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, by phone, and in-person. Services 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:
- diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, obesity, chronic pain, COPD, celiac disease, osteoporosis, fatty liver disease, Parkinson disease, and obstructive sleep apnea
- weight management, sleep habits, meal planning, stress, grief, and breathing techniques
- how to manage long-COVID symptoms
Our Education Guide lists all the classes hosted by Calgary Zone. Search our Find Workshops and Classes table for classes hosted by other Zones that are available to adults throughout the province.
Self-Management Workshops:
Better Choices, Better Health® (BCBH®) - Chronic Pain and BCBH® - Chronic Disease are six-week interactive workshops that allow groups of up to 14 participants learn how to effectively manage their health condition(s) in a supportive environment. Workshops are available in English, Cantonese, and Tagalog. Topics of discussion include:
- healthy eating, safe exercise practices, medication usage, sleep hygiene, and dealing with difficult emotions
- action planning, decision-making, and problem-solving
- making pain diaries, communicating about pain, and basic pain neuroscience education (BCBH® Chronic Pain only*)
- fall prevention, breathing techniques, and self-talk (BCBH® Chronic Disease only*)
Visit the BCBH(R) website for more information.
Supervised Exercise Program:
The Supervised Exercise Program is for patients who need guidance and support to increase physical activity and exercise. Participants learn how exercise can manage their health condition(s) 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 and activity coaching
- referral to appropriate health education classes and/or self-management workshops
See eligibility criteria below to see if your patient is appropriate for this service. Note that medical clearance may be required for exercise participants with known history or signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease, diabetes or renal disease.
Nutrition Counselling:
- offered by phone, by Zoom, or in-person
- patients referred for nutrition counseling will be registered into a relevant group education class, if available, before being scheduled in for a one-on-one nutrition counseling appointment
- offered in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Hindi, and Punjabi. If your patient speaks a language not listed, an appropriate interpreter can be called in to assist with the appointment
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