Health notes

By Michelle Jones, Times Correspondent
Published March 3, 2008

The Arthritis Mobile Learning Center will have an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Pasco Regional Medical Center, 13100 Fort King Road in Dade City. It will be in the hospital's north parking lot, and staff members will be available to answer questions. Refreshments will be served. The unit provides free education on innovative treatment procedures and products for arthritis. Call 352 521-1176.

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A quit smoking support group meets from 1 to 2 p.m. Mondays at the Pasco County Health Department, 10841 Little Road in New Port Richey. The group is facilitated by a tobacco prevention specialist. Free nicotine patches are available. Call (727) 861-5250, ext. 161.

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Hospice offers a grief group from 2 to 3 p.m. the first and third Thursday of each month at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O'Lakes, and from 2 to 3 p.m. each Monday in the lab conference room of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, 7050 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills. These groups are sponsored by Hernando-Pasco Hospice and there is no charge to participate. Anyone grieving over a loss of a loved one is invited to participate. Call (813) 780-6797.

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The West Pasco Pregnancy Center will have a yard sale to benefit the center from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 5330 George St. in New Port Richey. The center offers limited obstetrical ultrasound for early pregnancy, free pregnancy tests, pregnancy option counseling, STD information and education, prenatal and childbirth classes, adoption support, postabortion counseling, a parenting program and life skill classes. All services are free. Call (727) 846-9999.

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The Birthplace at Community Hospital, 5637 Marine Parkway, New Port Richey, offers a wide range of family education services to help expectant parents prepare for the birth of their baby. Scheduled tours are also being offered. Call (727) 834-5630 to register, for class options or to schedule a tour.

Childbirth Super-Prep Class is offered from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. This is a one-day accelerated or refresher course. Cost is $50.

A six-week course on prepared childbirth begins Wednesday. The class is from 7 to 9 p.m. once a week and the fee is $70.

The Birthplace also offers regular classes in prenatal yoga from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Mondays. Registration is required and the fee is $50 for four sessions.

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The West Pasco Fibromyalgia Support Group will meet from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday at the Conference Center behind HCA Bayonet Hospital, 14100 Fivay Road in Hudson. The speaker will be A. Scott Flexer, disability advocate and representative with disability experts of Florida. The topic is Social Security Disability and SSI as it pertains to fibromyalgia. Call Lori Wolff at (727) 863-4748 or Kathie Fidler at (727) 378-4852.

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The Alzheimer's Family Organization will sponsor an Alzheimer Caregiver Informational Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Pasco Regional Medical Center, 13100 Fort King Road in Dade City. Cost is $15 for members and $25 for others. Price includes refreshments, lunch and a certificate of attendance. Attorney Audrey Gay-Ehrhardt will speak on elder law issues. Call toll-free at 1-888-496-8004 to register.

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A new program to help caregivers review evacuation procedures in the event of hurricanes is now available through the Alzheimer's Family Organization. Appropriate data will be collected to determine who will require placement at a special-needs shelter. Monetary contributions will help expand the program. Call (727) 848-8888.

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Seniors who have difficulty paying bills and balancing checkbooks can receive help through the CARES volunteer Bill Payer Program, This program offers free assistance to seniors age 60 and older who need help writing checks, paying bills, balancing checkbooks or setting up a budget because of a visual or physical impairment or a mild memory loss. Call (352) 518-9300 and ask for Sharon or Joe.

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The Suncoast Epilepsy Association will meet at 1:30 p.m. March 11 at the offices at 9851 State Road 54 in New Port Richey. Call (727) 375-7774.

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An open house is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Spine and Joint Care Center at Community Hospital, 5637 Marine Parkway, New Port Richey. This is to celebrate one year of providing care, and the public is invited to see the unit that includes private rooms, a hotel feel and family dining. Refreshments will be served and prize drawings will be conducted. Call (877) 442-2362.

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Registration is now open for the CARES Senior Moments program that will meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays beginning March 12 for six weeks. Classes will be held in the CARES Mishkin Center, 7505 Rottingham Road, Port Richey. Cost is $180 for the program that includes maintaining and enhancing memory and brain function though mind fitness, learning skills and keeping a sense of humor. Call Christine Powers at (727) 862-9291, ext. 244.

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Heart surgeon Ravi Sharma, M.D., and electrophysiologist Luis R. Annoni, M.D., are the featured speakers for an upcoming lecture on Atrial Fibrillation Treatment for Irregular Heart Rhythm at 3:30 p.m. March 13 at the Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point Conference Center, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson. The presentation is sponsored by the Heart Institute at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point. The lecture is free, but reservations are required. Call (727) 869-5498.

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The West Pasco Bi-Polar Support Alliance meets at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Christ Fellowship Church, 5718 Grand Blvd., in New Port Richey. Call Bob at (727) 819-9427.

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Helping the Elderly with Legal Problems (HELP) offers free appointments at 1 p.m. March 13 and 27 at CARES, Claude Pepper Senior Center, New Port Richey and on Tuesday and March 18 at the CARES Phil Mishkin Center in Port Richey. Call (727) 844-3077 or (727) 862-9291 for appointments.

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The Florida Cancer Institute offers a breast cancer support group at 6 p.m. Thursdays at the New Port Richey Center at 8763 River Crossing Blvd. Anyone who is touched by breast cancer is invited to attend, including family members. Refreshments will be served and reservations are advised. Call (727) 842-8411, ext. 150.

The institute will host the American Cancer Society's Look Good ... Feel Better program from 2 to 4 p.m. today at the New Port Richey Center, 8763 River Crossing Blvd. The free program teaches beauty techniques to female cancer patients. Call (727) 842-8411.

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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 (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 Mentally 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, bipolar, 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.

There are two recovery support group programs for adults living with mental illness. One group meets from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each Thursday at the Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, Shoreline Cafe Meeting Room, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson. Call Robin at (727) 808 -6757. Another group meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. each Wednesday at Community Hospital, Health Resource Room, 5637 Marine Parkway in New Port Richey. Call Olga at (727) 457-0049.

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Nicotine Anonymous meets from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays in the Educational Center of St. Vincent de Paul 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. One group meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Atria Baypoint Village Clubhouse, 7927 State Road 52, Hudson. Call Maria Curley at (727) 856-2196. Patricia Sovonick, Ph.D., will speak on "Stress and the Caregiver." Two groups meet on Wednesday. One meets at 2 p.m. at the CARES Service Center, 7505 Rottingham Road in Port Richey. Call Maureen Bell at (727) 856-5147. Another group meets at 6 p.m. at La Casa Grande 6400 Trouble Creek Road in New Port Richey. Call Rich Beason at (727) 847-3980. 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 Office. Call the office for details at (727) 848-8888 or toll-free at 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 March 2, 2008, 21:55:03]