Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Course
Trained by the Arthritis Foundation, certified Orland Township personnel will conduct a six-week Arthritis Self-Help Course (ASHC) for individuals who suffer from arthritis or fibromyalgia.
For people with these diseases, living the most active life with the least amount of pain, fatigue and disability involves becoming an active partner in your arthritis care. This means working with your health-care providers as well as learning how to manage your arthritis on a day-to-day basis. The Arthritis Self-Help Course is designed to help you learn and practice the different skills needed to build your own individualized self-management program, and gain the confidence to carry out this program.
The ASHC is a group education program designed to complement the professional services provided by your health-care team. This course allows you to share experiences with others, offering you the opportunity to both help and learn from people like yourself. The ASHC is taught over six consecutive weeks in sessions lasting approximately two hours per week.
The Arthritis Self-Help Course is designed to identify and teach you the latest pain management techniques; help you develop your own individualized exercise program; help you learn to manage fatigue and stress more effectively; discuss the purposes and effective use of medications; help you find solutions to problems caused by your arthritis; identify ways to deal with anger, fear, frustration and depression; discuss the role of nutrition in arthritis management; help you learn new ways to communicate with family and friends; and to teach you how to form a partnership with your health-care team.
Any person having one of the more than 100 types of arthritis may attend. A spouse, other family member or friend may accompany this person as a registered member of the class. In fact, participation by significant others is encourage, as these people not only play an important role in the support and care of the person with arthritis, but also feel a personal impact from being so closely associated with the disease.
Past participants of the Arthritis Self-Help Course have experienced such benefits as increased knowledge about their arthritis, increased frequency of exercise and relaxation, increased confidence, decreased depression, decreased pain, and decreased physician visits.
The ASHC will be held in the Orland Township Activity Center, 15100 S. 94th Avenue, Orland Park.
Classes are held on an ongoing basis throughout the year. Classes begin at 9:00 am.
In order to benefit from the course, participants are encouraged to make sure they will be able to attend all six sessions. A physician release to participate in the class will be required. Course materials and workbooks are provided for a nominal fee of $20.00 to all participants. Registration is limited to Orland Township residents only and class size is limited to 20 people.
To register for the Arthritis Self-Help Course, or for more information, please call the Orland Township office at (708) 403-4222.
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