Ron Feller
Faith Health Alliance North (FHAN) is sponsoring a workshop to be held at Vista de la Montana United Methodist Church in Catalina on Monday afternoon, February 29, 2016, from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. to discuss the issues facing those living with ongoing health conditions and their caregivers, as well as to identify resources available locally for assistance. Our featured speakers will be Karen Ring, MS, Healthy Living Program Coordinator for Pima Council on Aging (PCOA) and Reverend Karen MacDonald, Health Ministry Manager for Interfaith Community Services (ICS).
A recent study of primary care physicians indicated that two thirds of Americans have chronic illness. These include those that most of us can call out right away—-cancer, heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure, stroke and Parkinson’s, mental health and impaired lung function. Other ongoing conditions include chronic pain, allergies, balance concerns, hearing and vision deficits and sleep disorders.
Karen Ring will help attendees understand that they need to recognize their condition as a concern and work to address it on a daily basis. She will highlight important areas such as managing emotions, pain and fatigue, decreasing frustration and increasing fitness and self-confidence.
Reverend Karen MacDonald will discuss how healthy living draws on all of our resources: spiritual, physical, mental and social connections. She will encourage attendees to consider how these aspects of our being enable us to live as fully as possible, with ongoing conditions and throughout all of one’s life.
FHAN has arranged for local agencies to staff Information Tables to discuss available resources and distribute literature. Already confirmed are Pima County on Aging, IMPACT of Southern Arizona, Interfaith Community Services, American Heart Association, Alzheimer’s Association, Southern Arizona Association for the Visually Impaired, American Parkinson Disease Association, American Cancer Society and National Alliance for Mental Illness. Attendees may visit with these representatives during registration at the break between speakers and at the end of the workshop.
Leap Year has given us an extra day this year, so why not use it to learn more about Healthy Living? If you’d like to attend, please register by February 20 directly to Vista de la Montana United Methodist Church at 520-825-1985. Respite Care may be provided on-site for those caregivers who want to attend the workshop, courtesy of By Your Side Senior Care. Please request when registering.
Faith Health Alliance North is a voluntary group of local organizations, individuals and churches whose primary mission is to sponsor conferences on life issues of particular interest to local seniors within the nearby communities of SaddleBrooke, Catalina, Oro Valley and North Tucson as well as Oracle, San Manuel and Mammoth. If you’re interested in learning more about FHAN or joining our group, please contact Jayne Raffety, Health Ministry Moderator, Mountain Shadows Presbyterian Church at 520-825-7858.