Health bulletin board

Upcoming

Medicare Advantage Health Plan Seminars – Free seminars sponsored by Sterling Health Plans for individuals looking to enroll or change Medicare health plans. Prescription drug coverage also will be discussed. Today - 10 a.m., 911 Driving School, 1724 W. Francis Ave.; Valley Eagles, 16801 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley. Wednesday - 10 a.m., Conley’s Place Eagles Lodge, 6410 N. Lidgerwood St.; 1 p.m., 911 Driving School. Thursday - 10 a.m., Hillyard Senior Center, 4001 N. Cook St.; Sons of Norway, 6710 N. Country Homes Blvd. For more information, call (509) 344-2060.

Long Term Care Insurance – Free seminar sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, Today, 6 p.m., at Life Care of Coeur d’Alene, 500 W. Aqua Ave. For information, call (208) 666-2996.

Life After Menopause: Changing with the Change – Free seminar and discussion for individuals wanting to learn about menopause, Wednesday, 6:30-8 p.m., at Valley Hospital Health and Education Center, 12606 E. Mission Ave. A light meal will be served. Pre-registration required by calling (509) 232-8138.

Meditations for Heart and Mind – Guided 30-minute meditation, with topic for discussion, Wednesday, 6-7:30 p.m., at St. Joseph Family Center Canticle House, 1016 N. Superior. Cost: $10 per class. For information, and to register, call (509) 6495, or visit www.stjosephfamilycenter.org.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Crohn’s – Free town hall meeting for those suffering from the symptoms, sponsored by the Metabolic Institute, Monday, 6-7:30 p.m., at the Deaconess Health and Education Building, 910 W. Fifth Ave., Room 268. Call for a reservation, (509) 747-7066. For more information, visit www.themetabolic-institute.com.

Understanding Cancer – Free presentation for patients, friends and family, focus will be on treatment and support services for colorectal cancer, Dec. 11, 6:30-8 p.m., at Valley Hospital Health and Education Center, 12606 E. Mission Ave., Spokane Valley. A light meal will be provided. Preregistration is required by calling (509) 232-8138.

Other programs

Adult Children from Dysfunctional Families and Co-Dependents – How to grow out of these dysfunctional patterns in a 26-week program of group therapy and support with tools for the results you want. Groups meet various weekday evenings from 7-9 p.m., or Saturday daytime, at Life Directions Counseling Center in Spokane Valley. For more information, call (509) 922-3915.

Adult Day Center – Holy Family Adult Day Centers offer structured programs designed to meet the needs of physically, mentally and functionally impaired adults and elderly by providing social services, nursing, rehabilitation, therapeutic recreation and a hot meal at noon. Two locations: 4827 S. Palouse Highway and 6018 N. Astor St. Call (509) 482-2475.

Alzheimer’s Association Helpline – In Spokane, call (509) 473-3390 or 24-hour help line, (800) 272-3900; Coeur d’Alene, call (208) 772-2542. Available Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Amputee Support Group – Support for people with amputations and their family and friends. Meets the first Wednesday of each month, 11 a.m.-noon, St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, 711 S. Cowley St. Visit www.stlukesrehab.org for more information.

Anger Management for Men – Ongoing six-week men’s group, Wednesdays, 5-6:30 p.m., St. Joseph Family Center, 1016 N. Superior St. Cost: $15/session; for more information, call (509) 483-6495.

Bariatric Support Group – Meets monthly at Holy Family Hospital, Health Education Center, 5633 N. Lidgerwood St. Call (509) 252-6311 for times and for more information.

Bone Density and Blood Pressure Screenings – Deaconess Medical Center, 800 W. Fifth Ave., is offering screenings every Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Call (509) 473-2194.

Bone Density and Blood Pressure Screenings – Free screenings every Tuesday and Friday, 9 a.m.-noon, at Valley Hospital and Medical Center, 12606 E. Mission Ave., Spokane Valley. No appointment needed. Offered by Valley Hospital and Medical Center Volunteer Services; call (509) 473-5415 or e-mail volunteers@empirehealth.org for more information.

Breast and Cervical Health Program – Provides eligible women with free health exams and mammograms sponsored by Spokane Regional Health District. Call (509) 324-1553 or (888) 461-8876.

Children’s Environmental Health Network – Web site offers information on organizations active in various fields, sources of data on child health and environmental hazards and more, www.cehn.org or call (202) 543-4033, e-mail at cehn@cehn.org.

Conservative Care Consultation – Surgery should be your last resort for back or neck problems and carpal tunnel syndrome. Utilize this free opportunity to find out if there is a nonsurgical alternative to your problem. Call Mark Guthrie, at (509) 327-8188.

Corbin Senior Activity Center Senior Services – Classes and groups for mental, emotional and physical health. The center also offers events, tours and meeting space. Call (509) 327-1584 for listings.

CPR, First Aid and Automated External Defibrillator Classes – Offered by the American Red Cross. Check the Web site for class schedules. Inland Northwest Chapter, 315 W. Nora Ave. Cost is $35-$55, call (509) 326-3330 ext. 216, or visit www.spokaneredcross.org.

Depression Screenings – Offered to adults by Eastman Consulting Services, 607 S. Government Way, Spokane. Free. Call (509) 456-2190.

Diabetes Education – Community Health Education and Resources offers group or individual instruction on diabetes self-management. Course is for clients and their families who are new to diabetes. Call (509) 232-8145 for class times, dates and locations.

Divine Health – Word of Faith Christian Center is offering a weekly class on how to live in divine health, Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Word of Faith Christian Center, 4001 N. Cook St. Call (509) 891-5253.

Dirne Community Health Center – Is a federally qualified community health center. It is accepting new patients regardless of their ability to pay, and offering mental health services. 1106 W. Ironwood Drive, Coeur d’Alene. For more information or to make an appointment, call the Center at (208) 292-0292.

First Aid/CPR Classes – Adult, child and infant first aid/CPR classes, new student and refresher courses, are available through The Safety Center, 1317 W. Kiernan Ave. Prices range from $35-$55. Registration is required. For more information, location and times, call Rick Bennett at (509) 979-0849 or e-mail nwss2@hotmail.com.

Health for All – This community-based health-care access project links uninsured individuals and families in Eastern Washington with state health insurance programs and assists those who do not qualify for state-sponsored coverage by linking them with appropriate community resources. Call (866) 444-3066; in Spokane County, call (509) 444-3066.

Master Home Environmentalist Program – The American Lung Association of Washington is offering trained volunteers to offer solutions for indoor environmental health problems in your home. To schedule an appointment, call (509) 325-6516 or e-mail vjohnson@alaw.org.

Metaphysical Research Society – Meets the first Thursday of each month, 7:30 p.m. Call (509) 838-8155 for more information.

Nicotine Anonymous – Twelve-step support group offering our experience to those who want to quit smoking. Meets Wednesdays, 3-4 p.m., at Partners (formerly Spokane Valley Community Center), 10814 E. Broadway Ave., Spokane Valley. Call (509) 926-9804 or (509) 474-1845 for more information.

Polio Outreach of Spokane – For information about post-polio syndrome, call Sharman Collins, (509) 448-8517, or e-mail sharmanrcollins@msn.com.

Pre-Marriage Workshop – Four-session workshop covers the top six areas of conflict in a marriage. Held at St. Joseph’s Family Center, 1016 N. Superior St. Cost is $75 per couple. Call (509) 483-6495 for class times or visit www.stjosephfamilycenter.org for more information.

Qi-Gong Series – Classes to enhance confidence, relieve depression, and alleviate asthma symptoms and back pain. St. Joseph Family Center, 1016 N. Superior St. Cost is $40 per series ($35 for students and seniors) or $8 per class. Call (509) 483-6495 for the schedule and for more information.

Reflexology – These individual foot and hand sessions will work to improve circulation, relieve tension and more with certified reflexologist Linda Bussard at 12 E. Rowan Ave., Suite L4. To schedule an appointment call (509) 998-1062.

Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors HelpLine – The SHIBA HelpLine is free, confidential and impartial counseling with trained volunteers to help callers understand their healthcare and health insurance rights and options. Call (509) 458-2509 at Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington or the SHIBA HelpLine at (800) 562-6900.

Speech, Language and Hearing Screenings – Washington State University Spokane’s Speech and Hearing Clinic, Health Sciences Building, 310 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Open to children and adults. Appointments necessary. Call (509) 358-7580.

Striders – A community walking and exercise program promoting fitness, fun, friends and health education since 1995. Meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 8-9 a.m. at the Spokane Valley YMCA, 2421 N. Discovery Place, and in Coeur d’Alene. For more information, call Carol at (509) 926-1697, or in Idaho call (208) 772-6381.

Teen Diabetes Advocate Meeting – Free program sponsored by the American Diabetes Association for teens between the ages of 12 and 18. Meets the second Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m., at the ADA office, 801 W. Fifth Ave., No. 319. For information, call Ted Duncan at (509) 263-6281 or by e-mail at tduncan@diabetes.org.

Drug and alcohol

Alcoholics Anonymous – For 24-hour information and support, call (509) 624-1442. Visit http://spokanecentraloffice.com/ for meeting schedules and for more information.

Daybreak of Spokane – Offers residential and outpatient treatment for adolescents with emphasis on family. Downtown outpatient and residential, 960 E. Third St., (509) 444-7033; Valley outpatient, 11711 E. Sprague Ave., (509) 927-1991.

Nar-Anon – For friends and families of drug addicts. Group meets Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 301 S. Freya St. Call Walt and Lois, (509) 489-6368, or visit www.naranon.org.

Tobacco Cessation Classes – Community Health Education and Resources Office is offering free tobacco cessation classes throughout Spokane. Call (509) 232-8138 or (509) 232-8139.

Tobacco Cessation Classes – Free for Group Health members. For a list of dates and times, call (509) 459-1086 or visit www.ghc.org.

Parenting/Childbirth

Blended Families Can Be Enjoyable – Seminar to teach skills and techniques for dealing with the complexities of blended families and their common difficulties. Held at St. Joseph’s Family Center, 1016 N. Superior St. Cost is $25 for individuals, $40 for couples. Call (509) 483-6495 for class times or visit www.stjosephfamilycenter.org for more information.