Improving Health and Quality of Life: NDC3’s Evidence-Based Programs
NDC3 provides evidence-based health management programs through partnerships across North Dakota.
Evidence-based programs are proven to promote health and prevent disease among adults with chronic health conditions. NDC3 programs have been developed using rigorous research and demonstrate reliable and consistently positive changes in important health-related outcomes among participants.
Aging is inevitable, falling is not. Many adults can benefit from learning low-impact exercise to improve balance and strategies to increase confidence and reduce their fear of falling. NDC3 delivers evidence-based classes that have been proven to help older adults reduce their risk of falling.
Stepping On
Stepping On is for people 60 and older who live independently. Over seven-weeks participants are provided information and skills to reduce falls and increase self-confidence in situations where they are at risk of falling. It covers a range of topics, including falls and fall risk, strength and balance exercises, home hazards, safe footwear, vision and falls, safety in public places, community mobility, coping after a fall, and how to initiate a medication review.
While there is no cure for diabetes, knowledge about diabetes and self-management skills can improve the experience of symptoms and overall quality of life for those living with diabetes. Lifestyle changes can help reduce the likeliness of developing type 2 diabetes among people with pre-diabetes. NDC3 offers evidence-based classes to address both of the above conditions.
National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP)
As a participant of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, you will work with a trained lifestyle coach and other
participants to learn the skills you need to make lasting changes. You will learn to eat healthy, add physical activity
to your life, manage stress, stay motivated, and solve problems that can get in the way of healthy changes.
The National Diabetes Prevention Program is a year-long program with weekly meetings for the first 4 months, then
meetings once or twice a month for the next 8 months to help you maintain your healthy lifestyle changes. By meeting
with others who have prediabetes you can celebrate each other’s successes and work together to overcome obstacles.
National DPP may be right for you if you:
- Are over the age of 18 and overweight
- Get little to no physical activity most days
- Have a history of high blood pressure, or gestational diabetes,
or a parent or sibling with diabetes
Click here to take the prediabetes risk test and learn more!
Better Choices, Better Health: Diabetes
Better Choices, Better Health: Diabetes is designed to help people with type 2 diabetes learn how to live well. Topics include: techniques to deal with the symptoms of diabetes, fatigue, pain, hyper/hypoglycemia, stress, depression, anger, fear and frustration; appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance; healthy eating, appropriate use of medication; and working with healthcare providers.
Diabetes self-management education and support
Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) are services tailored to meet the individual needs of patients related to diabetes. DSMES is offered by experienced healthcare professional (such as a registered nurse, registered dietitian or pharmacist) and is often associated with a healthcare organization.
Community-based programs should not replace participation in DSMES services.
The most important times for diabetes education through DSMES are:
- When you’re diagnosed with diabetes
- As part of your annual assessment of education, nutrition, or emotional well-being
- When new complications arise
- During changes in your healthcare team or treatment
Diabetes education is covered annually by many insurance plans.
Talk to the physician that manages your diabetes about getting referred to a program near you, and start on the path to a healthier life!
An ever-increasing number of people are living longer with chronic pain and/or multiple chronic conditions. Research has proven that people with chronic conditions can learn skills to effectively manage their illness and improve health outcomes. NDC3 offers several evidence-based classes to improve functional abilities and deal more effectively with symptoms.
Better Choices, Better Health: Chronic Conditions
This program is designed to help participants deal with chronic conditions. Topics include: techniques to deal with frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation, appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance, appropriate use of medications, communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals, nutrition, and how to evaluate new treatments.
People with chronic conditions and their caregivers can participate in this program.
Better Choices, Better Health: Chronic Pain
This class is designed for people who have a diagnosis of chronic pain and their caregivers, offering strategies for dealing with their symptoms. Topics include: techniques to deal with frustration, fatigue, isolation, and poor sleep, appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, appropriate use of medications, communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals, nutrition, pacing activity and rest, and how to evaluate new treatments.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers (PTC) is an evidence-based, self-care education program for family caregivers. Originally developed caregivers of adults with chronic conditions, Powerful Tools for Caregivers has expanded the program to include classes for parents of children with special needs. Below is a general summary of PTC:
- Education program – not a support group
- 6-week series of classes
- Focus on caregiver self-care
- Scripted curriculum
- Train-the-Trainer model
Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance® (TJQMBB) is an evidence-based fall prevention program designed for older adults developed Fuzhong Li, Ph.D., Senior Scientist at the Oregon Research Institute. TJQMBB represents a substantive enhancement of traditional Tai Ji Quan as it transforms martial arts movements into a therapeutic regimen aimed at improving postural stability, awareness and mindful control of body positioning functional walking, movement symmetry and coordination, range of motion around the ankle and hip joints and lower - extremity muscle strength.