Classes Growing in Popularity
Classes offered through THRIVES, or Teaming for Health & Resiliency Improvement Via Education and Support, are returning in October. “Living Well with Chronic Conditions” class will start Oct. 9 and Powerful Tools for Caregivers will start Oct. 7. Another THRIVES class, Stepping On, has a waiting list.
The return of the classes speaks of the success of the program and those championing for it, said Marci Reynolds, who oversees cardiac and pulmonary rehab, diabetes education and community programs at the Health and Wellness Center at Riverside Medical Center (RMC). “The THRIVES classes have better sign-up because the THRIVES coalition members have been making special efforts to get the word out about these classes,” she said. “These coalition members are passionate about getting our community to the table.”
Reynolds said THRIVES has also received support from doctors at ThedaCare Physicians-Waupaca, who have “embraced the classes. They had a continuing education session about the THRIVES classes and were given brochures to hand to patients who they felt had a need to attend. We have had to refill their brochures at least three times, so they are obviously promoting the classes.”
“Living Well with Chronic Conditions” is a six-week workshop ideal for those with conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic pain or anxiety. They will learn practical ways to deal with pain and fatigue, discover better nutrition and exercise choices, understand new treatment choices, and learn better ways to talk with their doctor and family about their health. The class runs from 9-11:30 a.m., six consecutive Thursdays, starting Oct. 9 through Nov. 13 at the Waupaca Senior Center.
“Powerful Tools for Caregivers” is a six-week program with classes each building on the other with the focus on the caregiver and the importance of taking care of their own needs and well-being and maintaining meaningful relationships and activities. The class runs from 6-7:30 p.m., six consecutive Tuesdays, starting Oct. 7 through Nov. 11 at the Waupaca Senior Center.
A current class, “Healthy Living with Diabetes,” “is going really well,” said Reynolds. “The peer instructor has been thrilled with the way the group is going, what they are learning, and she reports that there is a need to schedule more of these classes specifically on diabetes.”
And although the falls prevention class, “Stepping On,” does have a waiting list, “we will be offering it again so stay tuned for upcoming dates,” said Reynolds of the class, which uses adult education to develop the knowledge and skills needed to help older adults prevent falls.
For class and registration information about these THRIVES classes, call Riverside Medical Center at (715) 258-1119 or visit www.thedacare.org/classes.
For more information about the THRIVES Coalition, call Kristine Wiegman, Prevention Program Coordinator at the Waupaca County Aging & Disability Resource Center, at (715) 258-6277 or via e-mail Kristine.Wiegman@co.waupaca.wi.us.
