Living Well
Living Well is a free group self-management programme for adults with long-term health conditions. The programme is delivered via group workshops that take place once a week for six weeks – these may be online or in-person.
The aim of the Living Well Programme is to support people to develop skills to better manage their health condition and to improve their overall wellbeing and quality of life. Topics covered on the programme include achieving better sleep, managing pain, coping with difficult emotions, healthy eating, increasing physical activity, setting goals, and problem solving. (See “Living Well Supports” section for more detail).
The programme has been proven to deliver positive outcomes for participants such as fewer GP visits, increased confidence in self-managing a health condition, and improved quality of life.
Living Well is an evidence-based self-management programme, originally developed at Stanford University, and licensed by the Self Management Resource Centre in the US. It is funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Further information about the Living Well Programme can be found here:
If you would like to sign up for a programme or have any questions, please enter your details below:
The Living Well workshops are delivered once a week for six weeks. Each workshop lasts about 2.5 hours and is delivered by two Facilitators – at least one Facilitator also has a long-term health condition.
The workshops are delivered in a relaxed and friendly way so that all participants can learn from each other. They may be online on in a classroom setting.
Each participant who takes part receives a book about self-management and information about further supports that are available to them.
A key part of Living Well is setting goals that you want to achieve. Each week you learn how to reach these goals by making an action plan. You also get support from the group to problem solve.
In addition, the following areas are covered over the 6 weeks:
| Week 1 | * Using your mind to manage symptoms * Fatigue and getting a good night’s sleepIntroduction to action plans |
| Week 2 | * Dealing with difficult emotions * Physical activity, exercise, preventing falls |
| Week 3 | * Decision making * Pain management * Healthy eating |
| Week 4 | * Breathing techniques * Reading food labels * Communicating skills |
| Week 5 | * Medication management * Positive thinking, dealing with low mood and feelings of depression |
| Week 6 | * Making informed treatment decisions * Planning for the future |
Living Well is for adults (18 years and over) who are living with a long-term health condition, or for adults caring for someone with a long-term health condition.
A long-term health condition is one which can be treated and managed, but not usually cured.
Examples of long-term health conditions include (but are not limited to):
- COPD
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Heart conditions
- Stroke
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Crohn’s Disease
- Chronic Pain
- Depression
- Anxiety
The Living Well programme is not suitable for people with significant memory or learning difficulties.
SWMDC is responsible for the Living Well programme in counties Mayo, Galway, Roscommon.
For more information please contact:
| Fiona Cunnane | Living Well Programme Co-ordinator | 087 718 5615 | fcunnane@southmayo.com |
| Liam Gildea | Programme Officer (Counties Mayo and Roscommon) | 086 014 2675 | lgildea@southmayo.com |
| Martha McIntyre | Programme Officer (Galway city and County) | 086 014 2688 | mmcintyre@southmayo.com |
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