Panhandle Health District

                                                             8500 N. Atlas Road         Hayden, Idaho  83835

www.phd1.idaho.gov

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      Date:     July 16, 2009                 

Contact:                                                                             Released by: Jeanne Bock, Director                     

Cynthia Taggart

Public Information Officer

(208) 415-5108

(208) 818-7288 (cell)

Living Well Returns to Post Falls

 

Post Falls—Stanford University taught Mamie Johnson how people can live independently and happily even with a chronic condition. Mamie will share what she learned at the Heartland Senior Apartments in “Living Well in Idaho,” a free six-week wellness workshop starting July 28.

              The free classes also are scheduled in Sandpoint and Spirit Lake in August and September.

              “Living Well in Idaho” is open to anyone with a chronic condition but aimed particularly at seniors. Chronic problems are continuous and typically managed with medication. They include such conditions as asthma, fibromyalgia and even multiple sclerosis.

              Workshop participants will learn the information and tools to live independently rather than in a care facility.  Topics include healthy eating, better breathing techniques, and how to handle depression. The workshop covers how to work with doctors, use medications and relax. Participants also discuss the value of setting weekly goals and effective problem solving.

              “It taught me better control of my diabetes and how to reduce the amount of pain medication I take for arthritis,” said a participant from a Living Well class offered last spring. “It helped me lose 30 pounds I needed to lose and I learned to take control of my chronic disease.”

              A grant from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the Administration on Aging enabled Panhandle Health District to train instructors at Stanford. The training covered program management and technical assistance to senior centers where “Living Well in Idaho” is offered.

              Each “Living Well in Idaho” class is 2 ½ hours long and participation is limited. The classes at the Heartland Senior Apartments, 7745 N. Heartland Dr., will start at 1 p.m., but the first session on July 28 will start at 12:45 p.m. to complete registration paperwork. Potential participants for these free classes should call the Post Falls Senior Center at (208) 773-9582 for pre-registration and to reserve a spot. If no one answers, leave a message about attending the “Living Well in Idaho” class and someone will return the call.

              “Living Well in Idaho” classes are coming to: