HEALTH
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 March 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 March 18.

For more information call Judy Griffith at 324-8139

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 April 9. Hospital bills or Medicare questions?

Financial Representatives will be available on the second Tuesday of every month from 1-2 p.m. 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 April 8.

For questions call 324- 8040.

Sexual violence helpline

Sexual violence is not just a big city crime. It is happening in our rural communities. Sexual violence occurs when an individual is forced, threatened, and/or manipulated into unwanted sexual activity with another. It does not always include intense physical force and comes in many forms including date/acquanintance rape, marital/partner rape, and sexual predation upon children. All sexual crimes carry with them violations of the most intimate nature and are traumatic and life-altering events that will forever impact a person's sense of self, trust and safety. There is a free, confidential and compassionate help available. Call HAVEN at 570-

724-3549 or 1-800-550-0477. 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.

Traumatic brain injury

A Taumatic Brain Injury Support Group will be held at 5:30 p.m. every third Tuesday of each month at Pro Action of Steuben and Yates, Inc., 117 East Steuben Street, Bath. The next support group will be held on March 18. The support group is for individuals or families of a person with a brain injury. For more information call Sharon Johnson at (315) 538-8018.

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 Staffkings Health Care, 221 W. Church St. The next support group will be held April 8.

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, 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.)

Immunizations

If your child is in need of immunizations, the Steuben County Public Health and Nursing Services will sponsor the following clinics for Feb. under the direction of the local Meidical Director. Adults are encouraged to attend the immunization clinic to receive Tetanus/Diphtheria vaccine which is recommended eary 10 years. The cost for that vaccination is $20. The clinics are as follows:

• 5-7 p.m. March 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.

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. March 31 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 which include Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and Trichomonas.

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.

Blood pressure clinics

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

• From 12-1 p.m. March 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.

Grief Support Group

• 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 next meeting will be held on March 24.

For more information contact Deacon Bob McCormick in the Spiritual Care Office at 324-8153.

• A Grief Support Group will be offered at 1 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month in the McAuley Manor Chapel located on the second floor of St. James. The next meeting will be held on April 9.

For more information contact Deacon Bob McCormick at St. James Mercy Hospital Spiritual Care Office at 324-

8153.

Abuse helpline

If you, or someone you know, are being abused there is help available. Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for a Protection From Abuse Order (PFA) which can stop the abuse, stop any and all contact, give temporary custody of your children, and/or evict the abuser from the home. HAVEN of Tioga County provides free and confidential services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence regardless of gender, age, race, religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability or income. For more information please call 570-724-3549 or 1-800- 550-0447.

Diabetes on target-education support group

A "Diabetes On Target" Education and support group schedule is as follows:

• 7 p.m. March 17 at the Campbell Christian Missionary Alliance Church, 8766 Rte. 415, Campbell.

Whenever school closings and/or weather conditions become unsafe for traveling on any day of a scheduled meeting, that meeting will be cancelled. Check the local radio stations for cancellations. For more information call Debbie Tally at 776- 4065.

Understanding Alzheimer's Disease seminar

The Alzheimer's Association and Steuben County Office for the Aging will offer a free one-session "Seminar for Understanding Alzheimer's Disease" from 3- 5 p.m. March 19 at the Corning Senior Center, 1 Park Lane, Corning. The program is for families and friends of individuals newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Registration is required. Call the Alzeimer's Association at 585-760-5400 or 800-272-3900 24-hour helpline or Steuben County Office for the Aging at 664- 2298.

MDA seeks volunteers

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is searching for summer camp volunteers who are looking for a rewarding and memorable experience. Volunteer counselors are needed to assist young people with neuromuscular dieases and help them enjoy a fun-filled MDA summer camp from June 28- July 3 at the Rotary Sunshine Campus in Rush, NY. Applicants must be at least 16 years old and able to life and care for a young person between the ages of 6 and 21.

To obtain a volunteer application or learn about other ways to support MDA's summer camp program, call your local MDA office at 723-7431. More information about summer camp volunteers can be found at www.mda.org/clinics/camp.