Turning lives around

Easter may be over but Anglicare Southern Queensland’s Easter Appeal will continue to help people living with chronic illness for the next few weeks.

Half of Australia’s population aged over 65 years struggle every day with a chronic disease and Anglicare is working hard to help through the Better Health with Self-Management Program.

The six week program is proving to be a great success in turning lives around. And even more can be achieved through the generosity of Queenslanders giving to the Easter Appeal.

Anglicare SQ is an Anglican not for profit provider of community care programs that help people maintain their independence and live a happier and healthier life.

ASQ is committed to social and community welfare issues and aged and community care needs, focusing on disadvantaged, vulnerable and at-risk community members. Anglicare helps more than 14,000 people every year and 4,300 people use its services every day.

Chronic illness sufferers who participated in the program, which was developed by Stanford University’s medical school, experienced significant improvements in exercise, cognitive symptom management, general health, fatigue, disability and social activity.

They spent fewer days in hospital, and there was a trend toward less outpatient visits and hospitalisations.

Anglicare’s dedicated facilitators deliver more than 70 of these life changing courses each year to men and women in need throughout Southern Queensland, Townsville and Roma.

Roanne (real name withheld) is just one woman who has had help to change her life around. Roanne was still grieving the loss of her baby son and the shock diagnosis of a serious chronic disease. She was crippled with grief and depression. Her husband had recently attempted suicide, and her six year old son Jack, was caught in the middle of his parent’s anguish.

However, Jack saw a bright side to his mum’s anguish. Whenever Roanne returned from a visit at Anglicare, young Jack would comment, “Every time you come back from that place, something good happens.”

An Anglicare Learning and Development facilitator, Sue Simpson, says Roanne’s transformation is typical of the incredibly powerful outcomes we witness from this program.

“Since Anglicare participated in the pilot program in 2008, we have been overwhelmed at how successful it has been in helping people not only cope with chronic illness, but improve their overall physical and mental health. It is a remarkable program that is literally transforming lives… one life at a time!”

However, additional funds are needed to bring the program to those on low incomes and in remote and regional areas.

Make a tax deductible donation to help turn a life around. Call 1300 244 683 or email anglicaresq@org.au