Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care hosts six-week Santa Barbara class developed by Stanford Department of Medicine to help local Spanish-speaking community with chronic conditions
SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara County’s first Tomando Control de su Salud (Taking Control of Your Health) graduating class received certificates at its final class on Aug. 19 at Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care, the organization reported in a media release.
Master trainers Reginaldo Salcedo, far left, and Bea Molina, far right, with Santa Barbara County’s first graduating class of Tomando Control de su Salud (Taking Control of Your Health) program participants Courtesy photo
A total of 18 people participated in the free six-week class designed for people who speak Spanish as their primary language and have one or more chronic health conditions. The weekly workshops are taught by Bea Molina and Reginaldo Salcedo – Santa Barbara County’s only certified master trainers of the Tomando program. Each workshop is held once a week for two and half hours and covers whole body wellness topics such as:
- Healthy eating
- Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance
- Appropriate use of medications and the health care system
- Communicating effectively with family, friends and health professionals
- Better breathing and relaxation techniques
- How to evaluate new treatments
- Addressing the physical and psychological effects of chronic disease (like fatigue, pain and frustration)
The program allows participants to learn from others with similar experiences and realize that they are not alone, organizers reported.
The language barrier can make it difficult for Spanish speakers to gain advice on how to cope with illness. Offering the class in Spanish helps provide a better understanding of how to manage their health and build confidence. After the six-week class, participants leave with new connections to fellow participants and typically report better sleep, more energy and fewer hospital visits.
Tomando Control de su Salud is part of the Santa Barbara Collaborative for Healthier Living and is held in partnership with Mental Wellness Center, Partners in Care Foundation and Sansum Clinic.
It is partially funded from the Towbes Group.
The program was developed by Stanford’s Department of Medicine.
Registration is open for the fall class session, which runs each Wednesday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 14 through Nov. 18 at Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care’s community room, 602 E. Montecito St., Santa Barbara. To sign up or learn more, contact Bea Molina at 805-689-5170 or Reginaldo Salcedo at 805-570-9210.
About Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care
Since 1908, Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care has been Santa Barbara’s trusted home care expert. Serving the greater Santa Barbara area, and Santa Ynez and Lompoc Valleys, VNHC provides high quality, comprehensive home health, hospice, and related services necessary to promote the health and well-being of all community residents. For more information on Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care, visit www.vnhcsb.org or call 805-965-5555.