Living Longer, Living Stronger

A free workshop series hosted by Creek County Literacy Program focuses on managing chronic health conditions.

Technology Coordinator Calvin Barnett, Executive Director Melissa Muncy, and ­Administrative Assistant Deb Marshall welcome you to the Creek County Literacy ­Program’s free workshop series on how to manage chronic health issues.

Thousands of Oklahomans live with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, stroke, arthritis, and pain.         

    Understanding how to ­self-manage these conditions can mean the difference between ­daily struggles and living healthier, more comfortable lives.

    Area residents are invited to learn to manage their chronic health issues through a free workshop series. Participants will meet at Creek County Literacy Program, 15 N. Poplar St. in the Sapulpa Library Annex, once a week for six weeks. Signups are still available after the first week of the workshop.

    “The program helps ­participants build skills and strategies,” explains Melissa Muncy, executive director of the Creek County Literacy Program. “Workshop topics include goal setting, exercise, nutrition, relaxation techniques, and more. And the small class sizes will promote mutual support and interaction.”

    The “Living Longer, Living Stronger, Living with Chronic Conditions” program was ­developed by a doctor at Stanford University, and is being presented across the country. Workshop presenters at the Creek County classes will be trained facilitators from Oklahoma who are themselves living with and managing ­chronic conditions.

    The program is not for health professionals, Muncy stresses. “It’s for everyday people who struggle with their chronic illnesses, and for those who support family members or loved ones with chronic conditions.”

    Individuals who have ­attended the workshop report significant and measureable improvements in their health and quality of life. Reported results include improvements in fatigue, shortness of breath, pain, and depression.

    The Creek County ­workshop series will be held Wednesdays through June 5, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Creek County Literacy Program, 15 N. Poplar St., in the Library Annex. Space is limited. To ­register, call (918) 224-9647.

    The Creek County ­workshop is a health literacy ­outreach project of Creek County Literacy Program, the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, and the Oklahoma State Department of Health. It is funded by a federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

    To learn more about the Stanford University Self-Management workshops visit www.restartliving.org, or call David Lee at the state health department, (405) 420-2690.

For more information, contact

Creek County Literacy Program

www.creekliteracy.org

About Author Sheryl Sowell

Sheryl Sowell was born and raised in Tulsa, OK. She graduated from Will Rogers High School and received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Northeastern State University in 2007. She has worked for Value News as editor, writer and advertising copywriter since 2008. She enjoys meeting and interviewing people for Value News articles, learning about their backgrounds, and helping to promote their businesses and local events. In her free time, she enjoys reading, trying new recipes and crafts from Pinterest, attending concerts and sporting events, and spending time with family and friends. Sheryl lives in Tulsa with her fiancé Paul, their daughter Scarlett, and their two dogs, Gunner and Boo.