October 10, 2008 04:45 am SUPPORT GROUPS Parent Connection, a free parent support and education group, offered by Wellspring Cape Ann Families, meets twice weekly (ongoing throughout the year) for all parents and caregivers. Group meets Mondays, 6 to 7:30 p.m., and Fridays, 10 to 11:30 a.m., at 28 Emerson Ave., Gloucester. Child care and transportation provided. Call Ann Baylies at 978-281-7856. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), a weight-loss and maintenance support group, meets every Monday at Seacoast Nursing Center, 292 Washington St., Gloucester. Weigh-in begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the meeting at 7. New members should arrive at 6 p.m. Low membership fees. Call MaryEllen at 978-283-2103 or Susan at 978-768-7959. Overeaters Anonymous, a 12-step program of recovery from compulsive eating. No dues or membership fees. For more information and meeting location, call 978-407-9909 or 781-641-2303. Visit www.oa.org for more. Cape Ann chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) meets every first Tuesday of the month, from 7 to 9 p.m., at First Universalist Church of Essex, 57 Main St., Essex. Group members, their parents and family members welcome for an evening of conversation, sharing, support and connection. For details, call 866-427-3524. For directions, contact the Rev. Art McDonald at 978-768-3690 or weeartie@yahoo.com, or visit www.uuessex.org. Smoking cessation program meets at the Lifestyle Management Institute, located at the Beverly Hospital at Danvers Medical and Day Surgery Center, 480 Maple St., Danvers. Progressive relaxation helps smokers stop smoking without stress, weight gain or irritability. Call 978-304-8415 for fees and class availability. Melanoma Support Group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Garden Conference Room, first floor, Beverly Hospital. Free. To register, call 978-922-3000, ext. 2710, or the Melanoma Foundation of New England at 617-232-1424. National Alliance on Mental Illness Cape Ann meets the first Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the North Shore Health Project, 67 Middle St. NAMI is for people diagnosed with mental illness and their families. Call 978-281-1557. Visit www.nami.org/namisites. E-mail namicapeann@adelphia.net. Parkinson's Disease Support Group meets the first and third Thursday of each month from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Peabody Senior Center. Call Diane Durkee at 978 532-0712 or e-mail 2siddi@verizon.net. North Shore Neuropathy Support Group meets monthly from 10 a.m. to noon in the Beverly Hospital Lecture Hall, 85 Herrick St., Beverly. No fee or registration required. E-mail wpaster@adelphia.net or call 978-479-4339. Early Stages of Memory Loss Support Group meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Center for Healthy Aging, Beverly Hospital Hunt Center, 75 Lindall St., Danvers. Free. Led by licensed social worker Darcey Adams. To register, call 978-921-1697, ext. 226. Gloucester Stroke Club meets the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Women's Health Center at Addison Gilbert Hospital. No fee or registration required. 978-283-2633. SERVICES/CLASSES Meditate in a group setting with other practitioners every Tuesday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Vajramudra Dharma Center, 154 Granite St., Rockport. Guided meditations in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition are followed by silent meditation and discussion. To find out more, to register or to get on the ACI-Cape Ann e-mail list, e-mail sangha@aci-capeann.org. Recreational program for individuals who have had a traumatic brain injury. Offered by Community Enterprises, the group meets Thursday nights and provides a variety of social and recreational activities. Call Barbara Fritz or Sandra Silva at 978-281-8889. Reiki classes are held at the Lifestyle Management Institute, located at Beverly Hospital's Danvers Medical and Day Surgery Center, 480 Maple St., Danvers. Reiki can relieve pain, provide relaxation, expand energy and more. Classes are available in both 30- and 60-minute sessions. Call 978-304-8415 for fees or class availability. Hypnosis (progressive relaxation) sessions are held at the Lifestyle Management Institute at Beverly Hospital's Danvers Medical and Day Surgery Center, 480 Maple St., Danvers. Approved by the American Medical Association, hypnosis is a state of altered awareness in which the client remains in full control in order to accept behavioral modifications, such as smoking cessation, stress reduction, enhanced learning, improved memory skills and public speaking abilities. Call 978-304-8415 for fees and class availability. Free LASIK eye screenings are offered every Tuesday at Cutler Eye Center, 9A Osman Babson Road, Gloucester. Screenings are conducted by a center eye surgeons. Screenings determine a person's refractive vision and if someone is a candidate for refractive surgery. Call 978-281-8809 for an appointment. Active Healing Inc. offers free screenings for children and adults struggling with learning disabilities, diagnosis of ADD or ADHD, behavioral problems, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, Asperger's syndrome, or any other brain-related problem. To schedule a screening, call 978-525-3608. VOCAL (Victims of Crime and Loss) provides free services for victims of crimes including assault, robbery, domestic violence, adult sexual abuse/assault, child physical abuse, disabled and elder abuse, violation of a protective order, crimes related to driving while intoxicated, hate-motivated crimes, and political trauma. Services include individual and group counseling, community crisis response, critical incident stress debriefing, and training and education. VOCAL Children's Program provides community outreach and clinical services to children and their non-offending family members who have been victims of trauma and experience physical and sexual abuse or who witness domestic violence. Sponsored by Health and Education Services Inc., 156 Cabot St., Beverly. Call Karen Tompkins at 978-927-4506, ext. 202 or ext. 203, or the Rape Crisis Intervention Hotline at 978-922-0000. Speakers Bureau: Beverly and Addison Gilbert hospitals' Speakers Bureau is a free service designed to provide timely information on a variety of health-related topics. Speakers include physicians, registered nurses, dietitians, physical therapists, pharmacists and others who highlight healthy living and illness prevention. Organizations or groups interested in providing guest speakers for upcoming events should call 978-236-1650. Hepatitis C Health Services, Mondays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gloucester Health Department and the North Shore AIDS Health Project offer weekly information and support services for those concerned about hepatitis C. Regular drop-in services include private consultation with a nurse, health educator, support group and information sessions, case management assistance and referrals for holistic services. Free, confidential services offered at 67 Middle St. Call Kerri Connelly, client services representative, at 978-283-0101, or Sunny Robinson at the health department at 978-281-9771. Free, anonymous HIV counseling and testing, for Cape Ann and North Shore residents. Noninvasive oral tests offered at the following locations: Addison Gilbert Hospital, third floor, Mondays, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and at 156 Cabot St., Beverly, Wednesdays, 2 to 6:30 p.m. To make an appointment, call Mayra Rivera at 978-853-8633. Infant/child-saver classes, for parents, expectant parents and caregivers to recognize and cope with emergency situations involving infants and small children. Accident prevention and techniques reviewed. American Heart Association standards used for CPR and obstructed-airway skills, teaching and hands-on practice. Classes are held two nights a week for six hours at Beverly Hospital. Call the Parent Education Department at 978-927-9103. CPR classes, conducted by the Education Department at Beverly Hospital. Adult and pediatric American Heart Association Heartsaver classes offered. American Heart Association Healthcare Provider classes also offered. Call 978-922-3000, ext. 2236, for class availability, certification and re-certification. Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster, a workshop designed by Peggy Huddleston for use prior to surgery, chemotherapy, radiation treatments, dental procedures and challenging life transitions is designed to decrease anxiety and heal better using mind/body techniques. Program held at the Lifestyle Management Institute, located at the Beverly Hospital at Danvers Medical and Day Surgery Center, 480 Maple St., Danvers. Call 978-646-7060 for fees or class availability. Health insurance program offered at Addison Gilbert and Beverly hospitals for those in need. Financial counselors available. Call Addison Gilbert Hospital at 978-283-4000, ext. 623 or Beverly Hospital at 978-283-4000, ext. 2124, 2045 or 2046. Healthlink Information Resource Center, daily at Addison Gilbert Hospital. 978-283-4001, ext. 607. CAB Health & Recovery Services offers a free pamphlet, "The College Search: Is this a Party School?" From the recruitment materials to that final campus visit, the pamphlet offers a list of signs to predict the safety and on-campus services around binge drinking. Call CAB Health & Recovery Services at 800-323-2224, ext. 685, e-mail info@cabhealth.org, or order a copy through the agency's Web site, www.cabhealth.org. "Choosing Hospice," a guide to specialized care for the terminally ill, is available for free from VNA Care Network & Hospice, a nonprofit agency that provides physical, emotional, practical and spiritual support to terminally ill patients and their families on Cape Ann. Booklet answers common questions about hospice and gives a list of resources. For copies, call 800-728-1862. www.vnacarenetwork.org. SENIOR SUPPORT/PROGRAMS Exercise programs at the Rose Baker Senior Center: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m., Tai chi with Meredith Morgan. Tuesdays, 9:45 to 11 a.m., Yoga with Mary Ann Wenniger. Wednesdays, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Chair Yoga with Nana Dunn. Thursdays, 9:45 to 11 a.m., Intermediate Yoga with Sue Ann Willis. To register, call the Council on Aging at 978-281-9765. Free Keep Well Clinics, open to residents 60 and older. Community health nurses from VNA Care Network conduct blood-pressure screenings and provide education about medications, diet, disease management and other health concerns. Blood sugar, weight-monitoring and other health assessments also available. Visit www.vnacarenetwork.org. Appointments preferred; call 888-663-3688, ext. 5603 or 978-283-2020, ext. 5603. Schedule as follows: Gloucester: McPherson Park, 31 Prospect St., second Monday of the month, 1 to 3 p.m. Rose Baker Senior Center, 6 Manuel Lewis St., first four Wednesdays of the month, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Lincoln Park, third Thursday of the month, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. 888-663-3688, ext. 5603 or 978-283-2020, ext. 5603. Manchester: Congregational Chapel, Chapel Lane, first and third Thursdays of the month, 10 a.m. to noon. 888-663-3688, ext. 5603 or 978-283-2020, ext. 5603. Rockport: Senior Drop-In Center, 4 Broadway, second Thursday of the month, 9:30 a.m. to noon. Senior Housing, Millbrook Park, fourth Thursday of the month, 9:30 a.m. to noon. Free blood pressure screening: Mondays, 1 to 3 p.m. in the Women's Health Center, Addison Gilbert Hospital, Gloucester. Appointments not necessary. Not held on Monday holidays. Wednesdays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Rose Baker Senior Center, Gloucester. Wednesdays, 2 to 5 p.m. at Eaton Apothecary, 76 Prospect St. Thursdays, Rite Aid Pharmacy, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., 127 Eastern Ave. Meals for seniors: Hot and cold meals offered through the food and nutrition services of Addison Gilbert and Beverly hospitals may be purchased for $6 or less from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. daily in the Nelson Dining Room, Addison Gilbert, or the third-floor cafeteria of Beverly Hospital's Service Building. Both facilities are handicapped-accessible. Free parking available. Brown Bag food distribution program is held on the last Friday of each month, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the Rose Baker Senior Center, Gloucester. Medications review: Registered nurses Mary Aliosio and Bonnie Marshall, coordinator of ambulatory services at Addison Gilbert Hospital, provide free blood pressure clinics and answer questions about medications the first Monday of each month, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Rose Baker Senior Center, Gloucester. No fee or registration is required. Assistance with Med Costs program: Staff from the NeedyMeds Outreach Project, a Gloucester-based nonprofit, helps residents, one-on-one, to find assistance programs that may lower the cost of medicine and some other related expenses. Bring a list of your medications. The free and confidential service is provided every Friday, 1 to 3 p.m., in the Sawyer Free Library Friend Room. Staff does not offer medical advice or find insurance plans. CANCER SUPPORT Prostate Cancer Support Group meets the third Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in the Terrace Dining Room of the Ledgewood Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, Beverly Hospital campus. No fee or registration required. 978-236-1650. Cancer support group meets at Addison Gilbert Hospital on the fourth Tuesday of each month, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Longan Room. No fee or registration required. Breast Cancer Survivors Group meets in the Longan Room, Addison Gilbert Hospital every third Tuesday of the month, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. No fee or registration required. CAREGIVERS SUPPORT Alzheimer's Caregivers Support Group, for those caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease, meets the first and third Wednesday of every month, 2:30 to 4 p.m., at the Spectrum Center, 600 Cummings Center, Suite 176X, Beverly. Free. 978-921-5020, ext. 201. Alzheimer's support group, for families with loved ones with Alzheimer's disease, meets the third Tuesday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. at Heritage at Danvers, 9 Summer St., Danvers. No fee or registration required. Call Cheryl Wall at 978-921-2615, ext. 256, or Deidre Edward-Reid at 978-774-5959. Caregivers Support and Information Group meets the third Wednesday of each month, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., at the Rose Baker Senior Center in Gloucester. 978-281-9765. Dementia Caregiver Support Group meets the second Tuesday of each month, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., in the Cape Ann Way Room, Seacoast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Gloucester. No fee or registration required. Call Barbara Jaworski at 978-283-0300, ext. 127. LOSS SUPPORT Bereavement support groups for adults coping with the death of a loved one meet the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the VNA Care Network, 5 Federal St., Danvers. Call Robert Purdy at 978-777-6100, ext. 1401 or 888-663-3688, ext. 1401. Infant Loss Support Group, for parents who have lost an infant at any time during pregnancy through early infancy, meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Kauders Conference Room, Beverly Hospital, 85 Herrick St., Beverly. No fee or registration required. 978-236-1650. Support group for those with a loss because of death, separation or divorce meets Wednesdays from 7:30 p.m. in the St. Mary of the Annunciation Church rectory, 24 Conant St., Danvers. Nondenominational group offers structured topics, professional speakers and social events. 978-774-1967. Widowed persons support group meets every other Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Longan Room, Addison Gilbert Hospital. No meetings during July and August. No fee or registration required. 978-283-7102 or 978-282-1622. DIABETES SUPPORT/PROGRAMS Outpatient diabetes management program, sponsored by North Shore Medical Center. Approved by the American Diabetes Association, program teaches patients how to better manage diabetes through lifestyle choices, medication and continuous monitoring. Program is reimbursed by many health insurance policies (referrals may be needed.) New sessions start monthly and are held on Tuesdays, 4 to 5:50 p.m., at the Cape Ann Medical Center. To register, call 781-477-3409. Diabetes Clinic, a free diabetes screening is held the first Monday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Women's Health Center at Addison Gilbert Hospital. Appointments not necessary. Free diabetes and cardiovascular risk screenings are held every other month on Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Lifestyle Management Institute, Beverly Hospital Hunt Center, 75 Lindall St., Danvers. Clinics include blood sugar screenings (fasting not required) and counseling, and cardiovascular screenings, including blood pressure screenings and assessment of risk factors. Appointments required; call 978-646-7060. WOMEN'S SUPPORT/PROGRAMS Connecting Young Moms Education/Support Group, conducted by the Social Work Department at Beverly Hospital, meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Women's Health and Medical Arts Building, Beverly Hospital campus. Free. Registration required; call 978-922-3000, ext. 2720. Free prenatal yoga classes meet every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Prana Health and Yoga Center, 7A Colonial Road, Salem. Classes focus on safety, breathing exercises, reducing common pregnancy discomforts, improving circulation and easing back pain. Doctor's approval recommended for those who are new to yoga. Visit www.pranahealthcenter.com. Free women's health services: The Women's Health Network, part of VNA Care Network, links uninsured and underinsured, income-eligible women to free mammograms, pap tests and cardiovascular screenings at participating doctors' offices and area hospitals. Program open to women ages 40 to 64, but women of other ages may also qualify. For details in English, Portuguese or Spanish, call 888-663-3688, ext. 1340 or e-mail kwebber@vnacarenetwork.org. All inquiries and services confidential. Immigration status not considered. Social Security number not required. Healthy pregnancy workshop, sponsored by the Connecting Young Moms Support Group, a two-hour class to be attended in the first or second trimester. Childbirth series offered to assist young women and their support people to prepare for birth. Class meets one evening a week for seven weeks. Free. To register, call 978-922-3000, ext. 2720. MotherTime Support Group meets Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon at the North Shore Birth Center, Beverly Hospital. All area mothers of infants and young children welcome. No fee or registration required. 978-927-7880. Postpartum Adjustment Group meets on the first and third Friday of the month from 10 to 11 a.m. in the first-floor doctor's conference room at Beverly Hospital. Led by licensed social worker Carnie Hansen. No fee or registration is required. Mothers welcome to bring their babies. 978-922-3000, ext. 2716. ABUSE SUPPORT HAWC (Help for Abused Women and their Children) drop-in group meets every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11 a.m., with child care provided. Free, confidential group for women who have experienced emotionally or physically abusive relationships. Join other women for nonjudgmental support and education about domestic violence. Call 978-281-1135 for Gloucester location. Visit www.helpabusedwomen.org. Support group for older women who have been abused by a spouse or partner. Greater Lynn Senior Services offers weekly support groups in Gloucester, Beverly and Lynn for women 50 and older who have experienced abuse from a spouse or partner, now or in the past. Abuse may be physical, emotional, financial or sexual in nature. Additional services are also available. All services are free and confidential. Call 800-594-5164 or 781-599-0110 for information. Male Survivor Group, for men who have been sexually abused as adults or children, meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. at 131 Rantoul St., Beverly. Free. Registration not required. A program of North Shore Rape Crisis Center and Victims of Crime and Loss. Call Bill Hirschaut at 978-922-8182. RECOVERY PROGRAMS Gloucester: Sunday — Al-Anon, 7:15 to 8:15 p.m., Bowen Room, Addison Gilbert Hospital. Use Washington Street entrance; AA open speakers, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., St. John's Episcopal Church, 48 Middle St. Monday — Alcoholics Anonymous 12 Steps to Freedom, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Veterans' Center, 12 Emerson Ave., Gloucester. Tuesday — AA for young people, 7 to 8 p.m., Trinity Congregational Church, 70 Middle St. Open speaker discussion. Wednesday — AA speaker meeting, Fish City Group, St. John's Episcopal Church, 48 Middle St., 7 to 8 p.m. 508-957-4690; Alcoholics Victorious, a Christ-centered, nondenominational recovery program for alcohol and drug abusers, 7 p.m., Gloucester Assembly of God, 211 Washington St. Thursday — Women's Narcotics Anonymous, 7 to 8 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church, corner of Pine and Church streets. Friday — AA Gloucester Morning Glories women's AA, 7 to 8 a.m., North Shore Health Project, 67 Middle St.; Al-Anon Cape Ann, 7:30 to 9 p.m., Trinitarian Congregational Church, Route 133, West Gloucester. Families and friends of alcoholics invited; AA meeting, First Baptist Church, 38 Gloucester Ave., 8 to 9 p.m. Saturday — Alcoholics Anonymous "Saturday and Sober," 9:30 to 11 a.m., Trinity Congregational Church, Middle Street. Open speaker, discussion. Non; AA discussion group, 10 to 11:15 a.m., Easler Building, 23 Duncan St.; AA meeting, Union Congregational Church, Magnolia, 8 to 9 p.m.; AA Open Big Book/Discussion, non, 8 to 9:30 p.m., St. John's Episcopal Church, 48 Middle St. Rockport: Sunday — Alcoholics Anonymous "Women in Recovery," 2 to 3 p.m., First Congregational Church, School Street. Monday — Alcoholics Anonymous at Rockport Baptist Church, noon to 1 p.m., speaker followed by discussion. Alcoholics Anonymous open meeting, 7:30 to 9 p.m. St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 24 Broadway. Tuesday — Alcoholics Anonymous, 7:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, School Street. Wednesday — Al-Anon open step and discussion, 7:30 p.m., First Baptist Church of Rockport, 2 High St., for friends and relatives of people with alcoholism. Thursday — Alcoholics Anonymous closed book meeting, noon to 1 p.m., Rockport Baptist Church, 2 High St. Alcoholics Anonymous "Men in Recovery" men's speaker discussion meeting, 7:30 p.m., United Methodist Church. Friday — Alcoholics Anonymous, noon to 1 p.m., Rockport Baptist Church, 2 High St., speaker followed by discussion. Saturday — Alcoholics Anonymous, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., First Congregational Church. Manchester: Thursday — AA open speaker meeting, 8 to 9 p.m., Sacred Heart Church, 69 School St. ¬¢¬¢¬¢ Individuals and organizations offering free or low-cost health and fitness classes, workshops and seminars may send brief submissions (with phone numbers) to Health Calendar, Gloucester Daily Times, 36 Whittemore St., Gloucester, MA 01930. Submissions may also be e-mailed to gdt@gloucestertimes.com or faxed to 978-281-5748.
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