Health Notes

By Michelle Jones, Times Correspondent
Published March 9, 2008

The Pregnancy Care Center of Zephyrhills is hosting its fifth annual Golf Benefit with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. April 5 at the Silverado Golf and Country Club on Eiland Boulevard, Zephyrhills. Cost is $60 which includes green fee, prizes and lunch. Proceeds will benefit the center. Sponsorships are available. Call 813 780-6885.

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The Florida Cancer Institute will host the Man to Man prostate cancer support group from 5 to 6 p.m. March 20 at the center at 9763 River Crossing Blvd., in New Port Richey. During the meetings several topics will be discussed including detection, signs and symptoms, prognosis, disease stages, incontinence, impotence and various treatment options. Call (727) 842-8411.

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The Early Leaning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties Inc. and Sertoma Speech and Hearing Foundation of Florida Inc. are providing free general hearing screenings in Pasco County during the month of March. Opportunities to make appointments with Sertoma to have 3- and 4-year-olds screened will be provided and evaluations will be made to parents. Call (727) 233-8291 or visit the Web site at phelc.org or call the Sertoma Speech and Hearing Foundation at (727) 834-5479.

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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 in New Port Richey. Call (727) 375-7774 or (727) 546-2856.

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PFLAG of Pasco will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Spirit of Life Church, 4133 Thys Road in New Port Richey. PFLAG is Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays and promotes the health and well being of them, their families and friends through support, education and advocacy. Call (727) 264-7014.

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

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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 over 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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Registration is now open for the CARES Senior Moments program that will meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Wednesday 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 Dr. Ravi Sharma and electrophysiologist Dr. Luis R. Annoni are the featured speakers for an upcoming lecture on Atrial Fibrillation Treatment for Irregular Heart Rhythm at 3:30 p.m. Thursday 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 by calling (727) 869-5498.

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Helping the Elderly with Legal Problems (HELP) offers free appointments at 1 p.m. Thursday and March 27 at CARES, Claude Pepper Senior Center, New Port Richey and on 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. March 20 and then every other Thursday at the New Port Richey Center at 8763 River Crossing Blvd. Anyone, who has been affected by breast cancer, is invited to attend including family members. Refreshments will be served and reservations are advised. Call (727) 842-8411, ext. 150.

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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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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.

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 Caf 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 DePaul Church, 4843 Mile Stretch Drive in Holiday. Call (727) 937-1396.

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The Alzheimer's Family Organization offers four support groups this week. Two groups meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. One group meets at the Summerville Senior Living, 5539 Charles St., New Port Richey. Call Debbie Jones at (727) 848-4459. The other group meets at the Dynamic Seniors Adult Day, 4729 Allen Road, Zephyrhills. Call Teresa Warnke at (813) 782-8843.

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. Free respite care is available. Call Nila Premere at (352) 567-3122. The second group meets 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. 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 1-888-496-8004.

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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.

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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.

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 8, 2008, 21:24:28]