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 next support group will be held Nov. 19.

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. The next support group will be held Nov. 20.

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 Nov. 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. The next support group will be held Nov. 14.

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. The next service will be held Nov. 13.

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. The next support group will be held Nov. 19.

For more information contact Gail Cochrane, TBI Coordinator, (585) 747-3959.

Traumati

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. The next support group will be held Nov. 19.

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. The next support group will be held Nov. 6.

For more information contact the Alzheimer's Association at (585) 760-5400.

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.)

Blood drive

The American Red Cross will hold blood drives as follows:

• From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Avoca United Methodist Church, 8593 Jacobs Ladder Rd., Avoca.

• From 1-6 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Savona Fire Department, Savona.

• From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Avoca Central School, 17 Oliver Street, Avoca.

• From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Hammondsport Fire Department, 8521 State Route 54. Sponsored by the Hammondsport Fire Department.

Fore more information call 1 (877) 754-3711.

Coping with Cancer

Coping with Cancer is an educational series available to all at no charge. No registration is required. Christy Widman, Cancer Information Coordinator, National Cancer Institute, will speak at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Centenary United Methodist Church, at 3 West Washington St., Bath. Resources available plus clinical trial information will be the topic.

Coping with Cancer, an educational series, will help to alleviate some of the fears associated with receiving a cancer diagnosis. The better educated we are, the more empowered we will be in facing this disease.

Coping with Cancer is in partnerhip with The American Cancer Society and The Wellness Council of the Southern Tier. Fore more information contact Patricia Lauzze at 776-2289.

STD/HIV 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. Nov. 8 at the Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services Clinic Rooms, County Office Building, 3 East Pulteney St., Bath.

These clinic services are available to all residents of Steuben County for HIV counseling and testing and for testing and treating sexually transmitted diseases.

For an appointment or information, call the Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services at the Bath office at 664-2438 or (800) 724-0471.

Flu shot clinics

• The Steuben County Public Health and Nursing, Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital and Steuben County Office for the Agining will sponsor flu shot clinics as follows:

- From 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Nov. 14 at Lakeview Apts., Bath.

- From 9:30-10:30 a.m. Nov. 27 at Church St. Courty, Hornell.*

- From 9:30-10:30 a.m. Nov. 28 at Spring Meadows Apts., Bath.*

- From 9:30-10:30 a.m. Nov. 29 at Dayspring Apts., Corning.*

If you are traveling from far away please call the Office for the Aging at 664-2298 first to be sure serum is available. If you are a member of a Medicare Advatage Plan flu shots should be given from doctor's office to avoid paying a donation. To receive an immunization at one of the above clinics you must be 18 years of age.

Pneumonia and tetanus shots are also available at the starred flue shot clinics. Cost for pneumonia shot is $45 and for tetanus shot is $20. For questions call Public Health Nursing at 664-2438.

• The Bath VA Medical Center will hold host a series of flu vaccination clinics over the next several weeks. The schedule is as follows:

- From 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Oct. 29-Nov.9 at the Bath VA Medical Center, building 76 (Main Hospital.)

- From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Bath VA Medical Center, building 76 (Main Hospital.)

Vaccinations are available for eligible veterans who are currently enrolled for care at the VA. Veterans not currently enrolled can appley for VA care by calling 877-845- 3247. Information from the veteran's DD214 and 2006 income information will be required to determine eligibility for care.

If veterans are unable to attend the flu shot clinics at the announced times, VA will be happy to schedule an appointment. If a veteran requires this service they should call their assigned Primary Care Team and schedule an appointment.

14th Annual Wellness Fair

The 14 Annual Wellness Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Nov. 14 at Lakeview Apartments, 105 Geneva St., Bath. The event is for all area residents ages 55 and older. A flu shot clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. covered by Medicare Part B or suggested donation. Hearing screening available by appointment only, courtesy of Miracle Ear, Corning. No appointment necessary for vision and glaucoma screening, blood pressure screening, blood sugar screening and bone density screening.

Call RSVP at 776-7813 to make hearing appointment.

The event is co-sponsored by Steuben County RSVP, CFS Lakeview Apartments, Davenport & Taylor and Cornell Cooperative Extension.