New asthma support programme aims to empower parents and carers of children
By Echo Reporter
The Asthma Society of Ireland’s new educational peer support programme for parents/carers of children with asthma is being rolled out in five areas across Ireland this year and is currently enrolling new participants for the next programme in Lucan.
The programme commences on Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 10.00am in Balgaddy Child & Family Centre, Meile An Rí Road, Lucan, County Dublin. The aim of the programme is to engage, empower and support parents/carers of children with asthma.
Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children in Ireland with one in five children having asthma.
Pheena Kenny, Head of Health Promotion at the Asthma Society told us ‘parents of children with asthma report feeling isolated and anxious about their child’s asthma and they have a real interest in learning how to manage the condition through education and peer support.
Asthma is a very individual condition so one person can experience it very differently to the next, asthma management therefore is not a ‘one size fits all’ but this programme enables parents and carers an opportunity to receive information that is tailored to their needs and responds to their unique experiences’.
Participants of the programme will have the opportunity to meet with and get support from other parents/carers of children with asthma. Over the course of five weeks the programme will explore the basics of asthma, medications and treatments, asthma management and inhaler technique.
All participants receive a free asthma management pack, including information materials and devices and expert advice is provided by an asthma nurse specialist.
The programme will be taking place from 10.00am to 1.00pm every Thursday from May 19 to June 16.
For more information contact Aisling in the Asthma Society of Ireland or Ann Troy from the Health House; Aisling Doherty: aisling.doherty@asthma.ie or 01 8178886. Ann Troy: 01-4570665.
