HEALTH NEWS
Chronic fatigue syndrome

A new support group for community members diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia. The group is scheduled to meet the third Tuesday of the month from 3-4 p.m. in the small cafeteria conference room at St. James Mercy Hospital.

The support group is open to persons with diabetes as well as their family and friends. Judy Griffith, RN, is the Patient Educator for St. James Mercy Hospital and facilitates the group.

For more information, please call Judy Griffith at 324-8139. Gastric Bypass support

The monthly meeting of the Gastric Bypass Support Group of St. James Mercy Health System will be held on the third Wednesday of every month from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Memorial Conference Room at St. James Mercy Hospital.

The free support group is open to anyone who has had a gastric bypass or is considering one.

For more information, contact Faith Mills at 324-5869 or tmrcj@yahoo.com.

Diabetes support

The monthly meeting of the Diabetes Support Group of St. James Mercy Health System is held the third Tuesday of every month at 3

p.m. in the cafeteria at MercyCare on Bethesda Drive in North Hornell.

Multiple sclerosis

The Multiple Sclerosis meetings will be held the first Wednesday of every month at 10 a.m. at Friendly's in Hornell. The next meeting will be held on March 7.

Cardiac support

The Cardiac Support Group will meet on the second Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m., in Cardiac Rehab, second floor, at St. James Hospital.

Grief support

+ A Grief Support Group will be offered on the second Wednesday of every month at 1 p.m. in the St. James Hospital Chapel.

For more information, contact Chaplain Astuti Bijlefeld or Sister Elaine Hollis at the St. James Mercy Hospital Spiritual Care Office at 324-8153.

+ The new evening Grief Support Group; "Good Grief Group" will be held the second and forth Monday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Hospital Chapel on the ground floor. The group is designed to help individuals who have experienced a recent loss of a loved one, or are experiencing grief and are having difficulty with their loss.

For more information contact Laura Vetter, community services coordinator at 324-8147 or Kim Gardner 776-1146 (days)/776-9523 (evenings). Questions on hospital bills or Medicare?

Financial Representatives will be available on the second Tuesday of every month to answer questions regarding hospital bills or Medicare at St. James Hospital. This is a free service offered to any individual and no appointment is necesssary. Want to quit smoking?

The Bath VA is offering the Quit Smart Program to assist eligible veterans to stop smoking. To find out if you are eligible and/or to enroll, contact the Behavioural Health Clinic at 664-4300.

Senior home care

The Steuben County Office for Aging can assist senior citizens and their families explore the many options for home care and support services for eligible senior citizens.

Call the office of the Aging for more information at 776- 7813. Free health care services

Free health care services are now available in Bath for people who have no health insurance or means of payment.

Call for an appointment, 776-8085 Ext. 218. Health Ministry of the Southern Tier, Bath Community Care Center, 23 Liberty street, Bath.

Brain injury

Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group meeting will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. on the third Monday of every month in the conference room located at the rear entrance of the Pro-Action building, 117 E. Steuben St., Bath. The meeting is for people with brain injury and their families.

For more information contact Gail Cochrane, TBI Coordinator, (585)747-3959. American Red Cross course schedule

+ An infant and child CPR course will be held from 6-10 p.m. March 20 at the Bath American Red Cross chapter office. The course will teach rescue breathing, choking emergencies and CPR. The cost is $40.

+ A babysitting class will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 14 at the Bath American Red Cross chapter office. The course is for youths ages 11-14. The course will teach responsibilities of a babysitter, accident prevention, emergency first aid, and how to prepare for a babysitting job. The cost is $40.

+ A standard First Aid/CPR/AED course will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 24 at the Bath American Red Cross chapter office. Traumatic brain injury

A Taumatic Brain Injurty Support Group meeting will be held the third Monday of every month from 5:30-7 p.m in the conference room, rear entrance of Pro-Action building, 117 E. Steuben St., Bath. The meeting is for people with Brain Injury and their families. For more information contacct Gail Cochrane, IBI Coordinatior at 585-382-3959.

Smoking Cessation

Steuben County Public Health & Nursing Services is offering Smoking Cessation classes for March 6. Seven sessions will take place; orientation, preparation, quit day, stress management, benefits of quitting, relapse prevention, and maintaining the quit. The registration fee is $20 and will be refunded upon completion of all 7 sessions.

For more information contact the Steuben County Public Health & Nursing Services at 664-2438 ext. 2652 or toll free at 1-800- 724-0471.

Child immunizations

The Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services will sponsor the foll o w i n g C h i l d r e n Immunization clinics for the month of Feb. under the direction of the local Medical Director:

+ From 1-3 p.m. March 14 at The Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services, County Office Building-G3 off D.S.S. lobby, Bath.

+ From 5-7 p.m. March 28 at The Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services, County Office Building-G3 off D.S.S. lobby, Bath.

Adults are encouraged to attend the immunization clinic to receive Tetanus/Diphtheria vaccine which is recommended every 10 years. The cost for this vaccination is $20.

Coping with Cancer

The American Cancer Society and The Wellness Council of the Southern Tier will hold a Coping with Cancer presentation at 7 p.m. March 7 at the Centenary United Methodist Church, 3 West Washington St., Bath. Speaker Janet Opila-Lehman, from Finger Lakes Wellness Center and Health Spa, will speak on Lymph Drainage Therapy and Lymphedema.

Caregiver support

T he Alzheimer's Association offers a monthly caregiver support group in Elmira for people who have a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia. Meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at Stafkings Health Care, 221 W. Church St.

For more information contact the Alzheimer's Association at 585-760-5400. Alzheimer's disease support

Office For the Aging will hold an Alzheimer's Disease Support Group for spouse's/partners only (of those with dementia,) from

10:30 a.m. to 12 noon March 12 at the Stueben County Health Care Facility. 55 Alive Driving Course

AARP and the St. James Mercy Health System will team up to offer the 55 Alive Driving Course for adults ages 50 and over. The twoday course will be held from 1-5 p.m. March 12 and 14 in the hospital's Memorial Conference Room.

Participants who complete the 8-hour classroom refresher course may receive a 10% discount on their auto insurance for three years and points may be taken off their license. The cost is $10 and seating is limited.

For more information, or to register, call the St. James Mercy Health Community Services Office at 324-8147. HIV and sexually transmitted disease clinics

The Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services will sponsor free HIV and Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics, by appointment only, as follows:

+ From 9-11 a.m. March 1, 15 and 29 at the Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services Clinic Rooms, County Office Building, 3 East Pulteney Square, Bath.

Blood drives

The Red Cross will hold blood drives for the month of March as follows:

+ From 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 8 at the Avoca Central School, 17 Oliver St., Avoca.

+ From 1-6 p.m. March12 at the Campbell Alliance Church, 8766 State Route 415, Campbell.

+ From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 17 at the Avoca United Methodist Church, 8593 Jacobs Ladder Rd., Avoca.

"Dates and times subject to change, please call your chapter Branch Office to verify information." For more information or appointment call 1-877-754- 3711. "Dementia vs. Normal Aging"

The Alzheimer's Association will offer a free seminar for caregivers of individuals who are affected by Alzheimer's disease. The seminar entitled "Dementia vs. Normal Aging" will be held from 1-2 p.m. March 14 at St. James Hospital, DeSales Hall Room, 440 Monroe Avenue, Hornell.

Registration is required. For more information call the Alzheimer's Association at 585-760-5400 or 800-272- 3900 or at Steuben County Office for the Aging at 664- 2298.