On June 25, 2024, the American Lung Association (ALA) launched a new benefit as part of its Patient & Caregiver Network: the Wellness Hub. The ALA announced that the goal of the centralized resource is to support those who are living with a lung disease, which affects more than 34 million people in the United States.
Patients and their caregivers will have access to valuable educational, movement and mindfulness materials, including articles, videos, exercises and more to help improve physical and mental health and quality of life.
“Many lung diseases like COPD, pulmonary fibrosis and asthma have no cure, so a person will be living with the disease for their entire life,” said ALA President and CEO Harold Wimmer. “A diagnosis can be scary and lung diseases are often very isolating, which is why communities like the Wellness Hub are critical to improve the lives of people living with these diseases and their families.”
The online Wellness Hub includes resources, such as:
- Mindfulness practices to help manage stress
- Self-discovery practices to cultivate self-support and resilience
- Partner-based practices for people living with lung disease and their caregivers
- Nutrition and recipe ideas specifically designed for people living with lung disease
- Movement practices to support a healthy body from the inside out
- Learning lounge with educational articles, audio and mini courses
“My hope is that people will feel like these practices were truly made for them and that they gain a series of trusted tools for support each day,” said Jenna Zaffino, long-time wellness coach and the Patient & Caregiver Network’s signature expert. “Our goal is to offer content that helps them feel like they’re building toward something that supports the quality of their lives, whether that’s physical strength, an expanded mindset or creating a consistent breathwork practice.”
The ALA said that the initial launch will include physical and mental health activities that anyone can do. Its experts will continue to develop the site’s libraries, videos, classes and other resources based on member feedback.
The ALA’s Patient & Caregiver Network creates a community for people living with lung diseases, like asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer, and presents opportunities for them and their caregivers to connect with peers across the country. This unique community provides access to support groups, educational materials and research updates, such as clinical trials.
Membership to the new Wellness Hub, as well as the entire Patient & Caregiver Network, is open and free to all.
