OLLI at UNLV is the recipient of a $45,000 grant from Dignity Health to expand the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) class and OLLI at UNLV membership in the urban core of Las Vegas. The grant will be implemented in partnership with the City of Las Vegas Parks and Recreation Department and the UNLV School of Nursing and will help support health-related classes including the CDSMP at community centers and senior communities in targeted areas.
The six-week CDSMP workshops were developed by the Stanford University School of Medicine in an effort to improve health outcomes for patients living with chronic diseases including arthritis, cancer, chronic pain or anxiety, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or HIV. Topics covered include: techniques to deal with frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation; medication adherence; appropriate exercise to improve strength, flexibility, and endurance; decision making tools; skills to communicate effectively with family, friends, and health professionals; and nutrition information and action plans.
CDSMP courses are led by teams of two peer educators. Instructors are often currently living with a chronic disease themselves, and the class format is highly participatory. Courses are currently scheduled for Paradise campus, Henderson City Hall, Doolittle Senior Center, East Las Vegas Community Center (in Spanish), and at The Center. The grant will allow the program to serve additional sites and students, with a focus on underserved populations. Participants at grant funded sites will not be limited to the CSSMP course. They will receive full OLLI membership benefits and be able to enroll in all classes offered through OLLI at all Las Vegas Valley sites.