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Health & support

By TIMES WIRES
Published December 21, 2006

Alzheimer's Association: Caregiver support groups are offered at several locations:

- 2:30 p.m. the first Friday of each month, Lykes Memorial Library, 238 Howell Ave., Brooksville. Jerry Fisher, 688-4537.

- 2 p.m. the second Thursday of each month, Spring Oaks, 7251 Grove Road, Brooksville. Marty Glass, 592-1150.

- 2 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month, Crown Pointe Senior Living Community, 11291 County Line Road, Spring Hill. Sandy Croson, 799-1422.

- 2 p.m. the third Monday of each month, Residence at Timber Pines, 3140 Forest Road, Spring Hill. Diane Koenig, 683-9009.

Alzheimer's Family Organization: The following programs are offered through the Alzheimer's Family Organization to residents of Hernando, Citrus, Pasco, Sumter and Lake counties:

- Support Group Leader Orientation - 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 19, Highland Terrace, 700 Medical Court E, Inverness. This meeting is to instruct individuals how to run a support group. Upon completion of this program, the support group leader will be eligible to affiliate his or her group with the Alzheimer's Family Organization. Training is free, but registration is a must. Call toll-free 1-888-496-8004.

- Caregiver support groups - The support group that meets at 1 p.m. Mondays at the Spring Hill Enrichment Center will not meet on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1; Maria Curley, 727 856-2196.

- Respite Assistance Program - Respite assistance is provided for caregivers of a dementia or Alzheimer's disease sufferer. The Alzheimer's Family Organization also will provide other national respite resources that can reimburse costs to caregivers.

- Wanderers Identification Program - This program provides the person with a memory disorder with an identifying bracelet or pendant with a code number and direct telephone number to the participating sheriff's office. If the person becomes lost or wanders from home, they can be easily identified through a shared database that houses essential patient information and caregiver contacts.

For information, call AFO at (727) 848-8888 or toll-free at 1-888-496-8004.

National Alliance on Mental Illness/NAMI Hernando: NAMI Hernando offers the following:

- "Family-to-Family" education series, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, starting Jan. 11, at the Beautiful Mind, 10554 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. These classes are structured to help family members understand and support the ill relative, while maintaining their own well-being. The course is taught by a team of trained volunteer family members. There is no cost to participate. However, since space is limited to 20 participants, registration is required. Bill or Judy, 544-0352.

- The "Beautiful Mind" consumer-run drop-in center, 10554 Spring Hill Drive (Brothers I and II Plaza), Spring Hill. This is a self-help rehabilitation and recreation center for consumers and provides support groups, computer classes, bingo, arts and crafts, speakers and social activities. The center is in need of donations, including paper plates, hot and cold cups, napkins, plastic ware, copy paper, soda, coffee, snacks and gift certificates. Call the center at 684-0004, or Darlene at 686-0004.

- Consumer Friendship Group meets 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays at the Beautiful Mind. This is an informal group for those with mental illness to visit and socialize. Call the center.

- Family Support Group, 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays (meets separately from the friendship group), at the Beautiful Mind. This is a group for families of the mentally ill to exchange insights about mental illness and learn how others are coping. Call Darlene, 686-0004.

- A Speakers Group is available to area church, civic and social organizations. Call Darlene, 686-0004.

SHINE Program Assists Seniors with Health Insurance: The Florida Department of Elder Affairs offers the free SHINE program (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) at the following locations in Hernando County:

- 11 a.m. to noon Thursdays at Spring Hill Enrichment Center, 11375 Cortez Blvd. (behind Oak Hill Hospital), Spring Hill.

- 11 a.m. to noon Fridays, Spring Hill Branch/Harold G. Zopp Memorial Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive. This site will be closed on Nov. 10, but will be open Nov. 9 instead.

SHINE counselors offer information and assistance with Medicare (figuring out paperwork, bills and filing appeals), Medicare supplemental insurance, Medicare prescription drug coverage, long-term care planning and pharmaceutical assistance programs.

No appointments are necessary. For information or for counseling locations outside of Hernando County, call the Elder Hotline toll-free at 1-800-262-2243.

Brooksville

Alcoholics Anonymous: Sunset group, 6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, Christ Lutheran Church, 475 W North Ave. Women's group, 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, St. John's Episcopal Church, 200 S Brooksville Ave., Brooksville; 544-8227. Back to Basics, 7 p.m. Tuesdays, the Harbor, 7074 Grove Road (across from Springbrook Hospital). Garden Grove group, open speaker's meeting, 8 p.m. the last Saturday of each month, First Presbyterian Church, 250 Bell Ave. Heavy Hitters group, 8 p.m. Wednesdays, First Presbyterian Church, 250 Bell Ave. Welcome group, 8 p.m. Thursdays, St. John's Episcopal Church, 200 S Brooksville Ave. TGIF group, 8 p.m. Fridays, First Presbyterian Church, 250 Bell Ave. 683-4597.

Al-Anon: Spring Lake AFG Group, 10 a.m. Wednesdays, Spring Lake United Methodist Church, 4191 Spring Lake Highway. Carolyn, 799-1513.

Co-Dependents Anonymous: Words of Wisdom group, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Salvation Army Fellowship Hall, 15464 Cortez Blvd. This is a 12-step program geared toward the development of healthy relationships and the building of self-esteem. Step work is done on the first Wednesday of each month. Newcomers are welcome. Joan, 597-3926.

Narcotics Anonymous: Stairway to Serenity group (open discussion), 8 p.m. Fridays, Faith Fellowship Church, 19255 Camp Ground Road. Open discussion group, noon Tuesday, Faith Fellowship Church. Just for Today group (closed discussion book study), 8 p.m. Tuesdays, First United Methodist Church, 109 Broad St.; open discussion meetings are at 8 p.m. Thursdays at First United Methodist. Stairway to Serenity/Newcomers Meeting (open discussion), 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Faith Fellowship Church, 19255 Camp Ground Road. 754-7200.

Reiki Clinic: 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Inner Peace Metaphysical Bookstore, 425 W Jefferson St. Maria, 544-0304 or 585-1681.

Hernando Beach

Alcoholics Anonymous: Open discussion, noon Tuesdays, First Baptist Church of Hernando Beach, 4446 Shoal Line Blvd. 683-4597.

Ridge Manor/ Ridge Manor West

Alcoholics Anonymous: 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Ridge Manor Community Center, Cortez Boulevard. 683-5497.

Narcotics Anonymous: Getting Better Group (open discussion), 7 p.m. Sundays, Ridge Manor Community Center, 34240 Cortez Blvd. 754-7200.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly 530: 8:15 to 10 a.m. Tuesdays, First Lutheran Church of Ridge Manor West, 30419 Park Ridge Drive. Eve, 796-0477.

Weight Watchers: 2 p.m. Wednesdays, 34620 Cortez Blvd. Meetings open 30 minutes early for weighing in. Toll-free 1-800-651-6000.

Spring Hill

Weeki Wachee

Celebrate Recovery: Fridays, starting Sept. 22, Christian Church in the Wildwood, 10051 Country Road, off Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; praise and worship at 7 p.m., which include testimonies and large group teaching. At 8 p.m., the goup will break into small groups to include men's chemical addiction, men's sexual addiction, women's chemical addition, women's codependency and women's physical, emotion and sexual abuse. Celebrate Recovery is a Bible-based recovery program and is open to the public. Visit the Web site at www.celebraterecovery or www.ccwildwood.com , or call 596-1388.

Information for the Health and Support column should be submitted to Phyllis Day, Hernando Times, 15365 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34613. Information can be faxed to 754-6133 or e-mailed to day@sptimes.com The deadline for this news is seven working days before your event or reservation deadline. Information cannot be published if the time, date, place, ticket price (if applicable) or contact person and phone number are missing. For information about the Health and Support column, call 754-6101 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

[Last modified December 21, 2006, 01:06:07]