Upstate Medical University’s popular Chronic Disease Self-Management program (also known as the Living Healthy with a Chronic Condition program) will be offered for the first time in Spanish.
The program guides participants as they gain confidence in their ability to manage chronic conditions and maintain active and fulfilling lives.
The Spanish-only program begins April 27th and is currently open for registration.
The program meets for six sessions—April 27, May 4, May 11, 18, 25 and June 1. Each session is 2.5 hours and takes place in the Salt City Market, 484 S. Salina St., Syracuse.
The move to offer the course in Spanish was a nod to the importance of expanding opportunities for more people in the communities we serve. The course is taught by trained, trusted community members, known as peer leaders, who then present the program to friends and neighbors helping to live their best lives with a chronic condition.
Among the peer leaders for this program is Dr. Maritza Alvarado. “The wonderful thing about this program in Spanish is that we hope it can address the disparity and equity that affect Latinos who have chronic disease,” she said. “We hope it gives then the tools to work on these issues and to improve their health.”
Fanny Villarreal applauded the effort to provide this important class in Spanish. “It’s important that organizations provide Spanish speaking people with the ability to learn how to manage their illness in their native language,” said peer leader Fanny Villarreal. “Taking this class will be a great opportunity for individuals to be empowered to get the training to take care of themselves.”
Joining Alvarado and Villarreal as peer leaders is Lydia Perez.
Lisa Vigliotti-Bane, Upstate’s coordinator of evidence-based programs, said the program teaches the skills necessary to navigate one’s chronic disease. “We cover many topics, like setting goals, communications skills with both family members and health care providers, problem solving, decision making and healthy eating.
“The course teaches strategies to help manage chronic conditions and discusses the concepts of being an active manager or passive manager of those conditions,” says Vigliotti-Bane. “Understanding these two approaches to disease management is an important way to control and improve your own health. Regardless of diagnosis, this course offers content to benefit everyone—including caregivers.
“Nearly 1,000 people have taken part in the Chronic Disease Self-Management program since it was first introduced at Upstate. The program, which is supported in part by Onondaga County Department of Aging and Long Term Services, is an offering of Upstate’s HealthLink programming.
To register, send email to LivingHealthy@upstate.edu or go to to:
https://www.upstate.edu/rsvp/register-spanish.php?eventid=1644508407338
More information on the class is here:
https://www.upstate.edu/webcal/main.php?view=event&calendarid=livinghealthy&eventid=1644508407338
