HSE Press Release: Thursday, 25th April
Group programme on “Living well with a Long Term Health Condition” available in County Carlow
A group programme, in which participants will learn over six weekly sessions about living well with a long term health condition, begins in Carlow on Friday 3rd May.
Taking place in Bagnelstown Family Resource Centre, Bagnelstown, County Carlow and catering for those aged over 18 that are living with one or more long term health condition – or adults caring for them, it will be a “community led” programme. All of the trained tutors have long term health conditions themselves or are carers for someone who has.
The programme is suitable for adults over 18 who are living with one or more long term health conditions (for example Stroke, Diabetes, Heart Failure, Asthma, COPD, Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Depression, Arthritis, Crohn’s, Colitis) or caring for someone with a long-term health condition, depression, intellectual disability or dementia or feeling low, anxious, unhappy or depressed.
The programme (which is licenced and designed by Stanford University, California, USA) has already been completed in New Park Close Family Resource Centre in Kilkenny and is currently underway in Three Drives Family Resource Centre in Tipperary Town and Sacred Heart Family Resource Centre in Waterford City. It will be starting in South South West Family Resource Centre, Ramsgrange, Co Wexford on Monday evenings later in May.
The Carlow group starts on Friday 3rd May at 10.30.am (finishing at 1.00pm) in Bagnelstown Family Resource Centre, Bagnelstown, County Carlow. Participants can self-refer and book a place by ringing Lana or Denis on 0868163772 or online via Eventbritehttps://se-livingwell-carlow.eventbrite.ie.The Programme costs just €20.00 which covers the six sessions and a course handbook.
Kate O Connor (Self- management Support Co-ordinator for Chronic Conditions for HSE/South East Community Healthcare), in looking forward to the Carlow programme getting under way says:
“People living with long term health care conditions can experience emotional, physical and psychological challenges. These can include pain, fatigue, anxiety, anger, fear of exercising, fear of the future, helplessness, isolation and feeling poorly understood. These can be barriers to carrying out the daily tasks required to manage one or more long term health conditions. I welcome this programme, which focuses on dealing with these challenges and enables participants to action plan and problem solve.”
Each programme will be run over six weeks with one workshop per week. Each workshop lasts two and a half hours including a break, where tea and coffee will be provided. There is a maximum of 18 per group. Participants will have an opportunity to meet others living with or caring for someone with a long term health condition in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. Friendly and welcoming tutors will create a safe space for learning and sharing experiences.
The initiative is a collaboration between HSE/South East Community Healthcare and the South East Family Resource Centres, the Disability Federation of Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis Ireland, Muscular Dystrophy Ireland, Diabetes Ireland, Asthma Society of Ireland, Irish Heart Foundation, COPD Ireland, Irish Society for Colitis and Crohns, Cluain Training and Enterprise Centre and Chronic Pain Ireland.
This programme is financed by a Lottery grant from South East Community Healthcare (HSE). The programme is being managed by Arthritis Ireland, who have over 12 years’ experience of delivering the Stanford Self -Management Programme. The five programmes in the South East will be evaluated in partnership with the Centre for Health Behaviour Research at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT).
