Health Briefs

Huntington’s

The Huntington’s Disease Support Group will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the East Baton Rouge Parish Bluebonnet Regional Branch Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd.

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 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the office.

No needles and no blood are necessary, and results are ready in 20 minutes. For more information, call [phone] 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. 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, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and 8:30 a.m. to noon Friday at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 4000 Gus Young Ave.; and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Earl K. Long Mid-City, North Foster at Gus Young Avenue.

For more information, call [phone].

Cancer Society

American Cancer Society and St. Elizabeth Hospital will hold a new monthly support group for breast cancer patients and survivors from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at St. Elizabeth Hospital, 1125 West La. 30, Gonzales, Sister Venola Room. For more information, call [phone] or call [phone] to register.

Cancer Services

Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge, 550 Lobdell Ave., will hold the following free 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.
• Brain Cancer Support Group will meet at noon Monday at the office.
• “Fit & Fearless: Total Body Workout,” an exercise program for cancer survivors, will be at 5:15 p.m. Monday, 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and 5:15 p.m. Thursday at BREC Independence Park, 7500 Independence Blvd. Registration is required.
• Multiple Myeloma Support Group will meet at noon Wednesday at the office.
• After Hours Cancer Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the office.
• “Zumba Gold” will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at BREC Independence Park. Registration is required.
• Caregiver Support Group will meet at noon Friday at the office.

Call [phone].

BR General

Baton Rouge General will hold the following events this week:

• Smoking Cessation Program will meet from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday at the Bluebonnet location, 8585 Picardy Ave, Pennington Cancer Center Conference Room.

The program consists of small group sessions that take place over a seven-week period. Registration is required. Call [phone].

• Weight Loss Surgery Support Group will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the Bluebonnet location, Conference rooms 1 and 2. Call [phone].
• 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 Baton Rouge General, Mid City location, 3600 Florida Blvd., and at the same time Thursday at the Bluebonnet location. Call [phone] 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.

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

Woman’s Hospital

Woman’s Hospital, 100 Woman’s Way (Airline Highway and Pecue), will hold the following events:

• “Prenatal Yoga” will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Saturday at Destination Maternity, 5921 Bluebonnet Blvd. Cost is $12 per class.
• Baby and You Orientation Tours will be from 8 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Monday and 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at the hospital, Conference Room 2. The event is free.
• “Baby Steps,” a light exercise class for mothers 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.
• “Body Basics for Boys,” a class on what changes to expect during puberty for preteens, will be from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the hospital, Conference rooms 1 and 2, first floor. Cost is $15.
• “Body Basics for Girls,” a class on what changes to expect during puberty for girls ages 9-12, will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the hospital, Conference rooms 1 and 2, first floor. Cost is $15.
• “Special Delivery,” a class on the basics of labor, will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the hospital, Conference Room 2. Cost is $35 per couple.
• “Doulas and Comfort Measures for Labor” will be from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Destination Maternity. Cost is $5 per couple.

Register at http://www.womans.org or call [phone].

Alzheimer’s Services

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

• Caregiver network groups for caregivers and family members of people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia will meet from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday at Iberville Parish Library, 24605 J. Gerald Berret Blvd., Plaquemine; 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday at Denham Springs/Walker Library, 8101 U.S. 190, Denham Springs; and 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Florida Boulevard Baptist Church, 10915 Florida Blvd.
• “Sharing the Journey: Resources 101,” a free program designed to educate caregivers and individuals with early stage dementia on how to navigate the library and Internet for resources, will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday and Sept. 18 at the office. Call [phone]. The event will also be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Denham Springs/Walker Library, 8101 U.S. 190, Denham Springs. Call [phone].
• A Lunch-N-Learn Session: “Person-Centered Care: Why It Matters” will be from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the office. The program is free, but registration is required.
• “A Cause to Remember” will be from noon to 1 p.m. Friday at the office. The free, one-hour informational session is designed to increase awareness of the programs and services provided. Call [phone].

Lane Regional

Lane Regional Medical Center, 6300 Main St., Zachary, will hold a Diabetes Support Group from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the medical center. Call [phone] for more information.

OLOL

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, 7777 Hennessy Blvd., will hold a Diabetes Education and Awareness Group from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the medical center’s auditorium.

Chareze Wells of the OLOL Diabetes & Nutrition Center will speak on “Stress and Diabetes.”

Call [phone] for more information.

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].

The Hospice of BR

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

• Grief Support Group sessions will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Sunrise Assisted Living, 9351 Siegen Lane, and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 3552 Morning Glory Ave., and Ochsner Medical Center, 17000 Medical Center Drive.
• The Hospice of Baton Rouge is seeking volunteers for patient/caregiver support, health fairs and office assistance.

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].

NAMI

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

• 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 [phone].

• 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 [phone].

Mary Bird Perkins

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center will hold the following free cancer screenings this week:

• A 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 North Foster Drive.
• A prostate cancer screening will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at St. Elizabeth Community Clinic, 1024 Southeast Ascension Complex, Gonzales.

For more information or an appointment, call [phone].

Co-Dependency

Co-Dependency Anonymous will have a 12-step meeting — including step 11 — 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 visit http://www.coda.org for literature.

Home Instead

Home Instead Senior Care, 11764 Haymarket Ave., will hold an Alzheimer’s CARE Training from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

For more information, call [phone].

Dutch PT

Dutch Physical Therapy, 5627 Banker Ave., will host the 42nd “Helping You Help Yourself” free seminar to educate the greater Baton Rouge community on improving its quality of living at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the office.

Dr. Larry “Chip” Bankston of the Baton Rouge Orthopedic Clinic will speak on common causes of shoulder pain and the surgical options and techniques available for treatment. For more information, call [phone].

GriefShare

First Baptist Church, 529 Convention St., will begin the fall session of GriefShare, a 14-week video/discussion program, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Anyone who is dealing with the death of a loved one is welcome to attend any of the free meetings.

For more information, call [phone].

CASA

Capital Area Court Appointed Special Advocates Association, 848 Louisiana Ave., will hold an informational session for those interested in becoming CASA advocates at 5 p.m. Thursday. Court Appointed Special Advocates help neglected and abused children in the foster-care system find a safe and permanent home. Call [phone].

Ochsner

Ochsner Medical Center, 17000 Medical Center Drive, will hold “Movie Review: ‘The Odd Life of Timothy Green’” at 10 a.m. Thursday at Grand Cinema Theater, 15365 George O’Neal Road, for a private showing of the movie. Cost is $6.50 per person and includes admission, small drink and small popcorn.

This is a Golden Opportunity program event for adults 50 and older.

For more information or to RSVP, [phone].

St. Joseph

St. Joseph Hospice and its inpatient facility, The Carpenter House, will hold a bereavement support group meeting for anyone struggling with grief from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at Jefferson United Methodist Church, 10328 Jefferson Highway. For more information and to RSVP, call [phone].

Neuropathy pain

The Diabetic Foot Institute, 5428 O’Donovan Drive, Suite D, will offer complimentary diabetic foot screenings on Friday. Screening will include thermal imaging, blood flow study, gait analysis and neuropathy screening. Call [phone] to schedule.

Project Heal

Southeastern Louisiana University’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts will sponsor an event to benefit Project Heal from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on Southeastern’s campus in the Kinesiology Building, Room 153. The event, open to dancers age 12 and up, consists of three master classes in the styles of Broadway jazz, contemporary/lyrical and Zumba. Cost is a minimum $20 donation at the door. Proceeds will go to raise public awareness and funds for those suffering with eating disorders. Contact [e-mail].

AAAneurysm

AAAneurysm Outreach is raising awareness for abdominal aortic aneurysms by offering free ultrasound screenings from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Road.

Individuals who are 60 years or older, or who are 55 or older with a family history of AAA, should call [phone] to register. Advance registration is required, and space is limited.

Alcoholics help

Alcoholics Anonymous, a fellowship of men and women who help each other recover from alcoholism, meets daily. 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. Call [phone] or visit 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. 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].