Live Well

Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP)

Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) is a free workshop given 2½ hours, once a week, for six weeks, in community settings such as senior centers, churches, libraries and hospitals. People with different chronic health conditions attend the program together. Workshops are facilitated from a highly-detailed manual by two trained leaders, one or both of whom may be peers with a chronic health condition. The program teaches self-management techniques which encourage participants to:

• Find better ways of dealing with pain, fatigue, difficult emotions, anxiety and stress
• Discover easy exercises to help improve or maintain strength and energy
• Improve nutrition
• Learn the appropriate use of medications
• Talk effectively with family, friends and health professionals
• making informed treatment decisions
• Feel better about life

The process in which Live Well is taught makes it effective. Sessions are highly participative, where mutual support and success builds the participants' confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives.