“Nearly half of all adults live with one or more recurring health conditions,” said Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Jennifer Velez. “This on-line program represents a convenient way for people to develop the confidence and skills they need to manage their illnesses and it’s a unique opportunity to use technology to improve health outcomes.”

Developed and tested at the Stanford University Patient Education Center, the on-line workshop is offered exclusively through a license from National Council on Aging (NCOA).  The free slots now being offered to New Jersey residents were funded by a grant from the U.S. Administration of Aging through the NJ Department of Human Services.

Better Choices, Better Health™ helps participants reduce their pain and a wide range of symptoms and conditions.  Led by trained instructors, participants together address topics such as stress reduction, dealing with difficult emotions, nutrition, exercise, planning for the future, building communication skills, and asking for help.

Participants can login from any computer with an Internet connection. Sessions are posted on a secure website each week for six weeks. There are no set times for workshop sessions; participants login remotely at their convenience to complete exercises, read posted material, and interact with others.  The workshops can be particularly useful for individuals without access to transportation or who prefer the anonymity of a virtual group.

In addition to the on-line version, in-person community-based workshops are provided locally throughout the country.  In New Jersey, the community program is known as Take Control of Your Health and is currently available in all 21 counties.  Individuals looking for community workshops can find a list of local contacts on-line at www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/services/control/index.html, or by calling 1-800-792-8820.