Who We Are

The B.C. government has provided funding to the University of Victoria Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health to provide a variety of self-management and coaching programs for people experiencing chronic physical and mental health conditions. These evidence-based programs are provided to patients and family members throughout the province at no cost. The programs help people with chronic conditions to manage daily challenges and maintain an active and healthier life. Participants gain knowledge, learn strategies and techniques and gain the motivation and confidence needed to manage their health.

What We Do

Health Coach Program

This telephone-based coaching program supports people living with chronic conditions to become better self-managers. Peer Health Coaches connect with participants by telephone once a week for 30 minutes, for a period of three months. Coaching can be extended for another three months upon a mutual agreement. Through this contact, trained Health Coaches support participants in identifying and problem-solving barriers to being healthy; choosing goals and actions they want to take to better manage their health; becoming more self-confident; and becoming motivated to initiate and maintain health-behaviour changes.

Self-Management Health Coaches provide a dimension of support that complements and enhances professional health care; they do not provide medical or clinical advice or treatment. Coaches are volunteers who may be living with chronic health conditions and are passionate to help others to achieve wellness. Since 2016, when the program was launched, over 1,170 participants have been paired with a coach.

Better Choices, Better Health Online Program

The Online Chronic Conditions Self-Management Program is for people living with one or more chronic conditions. Delivered online, the program is for people with all levels of computer skills. With up to 25 people in each workshop group, interactive sessions are posted each week for six weeks. Participants log in at their convenience two to three times for a total of about two hours a week. Participants remain anonymous. All activity takes place on a dedicated, secure website. Each workshop is led by two trained online facilitators and monitored by a program mentor.

The Tool Kit for Active Living with Chronic Conditions Program

The Tool Kit for Active Living with Chronic Conditions Program is an evidence-based program that includes all tools in the Chronic Disease, Chronic Pain and Diabetes Self-Management Programs, packaged into a one-time mailing. It offers an alternative method for those who cannot or do not wish to attend a workshop online.  The tool kits help people to better manage their symptoms and their daily lives. Since its introduction in April 2020, over 1400 tool kits have been distributed.

The Tool Kit for Active Living with Chronic Conditions Program + Phone Call

Participants in this 6-week program receive the materials from the Tool Kit for Active Living Program and participate in a weekly 30-minute, small group conference call with a Program Leader and other participants. Since it introduction in 2020, 87 workshops have been held.

Virtual Self-Management Programs (Four types – Chronic Conditions, Chronic Pain, Diabetes, and Cancer: Thriving and Surviving)

In this online version of the program, groups of between 6 to 12 participants meet virtually once a week for 2.5 hours over six weeks. Workshops are led by two trained facilitators. Participants gain knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their chronic health conditions in a highly interactive setting. Each participant receives the Living a Healthy Life book. More than 14,000 British Columbians have participated in self-management programs since their introduction in early 2000.

Contact Information

Website: www.selfmanagementbc.ca

E-mail: selfmgmt@uvic.ca