Digest

Health notes

By MICHELLE JONES, Times Correspondent
Published September 10, 2007

The Florida Cancer Institute will sponsor the American Cancer Society's "Look Good ... Feel Better" program from 2 to 4 p.m. today in the conference room at the center at 8763 River Crossing Blvd. in New Port Richey. All women cancer patients are invited to this free group program that teaches beauty techniques to help combat the side effects of treatment. Reservations are required by calling 727 842-8411.

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The Pasco/North Pinellas Long-Term Care Ombudsman Council will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Department of Children and Families, 7601 Little Road, Suite 100, New Port Richey. Meetings are open to the public to address concerns or issues of the long-term care facilities to members of the council. Call (888) 831-0404 or visit www.ombudsman.myflorida.com.

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Adult children of Alcoholics and Dysfunction Families meet at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Unity of Port Richey, 5844 Pine Hill Road in Port Richey. This is a 12-step program that maintains anonymity. Call Bonnie at (727) 862-4556.

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The Epilepsy Support Group for adults will meet at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Suncoast Epilepsy Association, 9851 State Road 54, New Port Richey. Call (727) 375-7774 or (727) 546-2856.

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The Pasco County Chapter of National Alliance on Mentally Illness (NAMI) offers three types of support group meetings each month for family and friends of those with mental illness. This includes all types of brain disorders, including, but not limited to OCD, depression, autism, bi-polar, schizophrenia and multiple personalities. Daytime meetings are from 3 to 5 p.m. the first and third Monday of each month at the Regency Park Civic Association Building, 10240 Regency Park Blvd., Port Richey. The evening meetings are from 7:30 to 9 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of the month at Resource Room at Community Hospital, 5637 Marine Parkway, New Port Richey. Call Gloria at (727) 992-9653.

The Family and Friends Adolescent Support Group meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the North Pinellas Children's Medical Center, 5508 Little Road, New Port Richey. Call Charity at (727) 457-8514. A consumer support group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month at Community Hospital Resource Room, 5637 Marine Parkway, New Port Richey. Call Mike at (727) 842-3372.

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Nicotine Anonymous meets from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays in the Educational Center of St. Vincent DePaul Church, 4843 Mile Stretch Drive in Holiday. Call (727) 937-1396.

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The Depressive Bipolar Support Alliance of West Pasco meets at 2 p.m. each Tuesday at the A Club, 5650 W Missouri Ave., in New Port Richey, behind Jimmy's Restaurant. Call (727) 819-9427.

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The Alzheimer's Family Organization offers three support groups this week. On Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., a group meets at Summerville Senior Living, 5539 Charles St., New Port Richey. Call Debbie Jones at (727) 848-4459. Two groups meet on Wednesday. One group meets at 10:30 a.m. at the Royal Oak Nursing Center, 37300 Royal Oak Lane, Dade City. Call Karen Schulte, Bobbi Jo Rivera or Jeanette Mongo at (352) 567-3122. Another group meets at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Claude Pepper Senior Center, 6640 Van Buren St., New Port Richey. Call Lea Mahoney at (727) 845-8726.

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The Compassionate Friends, a bereavement support group for parents, siblings, and grandparents who have lost a child, will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesdays at Community Hospital of New Port Richey, on the first floor. Please use the main entrance (5637 Marine Parkway). For information, please call 813-273-8721.

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A free seminar entitled: "Osteoporosis - What You Need to Know" will be on Sept. 19 at 5 p.m. at Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital, 1395 S Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs. The guest speaker at the seminar will be Thomas E. Carson, MD, a family practice doctor with an office in Tarpon Springs. Reservations are required. Call (727) 943-3600 weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital is conducting a Healthy Heart Day. It consists of several low-cost, heart-related screenings plus health information at the hospital from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 18. The cost is $25. Healthy Heart screenings include blood pressure, cholesterol, body fat, blood sugar. An optional bone density screening will also be available for an additional $10. This procedure helps in the detection of osteoporosis. The hospital is at 1395 S Pinellas Ave. in Tarpon Springs.

Please send any health related meetings or information to Michelle Jones at mjones721@tampabay.rr.com or fax to (813) 684-2457 or mail to P.O. Box 558, Valrico, FL 33595. Call (813) 685-2200.

[Last modified September 9, 2007, 21:06:37]