Health Briefs for May 6, 2012

BR General

Baton Rouge General will hold the following events this week:

• A free Tour for Two (or more!) for moms and dads and babies will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the Bluebonnet location, 8585 Picardy Ave., Conference Room 2. Call (225) 763-4281 or register online at http://www.BRGeneral.org.
• The Man to Man support group will meet from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the Bluebonnet location, Conference rooms 1 and 2. Call (225) 767-7197.
• 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. It will also be from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Bluebonnet location. Call (225) 763-4050 to register.
• “Weight Loss Surgery Seminar” will be from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Bluebonnet location, Conference rooms 1 and 2. Call (225) 763-4242 to register.

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.
• After Hours Cancer Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the office.
• Multiple Myeloma Support Group will meet at noon Wednesday at the office.
• “Zumba Gold” will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at BREC Independence Park.
• The Caregiver Support Group will meet at noon Friday at the office.

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

HIV services

The following HIV services will be offered this week:

• YWCA of Greater Baton Rouge, 8281 Goodwood Blvd., Suite B-1, will offer free, confidential HIV testing from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and by appointment Thursday; and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday. Free rapid testing involves no needles or blood, and results are available in 20 minutes. For more information, call (225) 383-0681.
• 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 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. Metro Health will also offer HIV 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. For more information, call (225) 338-9333.
• 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. For more information, call (225) 927-9810.

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. Trained 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.

Catholic Charities

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

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

HopeKeepersBR

HopeKeepersBR will hold a support group meeting for people affected by chronic illness from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Church, 12663 Perkins Road. For more information, call (225) 337-1633.

Mary Bird Center

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, 4950 Essen Lane, will hold the following events this week:

• A free skin cancer screening will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, Paul D. Cordes Outpatient Pavilion, 16300 Highway 1085, Covington. Appointments are required.
• A free breast cancer screening will be from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at LSU Mid City Clinic, 1401 N. Foster Drive.
• A free skin cancer screening will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Plaza II, 1014 W. St. Clare Blvd., Suite 1040, Gonzales.
• A free breast, prostate and colorectal cancer screening will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Rotolo’s Pizzeria, 17530 Airline Highway, Prairieville. The skin cancer screening is also sponsored by The Cancer Program of Our Lady of the Lake.

Appointments are required. For more information or to make an appointment, call (225) 215-1234.

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 and Wednesday and from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Saturday at Destination Maternity, 5921 Bluebonnet Blvd. Cost is $60 for six classes.
• “After Baby Comes: Baby Care and Parent Care” will be from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the hospital, Conference rooms 1-3, first floor. Cost is $35 per couple.
• “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.
• An informational seminar on Ideal Protein will be from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Woman’s Center for Wellness, 9637 Jefferson Highway. The weight-loss program is for both men and women.
• “Basics of Breastfeeding and Pump Pointers,” a small group class for women only that is recommended as a refresher class, or for women who prefer a fast-paced class, will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Woman’s Center for Wellness. Cost is $20.
• “Tyke Hyke,” a class designed to help prepare 3-year-olds for the new baby and mom’s hospital stay, will be from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Saturday at the hospital, Conference rooms 2-3. Cost is $25 per child.
• “A Baby is Coming — Sibling Preparation for Children 4-8 Years” will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the hospital, Conference rooms 2-3. Cost is $25 per child.

To register, visit http://www.womans.org.

Ochsner

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

• The Breastfeeding Support Group will meet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the hospital. Led by moms, it offers the opportunity to share stories and tips.
• “GO4Life Seminar” will feature Cartine Tudor-Locke, Pennington associate professor, presenting findings from the recent Walk More Study and discussing how many steps a day are needed to stay healthy. The seminar will be from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road. For more information or to register, call (225) 755-4984.
• “Childbirth Classes,” a three-part series offered in one day, will be from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at the hospital. Cost is $25 for mom and a partner and includes materials and refreshments. Call (225) 755-4854.

Grief support

The Community Grief Support Group, in partnership with other local 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.

Lane Regional

Lane Regional Medical Center, 6300 Main St., Zachary, will hold the following events:

• The Diabetes Support Group will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the medical center. For more information, call (225) 658-4583.
• Free information sessions on “Scale Down,” a program for weight management, will be 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.

• A free education program for congestive heart failure patients and their caregivers will be from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, May 14, at the medical center. Topic will be “Medication Management,” and the food focus will be “Backyard BBQ.”

Registration is required, and space is limited. A free lunch will be provided. Call (225) 654-5263.

OLOL

Our Lady of The Lake Regional Medical Center will hold a Diabetes Education and Awareness Group meeting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the hospital, first-floor auditorium. Registered nurse Debra Pete will speak on “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People with Diabetes.”

For more information, call (225) 765-8020.

NAMI

National Alliance on Mental Illness will hold the following events this week:

• The Family to Family Support Group for family members/caregivers of people with a mental illness will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at University Presbyterian Church, 3240 Dalrymple Drive. For more information, call (225) 273-6061 or (225) 291-6262.
• The Connection Recovery Support Group for those whose lives are affected by mental illness will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at University Presbyterian Church. For more information, call (225) 273-6061 or (225) 291-6262.
• The Connection Recovery Support Group for those whose lives are affected by mental illness will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the East Baton Rouge Parish Jones Creek Regional Branch Library, 6222 Jones Creek Road. For more information, call (225) 389-6516 or (225) 369-1221.

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 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.

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.

Red Cross

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

• “Standard First Aid/CPR/AED, Adult and Child Plus Infant CPR Schools and Community” will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the office. Another class will be offered Saturday. Cost is $110.
• “Adult CPR” will be from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday at the office. Cost is $70.
• “Standard First Aid with CPR/AED” will be from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the office. The class will also be offered Tuesday, May 15. Cost is $90.

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

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 for literature, visit http://www.coda.org.

Alzheimer’s Services

Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area, 3772 North Blvd., will hold a caregiver network group meeting for caregivers and family members of people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Florida Boulevard Baptist Church, 10915 Florida Blvd. For more information, call (225) 334-7494.

Celiacs of BR

Celiacs of Baton Rouge, a gluten-intolerance support group for adult patients and parents of children who cannot eat wheat, rye, barley and oats, will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. The topic will be shopping and cooking gluten-free.

The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information, call (225) 766-8872.

Life Fitness

Life Fitness Therapy, 5438 O’Donovan Drive, will hold a class, “Portion Distortion,” at noon Wednesday at the office. To reserve a spot, call (225) 769-0818.

Peoples Health

Peoples Health will hold the following free classes:

• “The Works” will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Cortana Mall, 9401 Cortana Mall Place. Reservation deadline is Tuesday. Call (866) 220-0418.
• “Zumba Gold” will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 15, at YMCA A.C. Lewis, 350 S. Foster Drive. Reservation deadline is Friday. Call (866) 220-0418.

Life Source Services

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

• A free 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 its projects. Call (225) 291-9421.

Cardinal Hospice

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

• A free grief support group will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the office.
• -Cardinal is seeking volunteers to spend time with its patients or help in the office. For information on volunteering, call (225) 291-3322.

Diabetic Foot

The 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.

St. Joseph Hospice

St. Joseph Hospice Foundation will hold its “Art & More Auction” from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday at the Baton Rouge Gallery, 1442 City Park Ave. There will be wine and hors d’oeuvres.

Tickets are $30 each and $50 per couple. For tickets or information, call (225) 978-2756.

Community Clinic

Greater Baton Rouge Community Clinic will hold a Garage Parking Lot Sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 5414 Brittany St., by OLOL, corner of Picardy and Brittany. Lunches are available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $7 and include jambalaya, salad, bread and dessert. A preview and jambalaya sale will also be held Friday. For more information, call (225) 769-3377.

Mental Health

Mental Health Association for Greater Baton Rouge will hold its “Beat the Odds: Casino Night and Silent Auction” at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Capitol Park Welcome Center, 702 N. River Road. There will be live casino action, food, cocktails, music and a silent auction.

Tickets are $75 and are available at the door or by calling (225) 929-7674.

CASA

Capital Area Court Appointed Special Advocates Association, 848 Louisiana Ave., will have an orientation class for those interested in becoming an advocate at 10 a.m. Saturday and at noon Tuesday, May 15. 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.

Battered women

The Battered Women’s Program invites anyone who has suffered or is currently suffering abuse at the hands of an intimate partner to attend its group meetings. Call (225) 389-3001 for details.

Alcoholics help

Alcoholics Anonymous, a fellowship of men and women who help each other recover from alcoholism, meets daily. For more information, call (225) 930-0026 or visit http://www.aa-batonrouge.org.

Al-Anon/Alateen

Al-Anon Family Groups, a 12-step program to help those affected by someone else’s problem drinking, holds meetings daily in the Baton Rouge area. There are no fees. Meetings are confidential. For details, call (225) 924-0029 or check the website, http://www.batonrougealanon.org.

Overeating help

Overeaters Anonymous, a 12-step program without dues, fees or diets, holds meetings seven days a week in the greater Baton Rouge area. For details, call (225) 751-0259 or visit http://www.oabatonrouge.org.

Gambling help

Gamblers Anonymous, a support group for people with gambling problems, holds multiple meetings every week in Baton Rouge, Baker, St. Francisville, Gonzales and Hammond. For dates, times and locations, call (877) 770-STOP or (800) 203-8785.

Narcotics Anon.

Need help with a drug problem? Narcotics Anonymous holds daily meetings. Call the helpline at (225) 381-9609.