HEALTH NEWS
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.

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 Adult Day Care Department at Taylor Health Center.

• The Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services is sponsoring a blood pressure clinic from 12-1 p.m. Aug. 23 at the County Office Building.

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

724-0471.

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.

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).

Multiple sclerosis

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

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.

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 Injury 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.

Alzheimer's 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.

• The Office for the aging will hold an Alzheimer's Disease support group for the month of Aug. as follows:

From 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon Aug. 13 at the Steuben County Health Care Facility. The meeting is for spouse's and or partners only (of those with dementia.)

Immunizations

The Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services will sponsor immunizations for the month of Aug. as follows:

• From 5-7 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services, County Office Building - G3 off D.S.S. lobby, Bath.

Children should attend with an adult family member and should have their record of previous immunizations.

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.

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, nonemergency 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.)

Blood drives

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

• From 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 17 at Davenport and Taylore, 7571 State Rt. 54, Bath.

• From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 31 at the Steuben County Office Building, 3 East Pulteney Square, Bath.

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

STD/HIV clincs

The Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services will sponsor the following free HIV and Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics, b y appointment only :

• From 9-11 a.m. Aug. 16 at the Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services Clinic Rooms, County Office Building, 3 East Pulteney Square, Bath.

• From 9-11 a.m. Aug. 30 at the Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services Clinic Rooms, County Office Building, 3 East Pulteney Square, Bath.

Joint Education and Training, Inc.

Joint Education and Training, Inc. (JET, Inc.) will offer the following courses:

• Death and Dying: How We Can Help, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at the JET-Inc. Office.

To register or for more information, contact JET, Inc. at 734-1574 or go to our website at www.jetinc. com.

Amyloidosis support

A amyloidisis support group will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m August 25 at Strong Memorial Hospital, Wilmot Cancer Center, Radiation/oncology Corridor, Ground Floor, Room G 3111. Amyloidosis is a life threatening disease caused by a malfunctioning bone marrow that produces abnormal proteins which are deposited in the body's or gans or tissue. The group is free to the public and an RSVP is requested. For more information contact Maryann at 585-334-7501 or Muriel at 866-404-7539.