Knowledge is Power: Support for Managing Health Conditions

Choosing to learn more has helped Jenny and Bob stay proactive with health challenges.

Jenny is naturally curious and loves learning, so when she heard about integratedliving's Wellness for Independence programs, they caught her attention. She and her husband, Bob, have several health conditions, and she was keen to find out what she could learn to manage them.

“The best thing about the courses is that the knowledge I have gained has made me more proactive,” Jenny said. “When an issue arises, I am empowered to deal with it better.”

Bob has recently been diagnosed with dementia and Jenny says the Memory Wellness program helped her to recognise the early signs.

She also finds the reading material and books provided in the course a great reference point when she needs to refresh her knowledge.

integratedliving offers 11 Wellness for Independence programs and Jenny and Bob have completed all of them.

Bob has diabetes and Jenny suffers from lung disease and fibromyalgia.

Jenny says that the respiratory and pain management courses have taught her so much about the importance of pacing yourself. Learning about the significance of nutrition and how it impacts all health conditions, including Bob’s diabetes, has been very helpful also.

Jenny says Bob is accident prone, and after having a fall in the chook yard and breaking three ribs, they have had to make changes to the pen so it was safer. The Falls Prevention course has armed them with lots of information and strategies to put in place to minimise the chance of Bob having another fall.

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Jenny and Bob have been married for 36 years, and they have eight children, 25 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren between them.

She believes the lessons from the Wellness for Independence programs are helping them become more independent and able to care for themselves in their home environment.

“It’s just better to be in your own home,” Jenny said. “I just love these courses. They have been so great for Bob and me.”