Living Well FAQs

Living Well Frequently Asked Questions

We have five programs to support you: four, *6-week self-management workshops, and one-year long prevention program.

*The zoom workshop is 7-weeks long to provide a brief Zoom tutorial at the first session.

For your health and safety, we are offering multiple ways to participate in Living Well workshops:

  • Interactive workshop using Zoom platform or in-person for Living Well With Chronic Conditions, Living Well With Chronic Pain, Living Well With Diabetes, Living Well Diabetes Prevention, and Living Well With & After Cancer.
  • Mailed Toolkit with Phone Support for Living Well With Chronic Conditions, Living Well With Chronic Pain, Living Well With Diabetes, and Living Well With & After Cancer.
  • Mailed Toolkit independent-study for Living Well With Chronic Conditions, Living Well With Chronic Pain, and Living Well With Diabetes.

Self-management workshops are designed to build confidence in your ability to manage your health and the symptoms related to your chronic condition. Participants learn new ways to support their physical, mental, and emotional health in a supportive group environment.

Core concepts for the self-management programs include:

  • Action planning and modifying action plans to reach desired health goals
  • Problem-solving
  • Decision making
  • Understanding emotions

In addition, each program has condition-specific content:

  • The Chronic Conditions toolkit includes the updated Living a Healthy Life book, a CD for exercise (with 3 different exercise routines), a relaxation CD, tip sheets, a self-test that directs people on how to individualize their use of the toolkit, and drawings of all the exercises in each routine on the CD.
  • The Diabetes toolkit includes the updated Living a Healthy Life book, exercise CD, a My Diabetes Plate magnet, tip sheets, self-test, and drawings of all the exercises in the routines.
  • The Chronic Pain toolkit includes the updated Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Pain book, Moving Easy Program CD, a relaxation CD, self-test and booklet.

Participants receive the toolkits with both, however, the phone support includes meeting once a week for six weeks on toll-free conference calls (with 4-5 people) to obtain support and structure. Calls have an organized format and last approximately 20-45 minutes. They provide opportunities to brainstorm, problem-solve, and discuss action plans.

Diabetes Self-Management workshops are 7 weeks long and are designed for those managing their diabetes. Diabetes Prevention Program is a year-long small group workshop that meets weekly for one hour for 16 weeks, then tapers to monthly meetings. If you have had a diagnosis of diabetes, you are not eligible for this program.

The course is FREE to participants. However, a commitment for seven weeks is required.

  • The 7-week workshops are offered each month. The time of day varies to reach as many community members as possible.
  • The year-long diabetes prevention program starts in the spring and fall. The time of day varies to reach as many community members as possible.

You can sign up for a workshop series by:

Participants who take the Chronic Disease or the Diabetes self-management workshop will receive:

  • Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions workbook.
    • A relaxation audio CD to practice techniques at home.

Participants who take the Chronic Pain Self-Management workshop will receive:

  • Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Pain
    • A Moving Easy Program CD to practice techniques at home.

Participants that evaluate the program will receive a grocery store gift card.

  • We understand it may not be possible for you to make every session. You can always contact your peer leaders or fellow participant to get the information missed.
  • Participants also receive a program overview and “homework” handout. If you complete the homework, you will feel more prepared for the next session.
  • For further questions, call the Living Well program office at 607-547-3948.
  • Anyone who is living with the condition covered in the workshop (chronic disease, diabetes, chronic pain, or cancer).
  • Caregivers, spouses, and anyone else close to those who are living with one of these conditions.
  • The diabetes prevention program is appropriate for any adult at risk for diabetes.
  • The program is open to adults living in the following counties: Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Otsego, or Schoharie.
  • All participants had reported that they would recommend this workshop to a friend.
  • Over 97% of participants reported having a better understanding of how to manage their health and/or physical activity.
  • After the workshop participants felt more motivated to take care of their health.
  • The peer leaders and the workshop design is based on creating an open and trusting environment in which participants feel safe and comfortable sharing personal information.
  • The group support developed at the workshop was reported as a great benefit to sharing ideas on similar conditions and in not feeling alone. The Participant Satisfaction Survey results from those who attended the workshop report that 100% of participants felt comfortable and part of the group, and that their opinions and contributions to the group were valued. One participant stated: 

"By sharing information with other participants I learned we all struggle with similar issues but can work through them and have success!”

Based on evidence generated, these workshops can provide physical, mental and emotional improvements that effect one’s quality of life:

  • Decreased pain
  • Decreased depression
  • Increased physical activity and healthy eating
  • Increased energy
  • Better communication with providers
  • Increased confidence and motivation to make healthy changes
  • Ability to create action plans to reach goals
  • Ability to use problem solving as a technique to adapt goals to changing circumstances
  • Skills to address difficult emotions that can effect symptoms

Zoom Sessions

  • High speed internet access with web browser or Zoom app
  • Participants and leaders must have a webcam and use it during the workshop.
  • Quiet or private area during the workshop to improve hearing quality and confidentiality of all participants.

Mailed Toolkit with Weekly Phone Support

  • Phone service (call is toll-free)
  • Quiet or private area during the workshop to improve hearing quality and confidentiality of all participants.
  • At the first session, you will receive a 3-ring binder that you will be adding material to each week.
  • Please bring a pen.
  • Please bring water and a snack (if needed).
  • Feel free to stand or move around during the workshop to respond to what your body may need. You do not have to always sit.

The workshops will not conflict with existing programs or treatment. They are designed to complement regular treatment and disease-specific education such as diabetes instruction.

  • Patients can self-refer
  • Program staff are also willing to work through a mutually convenient process with clinic staff. Please see the contact information above to set-up a time to discuss.
  • Bassett Healthcare Network patients can be referred to the Living Well program through the electronic medical record.

Adults are allowed to participate as caregivers in the Living Well workshops. If your older teen is interested in participating, please contact their pediatrician for referral. Contact Living Well program to sign up for a workshop.

Peer leaders are essential for the success of this program and we welcome anyone interested in becoming one! The Leaders are usually (although not exclusively) non-professionals (peers) with one or more chronic conditions. Their job is to facilitate the 6-week workshop using a detailed, scripted manual. There is a formatted training program that is required. Please call 607-547-3948 or email LivingWellSessions@bassett.org if you are interested or have questions.

Donate to Living Well

Support our Work

To donate to the Living Well program and support our work, please click the below link, select "Other" as the designation, and type "Living Well" into the "other designation" box.