<hdr30>Health
<lst>Know something that should be listed in Health & Fitness? Send a brief write-up to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA, 22102, fax to 703-917-0991 or call Nina M. Dry at 703-917-6422.
Mothers First – Fairfax is dedicated to supporting women who have chosen to alter their careers to raise their children at home. Activities include parent/child morning meetings and field trips, moms night out and lectures. December meetings take place on Dec. 1 and Dec. 15 from 10:15 a.m. to noon at the Fairfax City Regional Library, 3915 Chain Bridge Road. For more information call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
HAVEN of Northern Virginia sponsors the following bereavement support groups:
* General Bereavement Support Group, for anyone grieving the death of a loved one, meets the first and third Wednesday of each month. The next meetings take place on Dec. 1 and Dec. 15 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
* Widow/Widower Bereavement Support Groups, for anyone grieving the death of a spouse. Meetings take place on the first and third Thursday of the month or on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. The next Thursday meetings are Dec. 2 and Dec. 16 at 2 p.m., and the next Tuesday meetings are Dec. 14 and Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m.
* Suicide Survivors Bereavement Support Group, for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide, meets the first Tuesday of the month. The next meetings take place on Dec. 7 and Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
HAVEN of Northern Virginia is located at 4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale. For more information, call 703-941-7000 or visit www.havenofnova.org.
Facial Pain (Trigemenal Neuralgia) support group meets on Dec. 2 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Alexandria Hospital's Health Education Center, 4320 Seminary Road. Free. For more information, call 703-724-0524.
Mothers & More is a support organization for women who have altered their career path to care for their young children at home. General meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. The next meeting is Dec. 2. Free. For more information, call 866-716-7766.
The United Ostomy Association Inc., Northern Virginia Chapter sponsors its monthly support group meeting on Sunday, Dec. 5, at 2 p.m., at the INOVA Fairfax Hospital, 3300 Gallows Road. Refreshments start at 1:30 p.m. Free. For more information, visit www.inova.org.
Pohick Regional Library hosts an Inova Blood Drive from 1:30-7:30 p.m., at the library, 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke. Photo IDs are required, and appointments are preferred. For more information, call 703-698-3885.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) sponsors support groups for injured victims and for relatives and friends of those who have been killed in drunk driving crashes. The next Injured Victim Support Group meeting takes place Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. Free. For more information call 703-978-3025.
Fibromyalgia/Arthritis Support Group meets the second Thursday of each month at 1 p.m., at Sherwood Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria. The next meeting is Dec. 9, at 1 p.m., and will include the group's annual Christmas party. For more information, call Arthritis Foundation at 202-537-6800, Ext. 3339 or
Barbara at 703-913-0890.
MOPS (Mothers of Pre Schoolers). Join other moms with children birth through kindergarten who desire to be the best moms they can be. Program includes a speaker, food and fun on the second Monday of each month from September through May. The next meeting takes place on Monday, Dec. 13, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Immanuel Bible Church, 6911 Braddock Road, Springfield. For more information call 703-941-4124 or visit www.immanuelbible.net.
Mothers First – Burke is dedicated to supporting women who have chosen to alter their careers to raise their children at home. Activities include parent/child morning meetings and field trips, moms night out, and lectures. Upcoming meetings take place Dec. 13 and Dec. 27 from 10:30 a.m. until noon at Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke. For more information, call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Parkinson's Programs. A Fairfax support group for individuals with Parkinson's meets on the third Thursday of the month, at 2 p.m., at the Little River Glen Senior Center, 4001 Barker Court, Fairfax. The next meeting takes place on Dec. 16. The Parkinson Foundation (PFNCA) welcomes PD patients and family members. No charge. For more information, call Leon at 202-966-4450.
A Parkinson's Disease exercise class meets weekly at 10 a.m., at Little River Glen Senior Center, 4001 Barker Court, Fairfax. No charge; patients and family members welcome. For class schedule and more information, call the Senior Center at 703-503-8703.
Sunrise Assisted Living of Fairfax offers a short-term stay program for aging persons. Fees vary depending on the community and personal care needs. Three meals per day are included. Program is designed for a week's stay to several months. For more information, call 703-691-0046. Sunrise of Fairfax is located at 9207 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax.
Individual Nutrition Counseling. Schedule an individual appointment with registered dietitian Julie Thorsen from Inova Fairfax Cancer Center's Cancer Patient Nutrition Support Program and learn how to optimize your nutritional status related to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Call 703-289-8787 to schedule an appointment.
Girl Talk. Group open to middle school girls meets Thursdays at 5 p.m. to improve social skills and discuss academic pressure, decision making and other issues.
Short-term Counseling Services offers an opportunity to discuss the challenges that follow a cancer diagnosis and to explore effective ways of coping. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Life with Cancer office at 703-698-2820.
Brain Tumor Group, first Tuesday of the month at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St. Adult patients and families are invited to share and learn ways to meet the challenges of living with primary malignant or benign brain tumors. For more information, call 703-698-2841.
The Caregivers Meeting. Weekly drop-in group for family members and friends of those with cancer to discuss various concerns. Wednesdays, from 7-8:30 p.m., at Inova Fairfax Hospital in the Radiation Oncology Conference Room. Use the blue garage. 703-698-2841 or visit www.lifewithcancer.org.
Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Groups. Facilitated by trained group leaders, ongoing, free and open to the community. For schedules, call 1-866-259-0042.
Burke/Springfield/Fairfax Compassionate Friends Support Group. Friendship and understanding to families grieving the death of a child. The support group meets monthly at St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church, 5222 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, at 7:30 p.m. Call 703-425-9504.
Birth Mother’s Support Group. Meets weekly in Northern Virginia. It is for any woman who has ever placed a child in adoption and would like to meet with others who have done the same. The group will be led by a licensed clinical social worker and a national certified counselor. Call Pat Cunningham or Stephanie Hayden at Catholic Charities at 703-425-0100. A modest fee is charged based on income.
Recovery Inc. A nonprofit support group for depression, bipolar disorder and other nervous disease meets every Friday at Boulevard Baptist Church, 7000 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church. Contact Lee at 703-777-1708.
Chapter 5300 of the AARP. Meets on the first Tuesday of each month at Greenspring Retirement Community in Springfield in the theater at Village Square at 1 p.m.