Living with Liver Disease:

A Support Program to Help Canadians Cope

When you or someone you love is diagnosed with a liver disease, many questions and emotions may arise that can quickly become overwhelming. Over its 50-year history, the Canadian Liver Foundation (CLF) has been helping patients and their families get answers to their questions and connect with others going through a similar experience.

While there are many different support programs and resources the CLF provides, the underlying goal is always the same – to show Canadians impacted by liver disease that they are not alone. With the wait to see a liver specialist lasting anywhere from six months to more than a year, the CLF helps bridge the gap by offering valuable resources, including:

• reliable medical information about liver disease via our website
• a national, toll-free helpline with caring staff ready to answer your questions and direct you to appropriate resources
• a support network of peers with first-hand experience on living with liver disease

The CLF launched its Living with Liver Disease (LWLD) program in 1995; the program was designed to help liver disease patients and their families cope as well as to empower them to share their personal experiences with others living with similar challenges. At the time of its inception, the LWLD program was the first of its kind in the world and has since been replicated by liver organizations in the USA, UK and France.

LWLD sessions may take place monthly, weekly or in full-day workshops. They feature expert speakers who cover topics ranging from nutrition, exercise, treatment options, transplantation, and stress management, just to name a few. For those who cannot attend the sessions, the CLF offers one-on-one support via our Peer Support Network and social media platforms such as Facebook.

Find out more about the support services available to you, or consider volunteering to help the 1 in 4 Canadians that may be affected by liver disease.