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Learn how to manage chronic pain and pain in general

Written by Joanne Isaac, Senior Manager (Communications and Campaigns) with integratedliving

Support to understand and manage chronic pain with confidence

Our newest Wellness for Independence® program can help improve your quality of life through pain management strategies. 

Chronic pain affects one in three people over 65 years of age, accounting for 3.4 million Australians. Chronic pain can cause serious disruption to a person’s quality of life, affecting them physically, emotionally, socially and economically.

A 16‑week program for managing chronic pain


Our new Pain Management Wellness program is a 16-week interactive course aimed at empowering older people to understand how the pain system works, pain risk factors, as well as effects and strategies for reducing and managing pain.

integratedliving Registered Nurse Chris, who also facilitates the program, says the Pain Management Wellness program is for everybody. “Pain will affect us all at some point in our lives,” Chris said. “Understanding pain and pain management strategies will help people deal with and learn to control pain when it arrives.”

The impacts of chronic pain are many, including:

  • poor mobility
  • muscle wasting
  • increased fatigue
  • poor sleep
  • weight gain or loss
  • increased risk of falls
  • depression, anxiety, loss of hope and social isolation.

Thankfully though, the program offers many strategies to help people better manage pain or reduce the risk of it occurring.

“Evidence shows that focusing on active strategies to reduce pain, rather than just taking medications or having surgery, leads to better outcomes for people with chronic pain,” Chris said.

What you’ll learn about managing chronic pain

Active strategies include learning how to work with your thoughts and emotions, finding ways to reduce stress, improving the quality of your sleep, building practical coping skills and gradually increasing physical activity. As part of the program, participants explore these approaches in more depth while gaining practical insights into how to better manage pain.

Together, these evidence‑based techniques form the foundation of effective pain management strategies and help people feel more confident and in control when managing chronic pain.

Some of these include:
  • Eating nutritious food
  • Exercise
  • Keeping a pain diary
  • Pain medication
  • Contemporary therapies
  • Learning about and understanding conditions that cause pain.

A supportive and welcoming environment for everyone

The Pain Management Wellness program is facilitated by one of integratedliving’s nurses or allied health professionals in a warm and welcoming online or face-to-face environment. Many of our clients find that Wellness for Independence® programs have the added benefit of increasing their social connection with peers.

Participants receive an iPad for the duration of the program, a fitness tracking watch to keep, an 'introduction to digital' manual and a comprehensive pain management program manual. 
Find out more about we can help you manage pain