Digest

Health news

By MICHELLE JONES, Times Correspondent
Published October 8, 2007

Obesity Help www.obesityhelp.com is sponsoring a support group in Hudson for anyone who is contemplating weight loss surgery or for those who have had surgery or for those who would like to gain support, information and inspiration. The group will meet the third Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hudson Regional Library on Fivay Road. Call (727) 247-9858.

* * *

The Hernando-Pasco Lupus Support Group meets at 1 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive. The guest speaker is Dr. Karen Zagar, rheumatologist. The meeting is free. Call (727) 447-7075.

* * *

The Pasco County Health Department will offer flu shots at 1 p.m. Oct. 22 at the CARES Elfers Center, 4136 Barker Drive in Elfers. Register by calling (727) 847-1290.

* * *

The Crohn's Disease and Colitis Support Group meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 9) in the Conference Center of the Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson. Call (352) 684-0427.

* * *

Hernando-Pasco Hospice (HPH) provides volunteer training sessions for people to learn about making a difference in their community. The first training will take place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 15 and continue on Oct. 16 at the HPH Marliere Hospice Care Center, 6801 Rowan Road in New Port Richey. These sessions are geared for people who want to visit or prepare meals for patients at the Hospice House in Hudson. There are also opportunities for volunteers to answer phone and assist with special projects at the North Pasco team office. Call Fred Blind at (727) 863-9522 to register.

* * *

The Pasco County Health Departmentoffers a two part diabetes class from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. beginning Tuesday and continuing on Oct. 16. A team of health professionals will share information on healthy recipes, portion control, daily care, goal setting, monitoring, medication, stress management and checkups. Classes will be held at the Pasco County Health Department, 10841 Little Road. Cost is $30 and lunch is provided. Call (727) 861-5250 ext. 162 to register.

* * *

The Pasco County Health Department is offering three Freedom from Smoking Clinics at 10841 Little Road in New Port Richey. Step-by-Step methods will be taught to change behavior and quit smoking. Cost is $30; however reduced rates are available on a sliding scale. Each participate will receive free nicotine patches, a workbook, relaxation CD, refreshments and additional incentives. Call (727) 861-5250, ext. 161 for times and dates.

* * *

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

* * *

Tampa Bay Putt Away the Pain Golf Tournament is Friday at the Eagles Golf Club, 16101 Nine Eagle Drive, Odessa. This will benefit the Arthritis Foundation's Send a Kid to Camp Campaign and will start at 1 p.m. Cost is $75 and will include a box lunch and an awards dinner. Call toll-free 1-800-850-9455 or visit the Web site at www.arthritis.org.

* * *

CARES and the Pasco Eye Institute offer diabetic education classes at 2 p.m. the first and third Thursday of the month at the Claude Pepper Senior Center, 6640 Van Buren St., New Port Richey. The classes will be conducted by Alice Brougham, R.N., and will cover specific topics such as diet, nutrition, exercise and medication management. Classes are free and open to the public. Call (727) 844-3077.

* * *

The RMCBP Volunteer Association is creating a quilt of many colors for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. For a $1 donation, people can select a square to be sewn into the quilt and they also will be able to personalize the square. Call (727) 869-5525 for locations and times to purchase the quilt pieces. All donations will go to the American Cancer Society's Making Strides event on Oct. 20.

* * *

Florida's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program needs volunteers to help protect the rights of elders residing in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family care homes. Call toll-free 1-888-831-0404 or visit the Web site at ltcop.myflorida.com The Pasco/N. Pinellas Long Term Care Ombudsman Council will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday at the New Port Richey's Department of Children and Families building, 7601 Little Road, suite 100. Meetings are open to the public and there is a discussion portion of the meeting where people can address concerns.

* * *

The Alzheimer's Family Organization is looking for committee members for its "2008 Gong Show" on Feb. 2 and for the "2008 Rally to Remember" on April 5. Both are fundraising events and provide community networking opportunities. Call (727) 848-8888.

* * *

Adult children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional 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.

* * *

The Pasco County Chapter of National Alliance on Mental 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. The Child Adolescent Support Group will have a guest speaker, James Wasenda, L.M.H.C., at the 6:30 p.m. Thursday meeting at the North Pinellas Children's Medical Center location. He will discuss "How to find a counselor and on the role of counseling."

* * *

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.

* * *

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.

* * *

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. On Wednesday, a group meets at 10: 30 a.m. at the Royal Oak Nursing Center, 37300 Royal Oak Lane in Dade City. Call Karen Schulte, Bobbi Jo Rivera or Jeanette Monge at (352) 567-3122. Another group meets on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Claude Pepper Senior Center, 6640 Van Buren St., New Port Richey. Call Lea Mahoney at (727) 845-8726. The organization has a Wanderers Identification Program for people with memory disorder and each person is given an identifying bracelet or pendant with a code number and telephone number to the participating Sheriff's Department. Call the office for details at (727) 848-8888 or (888) 496-8004.

* * *

A free seminar on the topic of advanced treatment for prostate enlargement will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital, 1395 South Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs. The guest speaker will be Dr. Paul Arnold, a urologist, from the medical staff of the hospital.

Half of all men over 50 will develop a non-cancerous enlarged prostate, also known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Arnold will discuss the latest treatment solutions for BPH, including the well-known TUNA procedure (transurethral needle ablation) as well as the most advanced GreenLight High Performance Laser therapy. Reservations are required. Call (727) 943-3600, weekdays.

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 October 8, 2007, 01:13:32]