The Tri-County Office on Aging provides a number of Evidence-based Programs and workshops to meet the needs of older adults, their families and caregivers. All programs come with fully trained staff and all materials needed for any workshops.

Diabetes PATH

Click here for a testimonial video. 

D-PATH workshops are typically 2 ½ hours long and last 6 weeks. Participants learn basic information about diabetes, management of blood sugars, healthy eating, label reading and practice menu planning. It 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 develop action plans and participate in problem solving activities each week. 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.

Check back here for information on future workshop dates and locations.

Chronic Pain PATH

Click here for a testimonial letter from a workshop graduate.

Chronic Pain Personal Action Toward Health (Chronic Pain PATH) is Michigan’s name for the Stanford Chronic Pain Self-Management Program (CPSMP). Chronic Pain PATH is a six-week workshop conducted in 2 ½ hour sessions in community settings. 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.

Please read this General information Chronic Pain PATH flyer for more information about this new class offering.

Thank you to Michigan State Medical Society Foundation for providing funding for a workshop that recently started.

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.

Watch here for information on future workshop dates and locations.

Matter of Balance

Click here for a testimonial video. 

Matter of Balance is an award-winning evidence-based program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels. Workshop sessions are 2 hours long and last 8 weeks. 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.

Check back here for information on future workshop dates and locations.

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.

NEW: 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.  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 family 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; Management of Emotions: (reduced guilt, anger, and depression); Self-efficacy (increased confidence in coping with caregiving demands; and Use of Community Resources.

Workshop offered in partnership with MSU Extension.

Additional Evidence-based Programs

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.

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.