Health Briefs for April 29, 2012

STAR

Sexual Trauma Awareness & Response Center, 233 St. Ferdinand St., is hosting the second annual Walk a Mile In Her Shoes, an event intended to bring awareness to the prevalence of sexual violence in the community, and have men take a role in helping to eliminate it by literally walking one mile in women’s high-heeled shoes.

The free event will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the North Boulvard Town Square. Participants are asked to seek monetary sponsorships for their walk.

For more information, visit http://www.brstar.org.

Family Service

Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge, 4727 Revere Ave., will sponsor counseling services for children, individuals and families who need help with emotional, behavioral and relationship problems from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday at the Child and Family Counseling Center.

Experts can help with alcohol/drug abuse issues and family conflict/violence issues. Services are offered on a sliding-fee scale. For more information, call (225) 924-0123.

HIV services

The following HIV services will be offered this week:

• Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge, 4727 Revere Ave., will offer free, confidential HIV testing and counseling from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the office. For more information, call (225) 927-9810 or visit http://www.fsgbr.org.
• Metro Health will offer free, confidential HIV testing from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Dr. Leo S. Butler Community Center, 950 E. Washington St. Hepatitis C and syphilis testing will be conducted from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Metro Health will also offer testing from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 4000 Gus Young Ave. Call (225) 338-9333.

Grief Recovery

The Grief Recovery Center, 4919 Jamestown Ave., Suite 101, will offer these events and opportunity this week:

• A support group will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday at the office.
• The Bereavement Support Group for Adults will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 14040 Greenwell Springs Road.
• The Bereavement Support Group for Adults will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Elizabeth Hospital, 1125 W. La. 30, Gonzales.

All support groups are free and confidential.

• Speakers are available on request for the following topics: “Dealing with Grief,” “Healthy Grieving” and “Helping Children and Families Cope with Grief.”

For more information, call (225) 924-6621 or visit http://www.grcbr.org.

CASA

Capital Area Court Appointed Special Advocates Association, 848 Louisiana Ave., will have an orientation class for those interested in becoming an advocate at noon Monday and Thursday.

Court Appointed Special Advocates help neglected and abused children in the foster care system find a safe and permanent home. To attend a session, call (225) 379-8598.

Cancer Services

Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge, 550 Lobdell Ave., will hold the following events this week:

• “YogaThrive: Yoga for Cancer Survivors” will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at The Red Shoes, 2303 Government St. Registration is required.
• “Fit & Fearless” an exercise program for cancer survivors, will be at 5:15 p.m. Monday at BREC Independence Park, 7500 Independence Blvd. Registration is required.
• “Fit & Fearless: Total Body Workout” will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at BREC Independence Park. Another class will be at 5:15 p.m. Thursday. Registration is required.
• The After Hours Cancer Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the office.
• The West Feliciana Parish Support Group will meet from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church, 9856 Royal St. in St. Francisville.
• The Single Survivors Networking Meeting will be at noon Wednesday at the office.
• “Zumba Gold” will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at BREC Independence Park. Registration is required.
• The St. James Parish Support Group will meet at 12:15 p.m. Thursday at Sacred Heart Church Center, 616 Main St. in Gramercy.
• Holistic Healing will meet at noon Friday at the office. Reiki will be presented by Judy Alonso.

For more information, call (225) 927-2273 or visit http://www.cancerservices.org.

Woman’s Hospital

Woman’s Hospital, 9050 Airline Highway, will hold the following events this week:

• “Prenatal Yoga” will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at Destination Maternity, 5921 Bluebonnet Blvd. Cost is $12 per class.
• “Baby Steps,” a light exercise class for moms to do with their babies, will be from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and 5:30 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. Thursday at Destination Maternity. Cost is $12 per class.
• “Strong Mamas,” an exercise class to prepare for pregnancy body changes, will be from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at Destination Maternity. Cost is $12 per class.
• “Special Delivery,” a class on the basics of labor, will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at the hospital, Conference rooms 1-3, and Family Road of Baton Rouge. Cost is $35 per couple.
• A Woman’s Ideal Protein informational seminar will be from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Woman’s Center for Wellness, 9637 Jefferson Highway. The weight-loss program is for both men and women.
• “Anesthesia for Childbirth,” a chance to ask questions about epidural anesthesia for childbirth, will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the hospital, Conference rooms 2-3. Cost is $5 per couple.
• “Kegels: What You Need To Know About Your Pelvic Floor” will be from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Woman’s Center for Wellness. Learn how to gain control over your pelvic-floor muscles. Cost is $30.
• “Weight Loss Surgery: What You Should Know” will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the hospital’s second-floor Support Services.
• “Breastfeeding Tips for Moms on-the-go" will be from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday at Destination Maternity. Cost if $20.

For more information or to register, call (225) 231-5475 or visit http://www.womans.org.

Red Cross

The Louisiana Capital Area Chapter American Red Cross, 4655 Sherwood Common Blvd., will hold the following classes:

• “Standard First Aid with CPR/AED” will be from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the office. Cost is $90.
• “Standard First Aid/CPR/AED, Adult and Child Plus Infant CPR Schools and Community” will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the office. Cost is $110.
• “Lay Rescuer First Aid and CPR/AED Instructor Training” will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 7 and May 8 at the office. Cost is $500.
• “CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer” will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the office. Cost is $110.

For more information or to register, call (225) 291-4533 or visit http://www.batonrouge.redcross.org.

Grief support

The Community Grief Support Group, in partnership with other agencies, will meet at noon Tuesday at Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge, 550 Lobdell Ave. The group is open to anyone coping with the loss of a loved one.

Call (225) 927-2273 for more information.

‘CancerFit’

“CancerFit,” a comprehensive wellness program from Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins designed to help cancer patients stay active and mentally fit, will hold a class, “Boosting Bones and Muscling Metabolism,” from 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of the Lake Plaza Diagnostics Building, Suite 112, and 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Asphodel Room.

Classes are free and include an hour of yoga and guided meditation followed by a 15-minute presentation.

For more information or to register, call (225) 938-9629.

Survivors of Suicide

Survivors of Suicide, a free support group for people whose lives have been impacted by the loss of a loved one, neighbor, co-worker or friend to suicide, will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Baton Rouge Crisis Intervention Center, 4837 Revere Ave. For more information, call (225) 924-1431.

BR General

Baton Rouge General will hold the following events this week:

• Healthy Steps: Lebed Exercise Program, healing through dance and movement, will be from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Mid City location, 3600 Florida Blvd. Call (225) 763-4050 to register.
• Healthy Steps: Lebed Exercise Program will be from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Bluebonnet location, 8585 Picardy Ave. Call (225) 763-4050 to register.
• “Baby Care Basics” will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Bluebonnet location, Conference Room 2. Cost is $30 per couple. Register at http://www.BRGeneral.org.

The Hospice of BR

The Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Siegen Lane, will offer the following events and opportunity this week:

• Free grief support group sessions will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Sunrise Assisted Living, 9351 Siegen Lane, and at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Ochsner Medical Center, 17000 Medical Center Drive.

A session will also be offered at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Broadmoor Methodist Church, 10230 Mollylea, Room 104 of the Adult Education Building.

For more information, call (225) 767-4673.

• The hospice is seeking volunteers for patient/caregiver support, health fairs and office assistance. For more information, call (225) 767-4673.

Alzheimer’s Services

Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area, 3772 North Blvd., will hold the following events this week:

• Caregiver network groups for caregivers and family members of people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia will meet from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Hospital, 1125 W. La. 30, Gonzales, first floor, Sister Venola Room; 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Home Instead Senior Care, 11764 Haymarket Ave.; 10:30 to 11:30 Wednesday at Amber Terrace (formerly Lakewood Quarters), 8585 Summa Drive; and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road.
• “Sharing the Journey: Resources 101,” a class that teaches Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers how to navigate the library and Internet for resources, will be from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Hospital, 1125 W. La. 30, Gonzales, Sister Linda Conference Room.

The class is free, but registration is required.

• “Let’s Talk: Supporting Conversation When Your Loved One Has Dementia,” a video designed to educate Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers about the disease and ways to improve quality of life is available for check-out during business hours.

For more information or to register, call (225) 334-7494.

Ochsner

Ochsner Medical Center, 17000 Medical Center Drive, will hold the following events:

• “Childbirth Classes,” a three-part series, will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through May 15 at the hospital. Cost for the series is $25 for mom and a partner and includes materials and refreshments.

The series will also be offered from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 19.

• Karey Authement of KWATT Electric Heating & Air will present a Lunch Bunch talk on “Tips for Saving Energy and Money Around the Home” from 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday at the hospital. The Golden Opportunity Program event is for adults 50 and older and promotes an active, healthy, independent lifestyle.
• The Breastfeeding Support Group will meet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, May 7, at the hospital. Meetings are led by mothers and offer the opportunity to share stories and tips.
• Cartine Tudor-Locke, a Pennington associate professor, will present findings from the recent Walk More Study, and discuss just how many steps a day are needed to stay healthy, during a GO4Life Seminar 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 8, at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road. This is a Golden Opportunity Program event.

For more information or to register, call (225) 755-4984.

Co-Dependency

Co-Dependency Anonymous will have a 12-step — including step 11 — meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at University United Methodist Church, 3350 Dalrymple Drive, Room 204 of the Trice Building.

For more information, call (225) 922-9543 or visit http://www.coda.org.

Life Fitness

Life Fitness Therapy, 5438 O’Donovan Drive, will hold a class, “Seasoning without Salt” at noon Wednesday at the office. To reserve a spot, call (225) 769-0818.

Epilepsy Foundation

The Epilepsy Foundation of Louisiana will hold a support group meeting from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at The NeuroMedical Center, sixth floor. For more information, visit http://www.epilepsylouisiana.org.

Lane Regional

Lane Regional Medical Center, 6300 Main St., Zachary, will hold free informational sessions on “Scale Down,” a program for weight management, at 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday at the medical center.

Registration is required, and space is limited. Call (225) 658-4463 for more information.

Cardinal Hospice

Cardinal Hospice, 8280 YMCA Plaza Drive, Suite 3A, will offer the following event and opportunity this week:

• A grief support group will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the office.
• Volunteers are also being sought. For information on volunteer training, call (225) 291-3322.

Life Source Services

Life Source Services Hospice, 3049 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., will offer the following event and opportunity this week:

• A grief support group will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the office. The group is free and open to the community.
• LSS is seeking volunteers for many of its projects. Call (225) 291-9421.

Diabetic Foot

Diabetic Foot Institute, 5428 O’Donovan Drive, Suite D, will hold free diabetic foot screenings by appointment Friday at the office. A screening will include thermal imaging, blood flow study, gait analysis and a neuropathy screening.

To schedule, call (225) 761-0025.

Jung Society

The C.G. Jung Society of Lafayette will present a lecture/workshops on “The Alchemy of Sociopolitical Conflict” by Thomas Elsner with the lecture from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and the workshops from 9:45 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Saturday at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Student Union, second floor, Evangeline Room, 600 McKinley St., Lafayette. For more information, call (337) 856-9435.

MADD

Mothers Against Drunk Driving will hold “Walk Like MADD,” an annual 5K walk intended to raise funds for the group and awareness of drunk driving, at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the BREC Forest Commun-ity Park, South Harrell’s Ferry Road. For more information, call (225) 926-0807.

Health fair

A Community Health Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the St. Augustine Catholic Church campus, 807 New Roads St., New Roads. Information will be presented on prostate cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, childhood obesity, HIV/AIDS, high blood pressure and more. There will also be health screenings. For more infomation call, (225) 638-7663.

Meharry fundraiser

The Greater Baton Rouge chapter of the Meharry Medical College National Alumni Association will hold a scholarship fundraiser in honor of Dr. Velma Hunter Jackson, a local dentist and one of its alumni, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Baton Rouge Delta Sorority House, 926 Harding Blvd.

For more information, call (225) 343-3459.

Spina bifida

The Red Bug Hill Challenge for Spina Bifida will be Saturday with registration beginning at 6:30 a.m. at 13918 La. 421, just north of St. Francisville.

There will be cycling rides of 5, 20, 40 and 60 miles; 1-mile fun run and 5K trail run; and time trial up the famous Red Bug Hill.

Preregistration online is $15 and $20 for the running events; $30 for the cycling events. There is no extra charge for the “Challenge.” Add $5 (running) and $10 (cycling) for event-day registration.

Proceeds from the event, hosted by Mike and Marie Rourke, in memory of their son, Jordy, will go to Spina Bifida of Greater New Orleans. For more information, call (225) 937-5800.

ALS

The second annual “Jumping 4 PALS,” a skydive fundraiser to benefit those with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday at Skydive Nawlins, 62512 Airport Road, Slidell. Weight limit is 225 pounds. Cost is $175 for the jump. There is an extra fee for photos and video.

For more information, call (228) 623-0130.

Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, 1900 S. Acadian Thruway, will hold a free seminar, “Adoption Matters,” covering many aspects of finding families for children, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, May 7, at the office. Registration is free.

For more information, call (225) 336-8708.

Doctor’s Hospice

Doctor’s Hospice-Livingston, 9788 Florida Blvd., Suite B, Walker, is looking for veteran volunteers for its “We Honor Veterans Program” to share their journey with veteran patients. Volunteers are also needed for patient visits and office work.

For information on volunteer training, call (225) 667-1340.