A free six-week workshop, called Healthy U, will be offered at Sherman Thompson Towers in Ironton, made possible by a joint effort of the Ohio Department of Aging and the Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7).

Participants in the Healthy U program will gain needed support in addition to a number of other benefits including:

• Learning practical ways to deal with pain, fatigue and depression;

• Discovering ways to be more physically active;

• Learning how to eat healthier;

• Learning better ways to talk with your physician and family about your health;

• Setting personal goals;

• Finding ways to relax and deal with stress.

The workshop will be offered at Sherman Thompson Towers, located at 275 N. Third St., on Tuesdays from July 5 through Aug. 9. Each session will be from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and participants can park in the medical center lot located across the street from the Towers. Those participating should attend all six sessions. For those who register, anyone who attends at least four classes will be entered into a drawing for a Wal-Mart gift card.

Healthy U is open to anyone age 60 or older or enrollees with OPERS non-Medicare Medical Mutual. Participants in Healthy U can represent individuals with any of the conditions mentioned previously, be a caregiver of someone with these conditions, or be someone who simply wants to learn more about healthy living.

Registration for Healthy U is required by calling Breanna Williams at the AAA7 toll-free at 1-800-582-7277, extension 22247, or Carla Cox at extension 22284. Class size is limited, so those who are interested should call soon. Deadline to register is June 30.

The Area Agency on Aging District 7, Inc. provides services on a non-discriminatory basis. These services are available to help older adults and those with disabilities live safely and independently in their own homes through services paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, other federal and state resources, as well as private pay.

The AAA7’s Resource Center is available to anyone in the community looking for information or assistance with long-term care options from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.