ARTHRITIS SELF-MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

 

For more than 10 years, The Arthritis Society has helped thousands of people with arthritis improve their lives through the Arthritis Self-Management Program (ASMP). We invite you to learn more about this exciting program and how you can benefit from participating.

WHAT IS ASMP?

ASMP is a health promotion program designed to help you:

  • · BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR ARTHRITIS

    · LEARN WAYS TO COPE WITH CHRONIC PAIN

    · TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN MANAGING YOUR ARTHRITIS

    •

    WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN ASMP?

    If you have one or more of the many types of arthritis, you will benefit from participating in ASMP. Your partner, family member, friend or other support person is encouraged to attend ASMP with you. As a participant in the class, they too will benefit from learning about your arthritis and how it affects you.

     

    WIIAT DOES ASMP OFFER?

    By participating in ASMP, you will have a chance to learn new

    Information and skills, discuss new ideas and share experiences about:

  • · Exercising with arthritis

    · Managing pain

    · Eating healthy

    · Preventing fatigue

    · Protecting joints

    · Taking arthritis medications

    · Dealing with stress and depression

    · Working with you doctor and healthcare team

    · Evaluating alternative treatments

    · Outsmarting arthritis: problem solving

    •

    While ASMP does not replace your medical care, it does help you work with your health-care team in looking after your health.

    WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN ASMP?

    Participants of ASMP report the following benefits:

  • · Less pain

    · Better able to move around.

    · Increased understanding of arthritis

    · Learned new ways to cope with arthritis

    · More active in managing arthritis

    We invite you to learn more about the program's background which includes research that confirms these benefits and explains their importance.

    •

    HOW DOES ASMP WORK?

    ASMP is taught over a six-week period in weekly two-hour sessions. Each program usually has from eight to 14 people (maximum 16 )and is led by trained volunteer leaders. Most of the leaders have arthritis themselves or are health care professionals. They are all interested in helping people with arthritis, and have successfully completed a 15-18 hour ASMP Leader Training Workshop. The leaders usually work in pairs and follow a standardized course outline to ensure continued quality of the program.

    DOES IT COST ANYTHING TO TAKE ASMP?

    There is a small cost to participate in the program. The registration fee covers a small portion of the cost of providing the program. It also covers the cost of providing you with The Arthritis Helpbook, an excellent resource written by arthritis specialists Dr. James Fries and Dr Kate Lorig. ASMP is also available on cassette tape for use by the blind.

     

    We are able to keep the cost of the program low through the support of our trained volunteer leaders, our local communities and Searle Canada and Pfizer Canada, the program's sponsors.

    WHERE IS ASMP AVAILABLE?

    ASMP is available in many communities across the country. It is usually held in wheelchair-accessible community settings. To find out if there is a program near you' you can call 1-800-321-1433 to speak to someone at your provincial office of The Arthritis Society.

    H0W TO PARTICIPATE IN ASMP?

    You can register in the program by contacting your provincial office of the Arthritis Society. They will be able to tell you where and when ASMP is being offered, and the cost to register. In our immediate area, you can let someone at the Bluebird Club know that you are interested. Liz is the member of our group to contact as to when the ASMP is being offered.

    NEXT SESSION:

    Next session starts October , 2005, for the first meeting , and runs for 6 consecutive weeks. The cost is $35.00, this includes a copy of the Arthritis Helpbook. Pre-registration is required : call Liz at (519) 354-3718. There are still several openings available for this session.