Health notes

By MICHELLE JONES, Times Correspondent
Published January 13, 2008

Oak Hill Hospital's Healthy Living Community Education series will continue from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at Heritage Pines Country Club, 11524 Scenic Hill Blvd., Spring Hill. Dr. Frank S. Bono, a spine surgeon, will present "You and Your Back." A buffet will be served and free blood pressure, blood oxygen level checks, glucose and cholesterol screenings will be offered. Reservations are required by calling 352 597-6333.

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The Pasco County Health Department, 10841 Little Road in New Port Richey, will hold a walk-in flu shot clinic from 8 to 3 p.m. Friday. Cost is $25. Bring Medicare and supplement insurance cards. Anyone younger than 65, with insurance, will need to pay the fee. Call (727) 861-5250, ext. 162.

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The Pasco County Health Department Tobacco Prevention Program offers its Freedom from Smoking Clinic from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday and continues for several Wednesdays. Cost is $30 with low income participants eligible for a reduced rate. Workbooks, relaxation CD, incentives and optional nicotine patches are offered to each student. The clinic is at 4719 Voorhees Road, New Port Richey. To register, call Lisa Sloan at (727) 861-5250, ext. 161.

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The Relay For Life Kickoff Rallies for families, caregivers, cancer survivors, schools and businesses, are scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 22 at Wesley Chapel Elementary School, 30243 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel and at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd. The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, scheduled for April 18-19 at Wesley Chapel High School and for May 9-10 at Wiregrass High School, is an overnight community celebration where individuals and teams camp out, barbecue, dance and take turns walking around a track relay-style to raise funds to fight cancer. Call Stephanie Watts at (813) 949-0291, ext. 107 to reserve a place for the kickoff rally. The Web sites are events.cancer.org/rflwesleychapelfl or events.cancer.org/rflwiregrassfl.

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The Zephyrhills Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at Florida Hospital. This Monday, two speakers from Disparti Law Firm will give information on Social Security disability benefits. The meeting is in the speech therapy room next to the Wellness Clinic. Call (727) 869-6233.

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The Man To Man Prostate Support Group meets at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Shoreline Caf meeting room, located at the rear of the hospital cafeteria of the Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road, Hudson. Call Don Miller at (727) 868-3208 or the American Cancer Society at toll-free 1-800-940-1969.

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The National Alliance for Mental Illness offers a 12-week education course, free to family and friends of those with mental illness. The next course is scheduled to begin Jan. 24 at Community Hospital, New Port Richey. Registration is required as seating is limited. Call Gloria at (727) 992-9653.

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Gulfside Regional Hospice is hosting a volunteer open house at its administrative offices in Dade City, 37286 Sky Ridge Circle. The open house is from 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 24 and participants will learn about the role of hospice and the volunteer opportunities available to help care for patients and families. Other opportunities are available at administrative offices and thrift shops. After the open house, a three-hour training session is planned for Jan. 31. Reservations are required by calling toll-free 1-800-561-4883.

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A worship service at Sunset Bay Assisted Living Facility, 7423 Kauai Loop in New Port Richey, is planned for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday by the Gulfside Regional Hospice. This service is the third Tuesday of each month and is open to all hospice patients and families. Chaplain Andy Anderson will conduct the service. The public is welcome. Call (727) 845-5707.

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Hernando-Pasco Hospice will hold a new volunteer orientation in two locations on Tuesday and Thursday for people interested in visiting hospice patients who live in private residences, nursing homes or assisted living facilities in eastern or southern Pasco County. Volunteers are matched with patients who live close by and are asked to make a friendly visit once a week. One of the trainings will be from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 37445 Clinton Ave. Dade City. Register by calling (813) 780-6797. The other training will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 4422 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey. Call (727) 849-2629. Or visit the Web site at www.hphospice.org.

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Seven free transition support groups, for adults who are grieving over the loss of a loved one, are being offered every Monday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. beginning this week through March 3 at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church. 7922 State Road 52 in Hudson. They will be hosted by Hernando-Pasco Hospice and are facilitated by hospice bereavement counselors. Call toll-free 1-800-486-8784 or visit the Web site at www.hphospice.org.

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Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Chapter 416 will have an open house at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Regency Baptist Church, 8020 Washington St. in New Port Richey. After the meeting, healthy, low-fat food will be served. Call Anna at (727) 844-0160 or Ann Marie at (727) 849-2464.

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Help with legal problems for Pasco County residents, age 60 and older, is available through Helping the Elderly with Legal Problems. Free half-hour consultations are available beginning at 1 p.m. Jan. 24 at the CARES Claude Pepper Senior Center, New Port Richey. Call (727) 844-3077 for an appointment. Other appointments are available on Tuesday and Jan. 29 at the CARES Phil Mishkin Center in New Port Richey. Call (727) 862-9291.

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Community Hospital, offers free blood pressure checks from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. each Thursday at 5637 Marine Parkway, New Port Richey. Call toll-free 1-877-442-2367.

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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 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 and 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 (except holidays) of the month at Conference Room C 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, River Crossing Professional 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 or Olga at (727) 847-2973.

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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 Alzheimer's Family Organization offers three support groups this week. A group meets at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Claude Pepper Senior Center, 6640 Van Buren St., New Port Richey. Call Barbara Olenski at (272) 844-3077. Another group meets at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at New Port Inn, 6120 Congress St., New Port Richey. Call Dina Giannet at (727) 848-3617. A third group meets at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Heather Hill Health Care Center, 6630 Kentucky Ave., New Port Richey. Call Lea Mahoney at (727) 845-8726. The organization has a Wanderers Identification Program for people with memory disorder. 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 toll-free 1-888-496-8004

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 January 12, 2008, 20:20:29]