Healthy Living Canada

Is the pain, fatigue or stress of an ongoing health condition stopping you from living your life to the fullest?

Alberta Health Services and the Government of Alberta are looking for adults living with a chronic condition to participate in Healthy Living Canada, a free, online, self-management pilot project.

Project lead Jennifer Painter says this is perfect for those who may be socially or geographically isolated.

“This program currently exists in a classroom setting,” she explains, “but many people with chronic conditions are located in remote areas and cannot travel to where the class is offered.”

“We also anticipate being able to better accommodate our working population. Those with kids and busy lives will be able to sign in at their own leisure without specific time constraints,” adds Painter.

Participants must have access to the Internet and will be asked to commit two hours per week for six weeks. In return, they will learn ways to get control of their lives and to manage day-to-day activities.

Healthy Living Canada is the online version of the community-based Chronic Disease Self-Management Program and although this is the first time the program is being offered online in Canada, Painter says it has been successful in other countries.

“Study results from United States, South Africa and the United Kingdom have shown that the online version of the program is just as successful as its classroom counterpart. Participants are finishing the program and are better able to self-manage their conditions. They learn problem-solving and action-planning techniques that lead to fewer visits to their primary care physician.”

There is still room for new participants. Two workshops will get underway in February; in total, there will be 12 workshops offered throughout the pilot project.

For more information or to register visit www.healthylivingcanada.org

Healthy Living Canada is part of a research pilot project between Alberta Health Services, Alberta Health & Wellness, Stanford University and The National Council on Aging.