To help older adults in Kent County with chronic conditions gain more control of their health and increase their confidence in dealing with the challenges of living with a chronic disease, the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM) selected PATH (Personal Action Toward Health), a program based on the research-proven Stanford model of Chronic Disease Self-Management (CDSMP). The CDSMP is a self-management program designed to address a broad spectrum of chronic diseases. The program seeks to promote increases in participants’ positive health behaviors, health status, and self-efficacy with regard to disease management and to reduce inappropriate health care utilization. Participants complete a 6-8 week workshop, taught by a trained lay leader, covering topics such as managing disease symptoms, medication management, and communications with health care providers. Workshops offer highly interactive strategies such as skills mastery, modeling, and group problem solving.

The project seeks to model how the aging network in partnership with a managed care plan can improve the health outcomes for older adults.

The Western Michigan PATH project brings this program to 200 seniors in Kent County, Michigan.