Health & Wellness Calendar

The Ohio Department of Aging, through its HEALTHY U Ohio and STEADY U Ohio initiatives, supports evidence-based educational programs to help you and your loved ones live a healthier and safer life. These programs are coordinated in your community by partner organizations dedicated to improving the health and wellness of older Ohioans. Contact us to learn more about these programs, or contact your area agency on aging to find programs in your community.

Become a Volunteer Leader

Our partners rely on volunteer leaders to conduct many of the programs below. You don't have to be a subject matter expert. If you're comfortable in working with a small group, consider training to become a class facilitator to help others live happier, healthier lives. Use the calendar on this page to also find upcoming volunteer leader training opportunities near you.
Learn how to become a volunteer health and wellness leader.

Find a Workshop Near You

Workshops: Six or eight-week classes open to the public to teach general health and wellness strategies around a particular topic (e.g., diabetes, chronic conditions, falls prevention)

Trainings: Sessions designed to train volunteer leaders to conduct workshops and help others achieve their health and wellness goals.

List
Map

Note: While we strive to provide as comprehensive a list as possible, this list should not be considered all-inclusive.

About the programs

Chronic Disease Self-Management Program

HEALTHY U: Chronic Disease is a small group program that helps adults of any age gain confidence in their ability to manage symptoms and understand how their health problems affect their lives.

Individuals participate in an interactive workshop 2 1/2 hours a week for six weeks. Each workshop is facilitated by a pair of leaders, one or both of whom live with a chronic disease themselves. HEALTHY U was developed by researchers at Stanford University, and is effective in improving health outcomes and reducing health care costs.

This program is supported by the HEALTHY U Ohio initiative.

The Ohio Department of Aging in partnership with the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) encourage participants in the OPERS Retiree Health Care Plan to attend a HEALTHY U workshop. Please let HEALTHY U workshop leaders know if you are an OPERS health plan participant under the age of 65.

Chronic Pain Self-Management Program

HEALTHY U: Chronic Pain helps participants who live with back pain, nerve pain, fibromyalgia and other types of chronic pain to improve their confidence in managing their symptoms and daily activities.

Like the other HEALTHY U programs, participants attend a series of workshops where they learn to develop action plans to incorporate changes in their lifestyle, improve nutrition, increase physical activity, and deal more positively with emotional issues associated with their condition.

This program is supported by the HEALTHY U Ohio initiative.

Diabetes Self-Management Program

HEALTHY U: Diabetes builds on the successful structure of HEALTHY U: Chronic Disease, but is tailored specifically for adults living with type 2 diabetes.

Like other HEALTHY U programs, workshops are conducted in a series of six, 2 1/2 hour weekly sessions at locations within your community, by workshop leaders with personal experience dealing with diabetes and diabetes-related conditions.

This program is supported by the HEALTHY U Ohio initiative.

Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP)

Diabetes Education Empowerment Program (DEEP) was developed by the University of Illinois at Chicago and is an interactive program that provides participants with tools to better manage diabetes.

It is conducted in six weekly two-hour sessions and is based on principles of empowerment and adult education. The primary goal of DEEP is to empower participants in diabetes self-management efficacy.

This program is supported by the HEALTHY U Ohio initiative.

A Matter of Balance

A Matter of Balance is an award-winning group program that emphasizes practical strategies to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels. Participants meet in small groups in community settings once a week for eight weeks. They learn to view falls as controllable, set realistic goals, change their environment to reduce risk factors and exercise to increase strength and balance. Through group discussion, problem-solving activities, assertiveness training, exercise and skill building, participants are empowered to take simple steps to become more active without the fear of falling.

A Matter of Balance is offered through area agencies on aging, senior centers, local aging network providers and health departments. Find a program near you.

A Matter of Balance is supported by the STEADY U Ohio initiative.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is a centuries-old, mind and body practice that involves fluid, whole-body movements that gently challenge and strengthen balance, mental focus, deep breathing and relaxation. It has been proven to improve balance and reduce falls and may have other health benefits as well. Tai Chi is available in many Ohio counties.

Tai Chi has been proven to improve balance and reduce falls. In addition, research suggest that practicing Tai Chi may improve stability in older people and those with Parkinson's, reduce pain from knee osteoarthritis, help people cope with fibromyalgia and back pain, and promote quality of life and mood enhancement in people with heart failure and cancer. It also may offer psychological benefits, such as reducing anxiety.

Our partners at the Ohio Older Adult Falls Prevention Coalition offer a list of local tai chi instructors.

Tai Chi in Ohio is supported by the STEADY U Ohio initiative.

Funding for the programs on this page comes from the U.S. Administration on Aging. Our partners include the Ohio Department of Health, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, the Ohio Commission on Minority Health, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, the Ohio Public Employee Retirement Systems, Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services and other local organizations.