Algona.  The classes are open to the general public and are intended to help people dealing with a chronic health issues, such as diabetes, migraine headaches or arthritis, learn ways to identify and resolve pain and other ongoing health issues. 

Jo Lighter of KRHC Community Health and Nancy Clark of ISU Extension will serve as instructors for the class.  A $20 fee is required to participate in the six sessions.  Class curriculum will include strategies for the following concepts:

• 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
• Improve nutrition
• Talk effectively with family, friends and health professionals
• Understand new treatment choices
• Feel better about life

“This class isn’t targeted towards one specific chronic illness, but rather strategies that can help anyone that struggles with an ongoing disease or pain,” said Lighter.  “Most of the management techniques we discuss will be applicable to all, regardless of what they are dealing with.”

Topics will include strategies to help people monitor their own condition, educate themselves on what to do when an issue occurs, know what options and resources exist and how to best partner with your health care provider to decrease visits to the emergency room or clinic for chronic health management. 

To sign up for the class or for more information, contact Jo Lighter at KRHC Community Health at 515-295-4430.

March 1, 2010