Advertisement The 80-year-old admits she tries to do too much, and then pays the price in fatigue and stress.
Koby signed her sister up for the La Crosse County Public Health Nursing’s Living Well with Chronic Conditions workshops, but her sister wasn’t interested. So Koby went in her place.
She has learned to set goals, and one is not to overdo it.
“I had way more fatigue because I needlessly ran around too much,” Koby said. “I was fatigued because I was overloaded. I learned to say no.”
She now sets aside one day of the week for herself, and also created Monday as happy hour day.
“It’s been better for my emotional health,” Koby said.
The workshops started in January 2006, and continued in 2007 with a grant from the Wisconsin Aging and Disability Resource Center. They teach people with chronic conditions how to achieve goals, fight fatigue, choose an appropriate exercise plan, deal with depression and get the most of doctor visits.
The county public health nurses also offer a falls prevention program.
Sarah Peterson, a La Crosse County public health nurse who conducts the workshops, said the sessions are based on Stanford University’s Chronic Disease Self-Management Program.
“We make an action plan and set goals every week,” Peterson said. “They choose what they want to get done to have better control of their life.”
The workshops also touch on relaxation techniques, better breathing, nutrition, medications, advance directives and making treatment decisions, she said.
“Stress management is a big topic, and we want to improve their emotional health,” Peterson said.
“What has surprised people in this class is that they learn from each other,” she said.
Koby’s group still gets together regularly for coffee or lunch at the same restaurant because they have made a connection.
“It’s been a new social network for me,” said Carol Kaiser, 74. “We get along so well. I think God put us all together.”
Kaiser, who has chronic medical conditions and had three hip replacements, said she does better with her life due to the workshops.
“I now give myself permission to take a rest,” Kaiser said. “I’m going all the time, and I felt guilty for taking a nap. Now I take the time to relax.”
Bill Achterkirch, 66, whose wife had died, had several surgeries in addition to having lung problems. He learned to change his lifestyle and accept his limitations.
“I’ve learned to handle things in my life better,” said Achterkirch, who attended the series twice.
“When we get together for the workshops, we can relate to something from someone else,” he said. “We get different ideas about how to deal with something.”
Dawn Hill, 62, said guided imagery and relaxation techniques have helped her relax and better manage her pain. She has had to give up many of her household chores due to a chronic disease.
“I learned to set goals and do whatever I can, and I feel a lot better,” Hill said.
Her 62-year-old husband, Ron, said he is learning to deal with the stress in his life.
“I also set goals and I’m learning to cope with stress, so stress doesn’t bother me anymore,” he said.
LIVING WELL WORKSHOPS
FALLS PREVENTION SESSIONS
A 30-minute presentation on ways to decrease your chances of falling includes topics such as exercise, medications and environment. Also available are free assessments of your home.
