Sessions across southwest Missouri target chronic conditions
Are you tired or hurting all the time? Don’t let chronic health problems drive what you can and cannot do.
Mercy is sponsoring free, six-week workshops across several Ozarks communities to help people manage chronic conditions. Each program, developed by Stanford University by the Patient Education Research Center, will include the following goals:
- Improve your knowledge of living a healthy life with a chronic condition
- Identify and learn the latest pain management approaches
- Learn to manage fatigue and stress more effectively
- Find solutions to problems caused by your condition
- Identify ways to deal with anger, fear, frustration, depression
- Discuss the role of exercise and nutrition in chronic disease management
- Learn new ways to communicate with family and friends
- Learn how to form a partnership with your health-care team
Classes will begin April 7 inside room 4B at Mercy Surgery Center (1229 E. Seminole St.) in Springfield, Mo., and will continue every Monday through May 12, from 1-3:30 p.m. While the class is free, you do need to register. Just call (417) 888-6787.
Classes will also be held at St. Agnes Cathedral (533 S. Jefferson Ave.) in Springfield, Mo., every Thursday morning from April 24 through May 29. They’ll run from 8:30-11 a.m. Pre-registration is required; call (417) 888-6787.
In Mountain View, Mo., classes will start Wednesday, April 2, in the Sisters Dining Room of Mercy St. Francis Hospital (100 W. US Highway 60). The 10 a.m. to noon classes will continue weekly until May 7. Call (417) 934-7000 to register and get more information.
The Polk County Senior Center, located at 1850 W. Broadway St. in Bolivar, Mo., will host weekly classes beginning April 3. They’ll run from 12:30-3 p.m. each Thursday through May 8. Call (417) 326-5570 to register.
Classes will also be held Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m. at the West Plains Senior Center (416 E. Main St.) beginning April 23. The workshops will continue weekly until May 28. Call (417) 256-4055 to register.
Classes will also be held at the Mountain Grove YMCA (1 YMCA Dr.) every Thursday from April 24 through May 29. Each session will run from 10 a.m. to noon. Call (417) 683-4409 to register.
The $20 fee for each course has been waived, thanks to a grant from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Participants will also receive a free book, “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions.”