Older adults with chronic illnesses benefit just as much from a home-based wellness program as they do from wellness education that is offered in a classroom setting.
The finding, from researchers at Rush University in Chicago, could provide greater access to wellness instruction at lower costs to more people with such chronic illnesses as hypertension, diabetes, and arthritis.
The study included 178 patients aged 50 to 78 years, all of whom had one or more chronic illnesses. One group of patients attended eight 2-hour classroom sessions that covered meditation and relaxation training, anxiety and depression management skills, and nutrition and exercise counseling. Another group received a videotaped version of the class to watch at home, along with follow-up phone calls to check their progress. A third group served as controls.
Both groups who participated in the wellness program had similar improvements in reduced medical symptoms, slept more soundly, . . . [Full Text of this Article]
