" The fellowship associated with Living Well workshops was the most important thing to me. Working toward my goals is hard, but I feel so much better when I do it. I am just grateful to have been in the program." Lucy Paulson, 1999

Doris was in her mid-seventies and lived alone. Partial paralysis in her left leg and pain in her knees decreased her mobility and limited her ability to leave her apartment. Most of her energy went to necessary excursions outside her home, such as trips to the grocery store or visits to the doctor's office. Increased isolation and lack of exercise led to both weight gain and depression. The weight gain hightened her pain level; growing depression reduced her desire to socialize, such as attending her bridge club.

On a tip from a friend, Doris entered the Living Well with a Disability workshop. The first session encouraged her to a set a goal; Doris decided she would visit her son's home for the holidays. The visit would require climbing stairs and improvement of her balance to safely make the trip. After learning to turn obstacles into steps toward achieving her goal, Doris went on to take a pain management workshop, a nutrition workshop, and now exercises twice a week at a local fitness center. More importantly, she reached her goal by climbing the steps to her son's house, enabling her to spend the holidays with her family. In Doris' own words, "Living Well is indeed a remarkable program...when you combine quality leaders with the input of other disabled group members, an improvement in lifestyle is inevitable."

Ten years ago, Brian sustained a severe head injury when a drunk driver smashed into him. Although Brian lived independently when he enrolled in Living Well, he struggled with re-entering the social scene. He wanted to be "buff and date again", but fatigue and pain limited his activities. Brian set out to increase his stamina through fitness, address neck pain, and rekindle his love of life. He identified the need to work with a physical therapist to improve his gait and design an appropriate fitness program.

Brian now exercises regularly at the YMCA, attends chuch, works part-time at a music store and volunteers several hours a week at a local service agency. He reports that his social life is in full swing.