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 Dec. 17.

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 Dec. 18.

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 Dec. 12.

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 Dec. 11.

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 Dec. 17.

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. The next support group will be held Dec. 17.

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 Dec. 4.

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

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, 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.)

Alzheimer's support

• The Office for the Aging will hold the following Alzheimer's Disease Support Group for the month on Dec. as follows:

From 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon Dec. 10 at the Steuben County Health Care Facility, 7002 Mt. Washington Rd., Bath. The group is for Spouse's/partners only (of those with dementia.)

• 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 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Dormann Library, 101 W. Morris St., Wayland.

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

STD/HIV Clinics

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

- From 9-11 a.m. Dec. 6 and Dec. 20 at the Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services Clinic Rooms, County Office Building, 3 East Pulteney Square, 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 more information call the Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services at the Bath office at 664-2438 or 800-724- 0471.

Immunizations

If your child is in need of immunizations, the Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services will sponsor the following clinics for Dec. under the direction of the local Medical Director.

• From 1-3 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services, County Office Building - G3 off D.S.S. lobby, Bath.

• From 5-7 p.m. Dec. 26 at the Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services, 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.

Blood pressure clinic

The Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services will be sponsoring blood pressure clinics for the month of Dec. as follows:

• From 12-1 p.m. Dec. 27 at the County Office Building, 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.

Coping with Cancer

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m. as a representative from Southern Tier Hospice and Palliative Care returns to Coping with Cancer. This free presentation is open to all and will be held at the Centenary United Methodist Church, 3 West Washington Street, Bath. Hospice emphasizes comfort and quality of life. Join us for an educational evening.

Coping with Cancer is an educational series in collaboration with the American Cancer Society and the Wellness Council of the Southern Tier, a service of St. James Mercy Health System. Call Patricia Lauzze at 776- 2289 for more information.

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 Dec. 5.