HEALTH NEWS
Blood pressure screenings

+ Free blood pressure screenings will be offered on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month for the convenience of community residents who wish to monitor their blood pressure. The screenings will be available on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the AdultDay Care Department at Taylor Health Center.

Chronic fatigue syndrome

The monthly meeting for community members diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia 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.

+ The Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services will sponsor a blood pressure clinic from 12-1 p.m. July 16 at the County Office Building, Bath. Gastric Bypass support

The monthly meeting of the Gastric Bypass Support Group of St. James Mercy Health System will be held on the third Monday of every month from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria 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.

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 monthly meeting for 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).

Hospital bills or Medicare questions?

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.

For questions call 324- 8040.

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.

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 contact Gail Cochrane, IBI Coordinatior at (585) 382-3959.

Caregiver support

The 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.

Immunizations

The Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services will sponsor the following:

+ From 1-3 p.m. July 11 at the County Office Building - G3 off D.S.S. lobby, Bath.

+ From 5-7 p.m. July 25 at the County Office Building - G3 off D.S.S. lobby, Bath.

Anyone with special needs or for further information, call the Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services office in Bath at 664-2438 or (800) 724-0471.

Medical transportation assistance

Steuben Coordinated Transportation, in partnership with Office for the Aging and the United Way of the So. Tier, offers transportation assistance to Steuben County residents (not on Medicaid) to medical, nutritional, or other necessary services. Transportation assistance is offered by referrals to area services or by arranging for a volunteer driver to transport qualified clients.

If you are a senior citizen without transportation to necessary, non-emergency appointments, please call HELPLINE at 1-800-346- 2211 and ask for Steuben Coordinated Transportation. Donations are accepted but there is not a fee for any services given.

Residents of any age interested in becoming a volunteer driver and a vital part of our community are also invited to call for more information. (Mileage reimbursement is available to volunteer drivers.)

Smoking Cessation Program

Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services offers smoking cessation class for July 17, 24, 31 and August 3, 7, 14 and 21. Registration fee is $20 (refundable upon completion of all seven sessions.)

Call the Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services at 664-2438 ext. 2652 or toll free at 1-800- 724-0471 for more information.

New Veterans health care ID cards

The Bath VA Medical Center is issuing new replacement identification cards to veterans enrolled for care at the Bath, Elmira, and Wellsville VA Clinics.

For further information contact Brian Clark at 664- 4739.

American Red Cross course schedule

+ A babysitting class will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 12 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 babysitter's instructor course will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 13 at the Bath American Red Cross chapter office. The cost to attend the course is $50.

+ A disaster courses, fulfilling our mission will be held from 6-9 p.m. July 9 at the Bath American Red Cross chapter office. The course is open to anyone who would like to volunteer in a disaster situation and

is free to the public.

Alzheimer's support

+ The Alzheimer's Association, in partnership with Steuben County Office for the Aging, offers a free one-session seminar for families and friends of individuals newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This program is not recommended for individuals with the disease. The seminar will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon July 26 at St. James Hospital, 411 Canisteo St., Hornell.

Registration is required. Call the Alzheimer's Association at 585-760-5400 or 800-272-3900 24-hour helpline or Steuben County Office for the Againg at 664- 2298.

STD/HIV clinic

The Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services will hold a STD/HIV clinic, by appointment only, from 9-11 a.m. July 5 and 19 at the Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services Clinic Rooms, County Office Building, 3 E. Pulteney Square, Bath.

For an appointment or for more information call the Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services at the 664-2438 or 800-724-0471.

Blood donors

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

+ From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 7 at the First Presbyterian Church, Pulteney Square, Bath. A free breakfast/lunch will be hald at Stephanie's for all presenting donors.

+ From 1-6 p.m. July 16 at the Campbell Alliance Church, 8766 State Rte. 415, Campbell.

+ From 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. July 19 at teh Hammondsport Fire Department, 8521 State Rte. 54, Hammondsport.

+ From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 21 at the United Methodist Church, 8593 Jacobs Ladder Rd., Avoca.

+ From 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 28 at the Prattsburgh Temple (Masonic Lodge), N. Main St., Prattsburgh.

For more information or for an appointment call 1- 877-754-3711.