Digest

Health and support

By Times Staff Writer
Published September 20, 2007

Alcoholics Anonymous: For Hernando County locations, call 683-4597.

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 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:

- Caregiver support groups - 1 p.m. Wednesday, Hernando Beach Club, 3165 Flamingo Blvd., Hernando Beach; Betty Breeden, 596-2442. 1 p.m. Mondays, Spring Hill Enrichment Center behind Oak Hill Hospital, 11375 Cortez Blvd., Spring Hill; 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 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.

"The Art of Healthy Aging" lecture series: Atria Senior Living Group will host a series of lectures as part of Healthy Aging Month. The lectures will be presented by Stanley M. Giannet, who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology, a master's in psychology and a master's of ministry in Christian counseling. Light refreshments will be served. There is no cost to attend.

- "Mind, Body and Spirit: Aging and Wellness," 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Atria Baypoint Village, 7927 State Road 52, Hudson. Learn ways to reduce stress, increase happiness and strengthen overall quality of life. RSVP by Monday to (727) 863-5808.

- "Compassion and Love: The Art of Caregiving," 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3, Atria Evergreen Woods, 7030 Evergreen Woods Trail, Spring Hill. This seminar will provide reflections on the challenges and opportunities inherent in caregiving. RSVP by Oct. 1 to 596-2055.

Elder Helpline: The Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging provides the Elder Helpline, which is available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, by calling toll-free 1-800-963-5337. Through the National Caregiver Support Program, resources available include information, education, support groups, respite and other services for caregivers of persons 60 or older and grandparents 60 and older who are raising grandchildren. Visit the Web site at www.mfaaa.org.

Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program: This program is a service provided by the Mid-Florida Area Agency on Aging. It provides one-time assistance for households with both an energy crisis and a member who is 60 or older. An energy crisis is a shutoff or impending shutoff of electricity, a lack of heating supplies or a broken heating system. The program helps the household by providing assistance with paying the electric bill, buying heating supplies or fixing the heating system.

To be eligible, the household must meet income guidelines by household size. To find a service provider or apply for the program, call the Elder Helpline toll-free at 1-800-963-5337.

The Mid-Florida area Agency on Aging is a nonprofit organization in Gainesville that serves 16 counties, including Hernando, as an advocate and focal point to develop coordinated and comprehensive services for the elderly.

Free Antibiotic Drug Program: Sunshine Wellness Center has a free antibiotic drug program that covers leading, oral generic antibiotics, with a special focus on prescriptions most often filled for children. There is no membership fee or fees. The center is at 90 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Brooksville. 796-7200.

Narcotics Anonymous: For Hernando County locations, call 754-7200.

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

- 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. Call the center at 684-0004, or Ginny, 686-2687.

- 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 at the Beautiful Mind. This group meets separately from the friendship group. It is for families of the mentally ill to exchange insights about mental illness and learn how others are coping. Call Ginny, 686-2687.

- Evening Family Support Group, 7 to 8:30 p.m. on first and third Wednesdays at the Beautiful Mind. This is a discussion group is for families of the mentally ill to talk with others who understand adult mental illness. Call 544-0352.

- T-shirt fundaiser. Shirts are $10 (NAMI consumers pay $5). Call Ginny, 686-2687.

- Volunteers are needed to become support group leaders for parents of children with mental illness. Training is provided. Call Darlene, 686-0004.

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

- Visit the Web site at www.namihernando.org.

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 Tuesdays, Brooksville Enrichment Center, 670 S Broad St., Brooksville.

- 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays, East Hernando Branch Library, 6457 Windmere Road, Ridge Manor West.

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.

Weight Watchers: For area meetings, call toll-free 1-800-651-6000.

Brooksville

Grief Share Sessions: 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Brooksville Wesleyan Church, 8168 Jasmine Dr. Sessions designed for individuals who have recently lost a loved one. Open to the public. 799-3066.

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

Take Off Pounds Sensibly 208: 6 p.m. today, Gulf Ridge Park Baptist Church, 20200 Manecke Road. Linda, 796-1236.

Ridge Manor/Ridge Manor West

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.

Spring Hill

Care Connection/Care Too: Respite/social program for people with early-stage Alzheimer's disease or other memory-related illnesses, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays, Catholic Charities, 1423 Kass Circle. 686-9897.

Christian Based Addictions Recovery Group: 7 p.m. Tuesdays, First Baptist Church of Spring Hill, 7279 Pinehurst Drive (at Cobblestone Drive). Frank, 442-1314.

"Diagnosis and Treatment Options for Peripheral Artery Disease" is next For Your Health seminar: 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Hernando Medical Center, fourth floor classroom, Oak Hill Hospital, 11375 Cortez Blvd. The speaker is Nagaraja "Raj" Sharma, M.D., who is Board-certified in cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology and internal medicine. There will be complimentary refreshments and free blood pressure and blood oxygen level checks offered. Seating is limited and reservations are advised. 597-6333.

Dyslexia and Related Learning Difference Support Group: 7 to 8 p.m. Oct. 2, Arc Nature Coast's Community Cafe, 4560 Commercial Way. The group is for parents of children that have, or are suspected of having, dyslexia or related learning differences. Teaching strategies, legal issues, sharing of resources and school-related issues are discussed. Guest speakers on related topics will also be available. Children are welcome; a large craft-style room is available for them during the meeting. The group meets the first Tuesday of each month. Nikki, 584-5512, or visit the Web site, www.hernandodyslexia.com.

Gamblers Anonymous: 7:30 to 9 p.m. Fridays, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 6193 Spring Hill Drive. Diane, 263-2962.

Griefshare Support: 4 to 6 p.m. today, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 2301 Deltona Blvd. The "Griefshare Weekly Seminar" will be introduced. Questions and input will be encouraged. The group is for those grieving the loss of someone close. Sally Cloughly, 666-8806; Janet Moorman, 200-7422; or the church, 683-2010.

Hernando County Medical Society Alliance presents "Achieving Happiness, Balance and Success in Your Life": Noon Sept. 28, Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Club Lane. The cost is $20 per person, which includes lunch. The speaker is licensed clinical social worker Nancy Makar of Pathways Counseling Center. Reservations are required byMonday. Maureen, 650-9006, or Kim, 544-0181.

Hernando County Ostomy Association: 2 p.m. today, Oak Hill Enrichment Center, 11375 Cortez Blvd. New members welcome. Joan, 686-1077, or Nancy, 597-7933.

La Leche League of Hernando County: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Spring Hill Branch/Harold G. Zopp Memorial Library, 9220 Spring Hill. The topic is "Nutrition/Weaning." The group leader is Cherish Nero, (727) 856-8693 or cherishnero@yahoo.com

"Look Good, Feel Better" program for female cancer patients: 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 27, Florida Cancer Institute, 7154 Medical Center Drive. This is a free program that teaches beauty techniques to female cancer patients to help combat appearance-related side effects from treatment. Sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Women attending will receive free makeup. Reservations required. Mary Capo, 596-1926, ext. 150.

Moving On: 12:15 p.m. Thursdays, Perkins Family Restaurant, 4685 Commercial Way. This is a self-help organization for seniors or others who have difficulty dealing with the loss of a loved one. An optional lunch will follow the meeting. Marilyn, 597-5315, or Bill, 683-7409.

Overeaters Anonymous: 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays, Spring Hill Health and Rehab, 12170 Cortez Blvd.; Pat, 688-1236, or Ernie, 596-4082. 1 to 2:30 p.m. Fridays, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 2301 Deltona Blvd.; Pat, 688-1236, or Dee, 686-4213.

Road to Recovery: Open group, 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays; step study, 7 to 8 p.m. Mondays, Northcliffe Baptist Church, 10515 Northcliffe Blvd. This is a Christian 12-step ercovery program that offers healing for addictive behaviors, hang-ups and hurts. The program is sponsored by the church. Steve Celinski, 683-5882, or www.nbchurch.org .

Spring Hill Stroke and Support Group: 11 a.m. Thursdays, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 6193 Spring Hill Drive. Family and friends are welcome. Coffee and cake follows the meeting. A. Schaffer, 688-2594, or the church, 683-9016.

Survivors Grief Support Group: 1 to 2 p.m. Fridays, Oak Hill Hospital conference room (near the cafeteria), 11375 Cortez Blvd. Rose, 596-6752, or Dee, 686-3196.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly: TOPS 604, weigh-in from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. and meeting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Forest Oaks Lutheran Church, 8555 Forest Oaks Blvd.; Doris, 666-9525, or Nancy, 592-1088. TOPS 701, weigh-in at 9 a.m. and meeting at 9:30 a.m. Fridays, United Methodist Church, Shady Hills Road; Beverly, (727) 856-2436, or June (727) 856-4988. TOPS 716, 10 a.m. Fridays, Fellowship Wesleyan Methodist Church, 11250 Spring Hill Drive; 683-2063 or 686-0261. TOPS 746, weigh-in from 8:30 to 9 a.m., immediately followed by the meeting until about 10 a.m., Grace Presbyterian Church, Building B, 8375 Spring Hill Drive. Mary, 200-7869, or Mary, (727) 869-1814.

Weeki Wachee

Celebrate Recovery: 7 to 9 p.m. Fridays, Christian Church in the Wildwood, 10051 Country Road, off Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee. Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered 12-step program. Men's and women's discussion groups are offered. Visit the Web site at www.celebraterecovery or www.ccwildwood.com, or call 596-1388.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly: TOPS 461, 9 a.m. Thursdays, Nativity Lutheran Church, 6363 Commercial Way. Marilyn, 686-5120, or Dorothy, 596-6697. TOPS 547, weigh-in from 8:45 to 9:15 a.m. and meeting at 9:30 a.m. Fridays, Nativity Lutheran Church. Betty, 686-8719.

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 pday@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 September 19, 2007, 20:17:40]