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Alberta Healthy Living Program available in Lacombe

The classes address a variety of needs, from chronic illness to healthy living options.
59205lacombeexpressAHS

BY KALISHA MENDONSA

Alberta Health Services is inviting local individuals to attend supportive health information workshops that are helping Albertans make positive adjustments to their lifestyles.

The workshops are offered as part of the Alberta Healthy Living Program (AHLP), an AHS initiative designed to promote healthy living and provide easy access to helpful information. The assortment of AHLP workshops cover a range of information, including heart health, weight management, nutrition, diabetes care, chronic illness management and more.

All AHLP sessions are led by AHS professionals who share their expertise in group discussions and provide support and encouragement to participants. More than 140 educational workshops will be offered throughout Central Zone. Each workshop is free of charge.

“One of our best programs is a workshop developed by Stanford University, our ‘Better Choices, Better Health’ program. In this program, we support participants in putting knowledge into action to better manage their health,” said AHS Program Facilitator, Ashley Keim.

“That includes information on making healthy lifestyle changes, dealing with difficult emotions, developing communication skills. We also talk about medication safety, exercise, healthy eating, and working together with your overall healthcare team. It really covers all aspects of health management.”

Upcoming workshops in Lacombe include:

Craving Change (three sessions)

Feel more in control of eating habits, learn self-awareness tools related to nutrition decisions, and receive guidance to cope with emotional factors that impact eating behaviours.

April 6th, 13th, 20th from 9 a.m. 11:30 a.m. at the Lacombe Community Health Centre 5010 51st St.

Weight Wise (multiple sessions)

Discover safe and effective and strategies to manage weight through a series of workshops led by AHS health professionals who share their expertise and guide interactive group sessions. Nutrition workshops are facilitated by a registered dietitian.

April 12th and May 10th from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre 5430 47th Ave.

Diabetes The Basics (one session)

Learn how to better manage Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes. For those newly diagnosed or wanting an update.

April 10th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lacombe Community Health Centre– 5010 51st St.

Better Choices, Better Health (six sessions)

A self-management workshop to gain confidence and develop skills to overcome the physical and emotional challenges of living with a long-term health condition.

May 11th, 18th, 25th, June 1st, 8th, 15th from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at the Lacombe Community Health Centre– 5010 51st St.

Heart Wise (one session)

Learn about high blood pressure, cholesterol and heart healthy nutrition.

May 24th from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Lacombe Community Health Centre– 5010 51st St.

“The purpose of providing this kind of variety is so that people can pick and choose what works for them to start making those healthy changes. With our ‘Weight Wise’ workshop, we talk about lifestyle changes for example. We’ve got specific chronic-condition classes, too, such as our ‘Diabetes, The Basics’ and ‘Heart Wise’, which is great for people living with those conditions,” Keim said.

She added the programs are well-attended, and that she is pleased to see so many people in Lacombe reaching out to better their health.

Registration is required as date and time are subject to change. For more information and to register to attend, call the Alberta Healthy Living Program Central Zone at 1-877-314-6997.

kmendonsa@lacombeexpress.com