Training

What’s going on?

Arthritis Care’s self-management programmes provide people with arthritis and other long-term conditions with the confidence and skills to better manage their condition on a daily basis.

Participants meet once a week for 6 weeks and learn how to deal with the problems associated with their arthritis, and the role of exercise, relaxation and diet in its management.

What’s the current situation?

In Scotland, Arthritis Care provides a self-management programme – Challenging Arthritis – to people with arthritis, and also to those with other long term conditions – Challenging your condition course. In addition to these we have recently introduced a new 2 day course - Challenging Pain - which presents an opportunity to understand what pain is and learn how to challenge and deal with it. We work with other organisations to ensure that this training is available to as many people as possible.

The number of courses we can deliver is limited by the funds available. The Scottish Executive has identified a need for better support to people with long term conditions within their community and acknowledges the role of self-care in successful management of chronic conditions.

Why should I care?

Given the skills to manage their arthritis in their everyday lives, people become healthier. During a course, participants identify realistic goals and develop weekly action plans. They learn new strategies for coping from their peers and gain confidence.