This spring, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital is offering three self-management workshops to give individuals new tools to deal with chronic health issues and live a fuller, healthier life. All of the workshops are free and open to the public.
Two of the workshops are being offered in collaboration with the Brattleboro Senior Center. The first program, Healthier Living, will take place from April 15 to May 20. The second program, Healthier Living with Chronic Pain, will happen June 3 to July 8. Both workshops will meet from 9:30 AM to 12 PM every Tuesday for six weeks at the Gibson-Aiken Center.
The third workshop, called the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), will be held at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital from 1:00 to 4:00 PM every Tuesday for eight weeks from May 6 to June 24.
“These programs change lives by giving individuals skills to become active managers of their lives again, even when dealing with difficult situations,” says Terri Kneipp, regional self-management program coordinator on the BMH Community Health Team. “Watching people become more confident and engaged in life again are two of the best outcomes a facilitator may be lucky enough to witness when conducting a workshop. With these workshops, I witness these outcomes all the time!”
The BMH Community Health Team partners with patients to improve their ability to manage their health conditions and their overall quality of life. The BMH Community Health Team was made possible as of a few years ago, thanks to BMH’s participation in the Vermont Blueprint for Health, a state-wide initiative designed to transform health-care delivery and empower patients. The effort began with the recognition that improving patient health requires a team-orientated approach, improved management of chronic conditions, and increased access to care.
The Community Health Team’s services are provided at no cost to patients and the team works with people as long as they are committed to health improvement. Services include help with accessing state and local services and benefits, medication management, care planning, weight loss and nutrition counseling, short-term behavioral health therapy, and diabetes management.
For more information, please call 257-8877 or visit BMH online at www.bmhvt.org.
