Health Briefs for May 27, 2012

St. Jude

Free tours of the St. Jude Dream Home, in Carriagewood Estates subdivision, will be available from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays to June 17. The home will be given away in a drawing June 23 on WBRZ-TV.

Tickets are $100 and are available at area Citizens Bank and Trust and UPS Store locations. For more information, visit http://www.WBRZ.com.

Family Service

Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge, 4727 Revere Ave., will hold counseling services for children, individuals and families who need help with a wide range of emotional, behavioral and relationship problems from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday 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 [phone].

HIV services

The following HIV services will be offered this week:

• Metro Health will offer free, confidential HIV testing from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday 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 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 [phone].
• 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. Tuesday and Wednesday, 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 provided in 20 minutes. For more information, call [phone].
• Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge, 4727 Revere Ave., will offer free, confidential HIV testing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. The OraQuick Method is used (no blood, no needles). Results are in 20 minutes. For more information, call [phone].

Woman’s Hospital

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

• “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, 5921 Bluebonnet Blvd. 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.
• “Prenatal Yoga” will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Saturday at Destination Maternity. Cost is $12 per class.
• A free information seminar for Woman’s Ideal Protein weight loss program will be from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Woman’s Center for Wellness, 9637 Jefferson Highway. The program is for men and women.
• “Special Delivery,” a class on the basics of labor, will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the hospital, Conference rooms 1-3, first floor. Cost is $35 per couple.
• “Breastfeeding Basics” will be from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 3, at the hospital, Conference rooms 1-3, first floor. Cost is $35.

For more information or to register, call [phone] or visit http://www.womans.org.

Grief Recovery

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

• A support group will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday at the office.
• A 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.
• A 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 [phone] or visit http://www.grcbr.org.

OLOL

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center will holding a free community seminar on joint replacement surgery at 6 p.m. Tuesday at OLOL Plaza Classroom, 7777 Hennessy Blvd., Suite 112. Dr. Bryan Griffith, an orthopedic surgeon, will speak on a new hip replacement technique. Register online at http://www.ololrmc.com or call [phone].

The Hospice of BR

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

• A free grief support group session will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 3550 Morning Glory Ave. For more information, call [phone].
• The hospice is seeking volunteers for patient/caregiver support, health fairs and office assistance. For more information, call [phone].

Grief support

The Community Grief Support Group, in partnership with several 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 [phone] for more information.

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. Another class will be offered Tuesday, June 5. Cost is $110.
• “Lay Rescuer First Aid and CPR/AED Instructor Training” will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and also June 4-5 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, call [phone].

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 [phone].

Cancer Services

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

• “Fit & Fearless: Total Body Workout” will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at BREC Independence Park, 7500 Independence Blvd. 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.
• “Zumba Gold” will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at BREC Independence Park. Registration is required.
• “Holistic Healing” will meet at noon Friday at the office.

For more information, call [phone] or visit http://www.cancerservices.org.

BR General

Baton Rouge General, 8585 Picardy Ave., 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. Admission is free. Call [phone] to register.
• “Breastfeeding Basics” will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Bluebonnet location, Conference Room 2. Cost is $30 per couple. Learn the basics of breastfeeding, including advantages of breastfeeding, importance of an early start, proper positioning and latch, and many other topics.

Register at http://www.BRGeneral.org.

Lane Regional

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

• “Baby Newborn Care,” a free class that covers all you need to know to care for an infant in the first weeks of life, will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Staff Development Classroom.

Registration is required. To register, call [phone].

• 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 [phone] for more information.

• “Safe Sitter,” a babysitter training class for boys and girls ages 11-13, will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the medical center.

Class size is limited, and registration is required. Cost is $20.

To register for classes, call [phone].

DBSA

Depression and Bi-Polar Support Alliance (Open Arms Chapter) will meet from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at La Madeleine Cafe, 7615 Jefferson Highway. The meeting is open to those diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder as well as family and friends. For more information, call [phone].

Mary Bird Center

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, 4950 Essen Lane, will hold a free skin and oral cancer screening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at Walgreens, 1435 W. Tunnel Blvd., Houma. For more information, call [phone].

Dutch PT

Dutch Physical Therapy, 5627 Bankers Ave., Building 1, will hold a free seminar, “Management of Lower Back Pain,” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Denham Springs-Walker Branch Livingston Parish Library, Florida Boulevard, Denham Springs.

Dr. Elizabeth Stringer, a pain management doctor with Advanced Pain Care & Wellness Inc., will speak. Also featured will be physical therapist Chris Fussell of DPT.

For more information, call [phone].

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 [phone], or for literature, visit http://www.coda.org.

Alzheimer’s Services

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

• “The Memory Cafe,” an outlet for socialization, education and fellowship among individuals with early/younger onset Alzheimer’s and their families, will meet at noon Thursday at the office. Light lunch will be served.

For more information, call [phone].

• “The Faces of Alzheimer’s” traveling photo exhibit will be on display from Friday to June 30, at the Denham Springs-Walker Branch Livingston Parish Library, 8190 U.S. 190.

For more information, call [phone].

Cardinal Hospice

Cardinal Hospice, 8280 YMCA Plaza Drive, Suite 3A, will hold the following event and opportunity:
n A grief support group will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the office.
n The hospice is looking for volunteers to assist patients and their families, and work in the office. For more information, call [phone].

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 [phone].

NAMI

National Alliance on Mental Illness will hold a Connection Recovery Support Group meeting for those whose lives are affected by mental illness at 7 p.m. Thursday at the East Baton Rouge Parish Jones Creek Regional Branch Library, 6222 Jones Creek Road. For more information, call [phone] or [phone].

Peoples Health

People Health will hold a class on “Zumba Gold” at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at Cortana Mall, 9401 Cortana Mall Place. Registration is at 9 a.m. Reservation deadline is Tuesday. Call [phone].

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 Friday. 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 [phone].

Ochsner

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

• A breastfeeding support group will meet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, June 4, at the medical center. The meetings are led by moms and offer the opportunity to share stories and tips. Call [phone] to register.
• Childbirth classes, a three-part series, will be from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. June 5 and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 12 and 19 at the hospital’s Family Birthing Center, first-floor classrooms. Cost is $25 for mom and a partner and includes registration, materials and refreshments. Call [phone].

Cancer Society

American Cancer Society, 10528 Kentshire Court, is looking for cosmetologists to serve as volunteers for “Look Good...Feel Better,” a program that helps female cancer patients cope with appearance-related side effects from cancer treatment by teaching them beauty tips to enhance their looks and self-image. Volunteer certification training will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 11 at the office. Light lunch will be provided. RSVP by June 7, by calling [phone] or email [e-mail].

Amedisys Hospice

Amedisys Hospice (Baton Rouge), 13702 Coursey Blvd., is looking for caring individuals who want to volunteer for patients and their family members with life-limiting illnesses. Amedisys has several types of volunteers: direct patient, indirect patient, comfort cooks and bereavement volunteers. For more information, call [phone].

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 [phone] 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 [phone] or visit http://www.aa-batonrouge.org.

Al-Anon/Alateen

Al-Anon Family Groups, a 12-step program to help those affected by someone’s problem drinking, holds meetings daily in the Baton Rouge area. There are no fees. Meetings are confidential.

For details, call [phone] 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 [phone] 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 [phone].

Narcotics Anon.

Need help with a drug problem? Narcotics Anonymous holds daily meetings. Call the helpline at [phone].