Learn how to manage chronic pain and pain in general
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.
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; as well as 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.
Active strategies include working on our thoughts and emotions, reducing stress, improving sleep, building coping skills and gradually increasing physical activity.
As part of the program, participants learn more about these strategies as well gaining insights on how to better manage pain.
Some of these include:
As part of the program, participants learn more about these strategies as well gaining insights on how to better manage 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.
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.
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.