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 Lea Mae Rice at 703-917-6459.
The Ostomy Support Group of Northern Virginia, LLC's next monthly support group meeting will be Sunday, June 4 from 1:30-3:30 p.m., at the Physicians' Conference Center, INOVA Fairfax Hospital, 3300 Gallows Road in Fairfax. Socialize and enjoy refreshments beginning at 1:30 p.m. Program begins at 2 p.m., with Coloplast representative Marlene Clay. Free. Park in Blue garage. For information call 703-802-3457 or visit www.ostomysupportofnova.org.
Baby Care Class for expectant parents offered Saturday, July 10 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Springfield. Topics include the essentials and basics of caring for a newborn. To register, call DC Lamaze at 301-917-0991 or e-mail md.graver@verizon.net.
Food Addicts In Recovery Anonymous is a program for individuals recovering from addictive eating and anorexia based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. There are no dues, fees or weigh-ins at our meetings. Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m., at Westwood Baptist Church, 8200 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield. Call 1-877-805-2823 for more information and other times and locations.
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. 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.
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of Northern Virginia offers pet therapy and a multilingual staff to patients and families living in the City of Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun counties. Volunteers should contact the program office at 703-788-6680 for opportunities to participate in patient care. Families may call 800-93-VITAS for more information about hospice or to schedule a free consultation.
HAVEN of Northern Virginia sponsors the following bereavement support groups. HAVEN of Northern Virginia is located at 4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale. For more information, call 703-941-7000 or visit www.havenofnova.org:
* 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 from 2-3:30 p.m. or on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 7:30-9 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 from 7:30-9 p.m.
* One on One Support. A volunteer will meet with a person grieving the death of a loved one, as needed, to provide individual support. Volunteers will be carefully selected to match individual needs.
The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) named Paula R. Graling association president at its 53rd Annual Congress in Washington, D.C. In addition to her presidency for AORN, Graling is a clinical nurse specialist at Inova Fairfax Hospital in the Washington, D.C. region where she is responsible for more than 30 operating rooms. Graling has recent experience in disaster preparedness. She was instrumental in reacting to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and in preparing her hospital for Hurricane Isabel in September 2003. Graling has experience in academic teaching, professional seminars, community presentations and journal publication. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from George Mason University.
Lamaze classes will be on Wednesday nights at Kaiser in Springfield. Weekend classes are also available. Call 301-352-9727 to register.
CRISISLINK, the greater Washington region's only 24/7 crisis, suicide and trauma prevention, intervention and response hotline, is seeking volunteers to take calls and respond directly to individuals in need on a suicide and crisis hotline. Training starts Saturday, April 22. Please visit www.crisislink.org and complete the online application or call Lisa at 703-527-6016.
Mothers First of Fairfax and 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, field trips, moms' nights out and lectures. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
*Fairfax meetings are at the Green Acres Elementary School, Room 116, 4401 Sideburn Road, Fairfax.
*Burke meetings meet at Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road.
On Sunday, May 7 from 1:30-3:30 p.m., The Ostomy Support Group of Northern Virginia, LLC will host the Annual Ostomy Products and Services Fair at Physicians' Conference Center, INOVA Fairfax Hospital, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church. Representatives include Hollister, ConvaTec, Byram, Alzheimer's Association, Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, Life With Cancer many more. Free. Refreshments, raffles and door prizes. Park in Blue garage. To join OSGNV, call 703-802-3457. http://ostomysupportofnova.org/
The Recreation and Parks program at the Annandale Campus of Northern Virginia Community College is sponsoring a hands-on wilderness first aid course on Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30; graduates will be certified by Wilderness Medical Associates. Students will learn how to deal with medical emergencies that occur miles away from help — topics include patient assessment, environmental injuries, anaphylaxis and lifting/moving. Call Nancy Chamberlain at 703-323-3230 or nchamberlain@nvcc.edu.
La Leche League of Burke, Northern Virginia's only weekend La Leche League meeting, meets at 9:30 a.m. the first Saturday of each month. Saturday, May 6. The breastfeeding support group offers help and support to mothers who are currently breastfeeding a child or anyone who plans to breastfeed. Expectant and new mothers are encouraged to attend. The topic will be "The advantages of breastfeeding to mother and baby" but all questions and concerns will be addressed. The meeting is free and babies are welcome. For directions to meeting or additional information, contact Leslie at 703-256-2754 or Marisa at 703-323-7301.
The Jewish Social Service Agency sponsors services for older adults in Northern Virginia, including in-home support services such as Meals on Wheels, nonsectarian geriatric care management services and counseling for seniors and their family. Call 703-204-9100. The Jewish Social Service Agency is located at 3018 Javier Road, Fairfax.
Alzheimer's Association Caregiver Support Group. Meets the third Monday of the month from 10-11:30 a.m., at Manor Care of Fair Oaks, 12475 Lee Jackson Highway. Facilitated by trained group leaders, ongoing, free and open to the community. Support groups allow families to meet other caregivers, to share experiences and care giving tips while developing coping skills. Caregivers and family members are invited to visit. Call Anita Newsome, group leader, at 703- 352-7172 prior to attending for the first time.
Parents of Children with Epilepsy. A support group for parents of children of all ages diagnosed with seizure disorders, meets the fourth Monday of each month, 7-8 p.m., at the Braddock supervisor's office in the meeting room, 9002 Burke Lake Road. Call Dana Douglas at 703-425-6660.
CanSurvive. Life with Cancer sponsors a patient-led, drop-in lunchtime general cancer support group for those dealing with any type of cancer on Thursdays at noon, at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St. Call 301-610-9146 or visit www.can-survive.net.
Thyroid Cancer Support Group. Open to thyroid cancer survivors and their adult loved ones to share information and support in this monthly meeting co-sponsored with the Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association. Call 1-877-588-7904.
Spirituality Quest. This support group meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St. Call 703-698-2841.
Multiple Myeloma Group meets monthly to discuss experiences, emotions and challenges of living with multiple myeloma. The Life With Cancer Family Center is located at 2832 Juniper St. Call 703-698-2841.
Breast Cancer Group at the Inova Fairfax Woman's Center, Radiation Oncology Conference Room, 3300 Gallows Road. Call 703-698-2841.
The Church of the Nativity offers a general bereavement support group the first and third Thursday of each month from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the church, 6400 Nativity Lane, Burke. Open to adults of all faiths. Call 703-455-2400, ext. 17.
Metastatic Breast Cancer support groups, a closed group setting with other women living with metastatic breast cancer, take place on Thursdays and Fridays. Registration is required. Call Sage Bolte at 703-208-5620.
Birthmothers is an outreach ministry for pregnant women serving Fairfax county. They match pregnant women with a specially trained friend who listens to concerns about being pregnant, the baby's father and the future. The group also connects women with practical assistance like low-cost prenatal care, housing resources, or legal aid. Birthmothers is confidential and free. Call 1-877-77BIRTH.