UPDATE 5/22/20: Following advice from public health officials who recommend that people avoid group settings (especially older adults and individuals with chronic health conditions), TCOA is temporarily suspending in-person evidence-based programs scheduled through June. For those workshops scheduled to begin in July or later we will continue to take registrations and will keep participants informed of any changes.

TCOA is offering Diabetes PATH, Chronic Pain PATH and Powerful Tools for Caregivers virtually with Zoom. Unfortunately, Matter of Balance is not able to be offered virtually at this time. See the workshop schedule below for details.

Classes and Evidence Based Wellness and Caregiver Programs

Click here to download a printable brochure that includes information on the programs listed below

Tri-County Office on Aging offers five evidence based programs to meet the needs of older adults, their families and caregivers. The programs offered are: Diabetes PATH, Chronic Pain PATH, A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls, Powerful Tools for Caregivers and Creating Confident Caregivers ®. All programs have trained facilitators and come with the materials needed to participate. Scheduled workshops are listed below.

Diabetes PATH (Personal Action Toward Health)

The American Diabetes Association identifies this program as meeting the Diabetes Support Initiative criteria for support programming.

Click here for a testimonial video. 

Diabetes PATH is Michigan’s name for the Stanford Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP). The workshop meets in small groups (approximately 8-15 participants) and is led by 2 trained facilitators. The workshop meets for 2 1/2 hours once per week for 6 weeks in community locations. Workshop participants learn about diabetes, how to manage blood sugars, what healthy eating means, how to read labels, and practice menu planning. The workshop also addresses effects of stress and positive ways to deal with it, how to choose appropriate exercise for fitness and safety, proper skin and foot care and skills for communicating with health professionals. Participants set goals by developing action plans and participate in problem solving each week.

The program was developed and rigorously tested by Stanford University to help participants learn the techniques and strategies they need for the day-to-day management of pain. Studies show significant improvements in symptoms of hypoglycemia, healthy eating patterns and reading food labels, communicating with physicians, depression, patient activation and self-efficacy, as well as, fewer emergency room visits.

Chronic Pain PATH (Personal Action Toward Health)

Click here for a testimonial letter from a workshop graduate.

Chronic Pain PATH is Michigan’s name for the Stanford Chronic Pain Self-Management Program (CPSMP). The workshop meets in small groups (approximately 8-15 participants) and is led by 2 trained facilitators. The workshop meets for 2 1/2 hours once per week for 6 weeks in community locations. Workshop participants learn how to manage chronic pain without increasing medications. Topics include pacing and planning, the mind-body connection, distraction techniques, communication, healthy eating, stress management, and much more. Participants set goals by developing action plans and participate in problem solving each week.

The program was developed and rigorously tested by Stanford University to help people learn the techniques and strategies they need for the day-to-day management of pain. Research studies found that, on average, people who have participated in the program have more energy, less pain, less dependence on others, improved mental health, are more involved in everyday activities, and are more satisfied with their lives compared to those who have not taken the program. Chronic Pain PATH is designed to benefit adults who have primary or secondary pain. Pain is defined as being chronic or long term when it lasts for longer than 3 to 6 months or beyond the normal healing time of an injury.

TCOA is a member of the Capital  Area Health Alliance and recently partnered with them in the development of a new brochure on Pain Management. Click here to view the brochure.

A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls

Click here for a testimonial video. 

A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls is an award-winning evidence-based program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels in older adults. The workshop meets in small groups (approximately 8-12 participants) and is led by 2 trained facilitators. The workshop meets for 2 hours per session for 8 sessions in community locations. Participants learn to identify and recognize beliefs about falls and fitness, identify barriers to exercise and its importance to preventing falls, identify potential home and community fall hazards and strategies to reduce the risk of falling and learn about community resources.

Matter of Balance participation is associated with cost savings in unplanned hospitalizations, skilled nursing facility care, and an increased use of physician office visits.

Until we are able to resume Matter of Balance workshops we encourage you to stay active while at home. Below is a link to resources.

National Institute on Aging: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/exercise-physical-activity

Powerful Tools for Caregivers

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an educational program designed to help family caregivers take better care of themselves while caring for a family member or friend.  The workshop meets in small groups (approximately 8-14 participants) and is led by 2 trained facilitators. Powerful Tools for Caregivers meets for 2 ½ hours once per week for 6 weeks in community locations. This program is not intended for professional caregivers. This program will give YOU, the caregiver, tools to: help you reduce stress, communicate effectively with other family members, your doctor, and paid help, take care of yourself, reduce guilt, anger, and depression, help you relax, make tough decisions, set goals and problem-solve.

This program was developed in Portland, OR and has been shown to improve self-care behaviors, emotional management (reduced guilt, anger, and depression), self-efficacy (increased confidence in coping with caregiving demands), and use of community resources.

Creating Confident Caregivers®

Creating Confident Caregivers® provides persons caring for an individual with dementia at home with information, skills and attitudes to manage stress and learn effective care giving skills.Two-hour sessions, led by dementia-care specialists, are held once each week for six weeks. Creating Confident Caregivers® utilizes tested and effective training methods from the University of Minnesota’s Savvy Caregiver Program.

In research conducted by the University of Minnesota, participants reported an increase in well-being, decrease in symptoms of depression, increased self-care, and more confidence in their abilities to manage the situation.

Respite Care for your loved one with memory loss may be available so you may attend the classes. Ask for details when you register.

Pre-registration is required. Free to register and attend. 

A new session of workshops will be scheduled soon. For more information on the Creating Confident Caregiver® program, please call Linda Davis at 517- 887-1447.

Please click here for an informational flyer and watch this site for information on future workshop dates and locations.

Enhance®Fitness locations

Enhance®Fitness, a low-cost, evidence-based group exercise program, helps older adults at all levels of fitness become more active, energized, and empowered to sustain independent lives. Class schedule and potential cost varies. Call hosting organizations for details.

Medical Nutrition Therapy 

Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) with a Registered Dietitian (RD) is individualized and tailored to what you want to learn about diabetes. MNT includes an in-depth nutrition assessment and discussion on topics including but not limited to:
– Carbohydrate counting
– Portion control
– Label reading
– Other topics identified by you or your physician

Those individuals with Medicare as their primary insurance (no Advantage plans) AND a diagnosis of Diabetes may be eligible.

Please contact Christine Histed at 517-887-1450 for more information or click here for an informational flyer.