Alberta Healthy Living Program - Calgary Zone
Health Education
Class topics include:
- osteoarthritis, chronic pain, COPD, celiac disease, osteoporosis, fatty liver disease, and obstructive sleep apnea
- sleep habits, breathing techniques, and emotional wellness (stress, grief)
- managing long-COVID symptoms
Self-Management Workshops
Two versions available: Better Choices, Better Health® (BCBH®) – Chronic Disease and BCBH® - Chronic Pain. Both workshops are six weeks long. Participants meet once a week for 2 ½ hours over Zoom or in person. Workshops are available in English, Cantonese, and Tagalog.
Topics of discussion in both workshop types will include:
- healthy eating
- safe exercise
- pain management
- communication strategies
- dealing with difficult emotions
- sleep hygiene
- action planning, problem-solving, and decision-making
Note:
- BCBH® Chronic Disease also talks about better breathing, preventing falls, and self-talk.
- BCBH® Chronic Pain also talks about pain diaries, healthy eating for pain, and communicating about pain.
Supervised Exercise Program
The Supervised Group Exercise Program is for patients who need guidance and support to increase physical activity and exercise. Participants learn how exercise can manage their health conditions and how to start or modify an exercise program based on their symptoms and abilities. Healthcare professionals help participants develop strategies to overcome physical activity barriers and create an activity action plan to continue exercising in the community. Participants can access AHLP programs and services to help them achieve their goals.
Services that may be available to your patient include:
- group exercise classes (hosted in-person or virtually) - additional exclusion criteria apply
- one-on-one activity coaching
- referral to appropriate health education classes and/or self-management workshops
- must be physically present in the Calgary Zone during the time of the class or appointment.
Medical clearance may be required for exercise participants with known history or signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or renal disease.
AHLP Nutrition Counselling
Offered by phone, Zoom, or in-person.
Patients referred for nutrition counseling will be scheduled into a one-on-one nutrition counseling appointment and have the option to take a relevant group exercise class, if available.
Nutrition counselling is available for the conditions listed on the referral form.
Patients are required by the College of Dietitians of Alberta to be in Alberta at the time of the appointment.
Eligibility
The Alberta Healthy Living Program is available to adults (18+) who live in and are physically present in Alberta. All patients referred to exercise must be evaluated for risk of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic disease, and be medically stable.
How to access service
Registration Required
Healthcare providers should consult the Alberta Referral Directory for service referral information.
Health Education and Self-Management Workshops
- Self-refer by visiting website or calling.
- Caregivers are welcome to attend.
Supervised Group Exercise and Nutrition Counselling
- Must be able to communicate in English, apply the principles shared in class, and be able to transfer out of a chair and walk independently (with or without a walking aid)
- Self- or provider referrals are accepted.
Key providers
dietitians, kinesiologists, occupational therapists (OTs), physiotherapists (PTs), respiratory therapists (RTs), social workers
