Anglicare assists people living with a chronic disease and their carers to enable them to understand and better manage a specific condition. Chronic disease includes diabetes, arthritis, or a myriad of other conditions which affects the way people live. Self-management is particularly important in older clients who tend to be passive recipients of healthcare rather than active participants.
We offer a course, based on a model developed by the School of Medicine at Stanford University, which teaches the life skills needed for the daily management of chronic conditions.
The course has been designed to enhance regular treatment, promote disease-specific education and will not conflict with existing programs or treatments. Used extensively throughout the world, the Stanford model is renowned as one of the best courses available and is being implemented throughout Australia.
The two and a half hour workshops run once a week, over a period of six weeks. They can reduce an individual’s sense of isolation, facilitate peer learning and sharing, and have a strong goal setting and problem solving focus.
The aim is to promote self-efficacy by building confidence, empowering people to manage their health, thereby maintaining active and fulfilling lives. The course includes techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation; appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility and endurance; appropriate use of medications; communicating effectively with family, friends and health professionals; nutrition and how to evaluate new treatments.
This government-funded course is available to any Home and Community Care (HACC) eligible clients and/or their spouse, partner or carer and includes morning tea.
Anglicare Southern Queensland is an Anglican not-for-profit organisation providing caring and supportive services to the community