The Alberta Healthy Living Program (AHLP) offers health education classes, self-management workshops, nutrition counselling, and supervised exercise for adults living in the community with a chronic health condition.The Alberta Healthy Living Program services are offered by Zoom, phone, in-person, and include:
- general and condition-specific health education classes
- supervised group exercise classes and health coaching
- self-management workshops (Better Choices, Better Health®)
- nutrition classes and counseling
Health Education:
Our Education Guide lists classes hosted by Calgary Zone. Search our Find Workshops and Classes table for classes hosted by other Zones.
Class topics include:
- diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, obesity, chronic pain, COPD, celiac disease, osteoporosis, fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and weight management
- sleep habits, meal planning, breathing techniques, and emotional wellness (stress, grief)
- managing long-COVID symptoms
Self-Management Workshops:
Better Choices, Better Health® (BCBH®) - Chronic Pain and Chronic Disease are six-week interactive workshops to help them learn to effectively manage health condition(s) in a supportive environment. Workshops available in English, Cantonese, and Tagalog. Topics include:
- healthy eating, safe exercise practices, medication usage, sleep hygiene, dealing with difficult emotions, action planning, decision-making, and problem-solving
- making pain diaries, communicating about pain, and basic pain neuroscience education (Chronic Pain only), fall prevention, breathing techniques, and self-talk (Chronic Disease only)
Visit our website for more information.
Supervised Exercise Program:
The Supervised Group Exercise Program is for patients who need guidance and support to increase physical activity and exercise. Participants learn how exercise can manage their health conditions and how to start or modify an exercise program based on their symptoms and abilities. Healthcare professionals help participants develop strategies to overcome physical activity barriers and create an activity action plan to continue exercising in the community. Participants can access AHLP programs and services to help them achieve their goals. Services that may be available to your patient include:
- group exercise classes (hosted in-person or virtually) - additional exclusion criteria apply
- one-on-one health coaching
- referral to appropriate health education classes and/or self-management workshops
See eligibility criteria below to see if your patient is appropriate for exercise. Medical clearance may be required for exercise participants with known history or signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease, diabetes or renal disease.
AHLP Nutrition Counselling
- Offered by phone, Zoom, or in-person
- Patients will be registered into a relevant group education class to attend before being scheduled in for a one-on-one appointment.
- Appointments are available in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Hindi, and Punjabi. Interpreters are available if your patient speaks a language not listed.
- Nutrition counselling is available for the conditions listed on the referral form.
- Nutrition counseling is available at the follow locations: South Health Campus, South Calgary Health Centre, Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre, Genesis Centre, East Calgary Health Centre, Cochrane Community Centre.
- Patients are required by the College of Dietitians of Alberta to be in Alberta at the time of the appointment.
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