Valleywide Health News, Feb. 5-11, 2015

TEXAS-BASED HOSPICE PROGRAM EXPANDS TO LAS VEGAS

Altus Hospice hosted an open house Jan. 27 to announce its expansion to Las Vegas.

Altus Hospice, 4465 S. Buffalo Drive, Suite D, will provide outpatient hospice care. It has 13 locations throughout Texas.

For more information, visit altushospicecare.com.

WALK WITH THE HEART OF A CHILD EVENT SET FOR FEB. 28

The second annual Walk with the Heart of a Child is scheduled for 8 a.m. Feb. 28 at Fashion Show mall, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South, to benefit the Children’s Heart Foundation. Registration for the fun walk is set for 7 a.m. Entertainment, a raffle and a Kids Zone also are planned.

During the event, teams walk in celebration and remembrance of children with heart conditions and to unite the community through awareness. Generated funds allow the foundation to continue to carry out its programs, including Camp Mend-a-Heart, Smart Heart scholarships, Family Outreach and research.

Registration fees are $25 for adults and $15 for virtual walkers, active-duty military personnel, students and seniors.

To register online, visit walkwiththeheartofachild.kintera.org. For more information, including sponsorships, call 702-967-3522 or visit chfn.org.

MONTHLY HIV/STD TESTING CLINIC OFFERED

The Southern Nevada Health District and The Center, The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, offer a monthly Saturday HIV/STD testing clinic. The next one is slated for Feb. 7.

All testing is confidential and free with no appointment needed. The monthly clinic is the first Saturday of each month (excluding holidays) at The Center, 401 S. Maryland Parkway. For more information, visit snhd.info or call 702-733-9800.

Tests for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and Chlamydia take approximately 10 days and are available by calling the health district’s Sexual Health Clinic at 702-759-0702.

RETREAT FOR WOMEN WITH BLEEDING DISORDERS PLANNED FOR FEB. 6-7

A retreat for women with bleeding disorders and their caregivers is planned Feb. 6 and 7 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1340 W. Warm Springs Road. The event is to be hosted by the Nevada Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation and the Hemophilia Treatment Center of Nevada.

The retreat is open to girls and women 14 or older. Speakers are planned to address topics such as competing in sports as a female with a bleeding disorder, the importance of exercise and nutrition and the challenges of living with a bleeding disorder.

Admission is free, and food is planned. To register, visit hfnv.org or call 702-564-4368.

SEMINAR TO ADDRESS SURGERY FOR KNEE AND HIP PAIN

Seminars focusing on surgical options for knee and hip pain are planned from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12 and 24 in conference rooms 1 and 2 at Centennial Hills Hospital, 6900 N. Durango Drive. They will cover procedures for partial knee resurfacing and total hip replacement using the specialized MAKOplasty technology available only at Centennial Hills Hospital.

To register, call 702-388-4888. For more information, visit centennialhillshospital.com and click on “Hospital Services.”

TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM TO HOST BEREAVEMENT GROUP

A bereavement group is set to meet at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 18 at Temple Beth Sholom, 10700 Havenwood Lane. Meetings are open to the public, and coffee is served.

For more information, email vegasrita1@aol.com or call 702-596-4321.

NATHAN ADELSON HOSPICE COLLECTING SUPPLIES FOR ANIMAL SHELTERS

Nathan Adelson Hospice’s Pet Therapy Program is holding its fourth annual Dog Bed & Blanket Drive through Feb. 28 to benefit animals in local shelters. Community members are invited to donate new or gently used items at the hospice’s locations at 4141 Swenson St.; 3150 N. Tenaya Way, Suite 350; and 1201 Nevada State Drive.

The donations will then be delivered to the shelters throughout the two months. Items being collected include: dog beds; blankets; towels; and unopened dog food.

For more information, visit nah.org.

SOUTHWEST MEDICAL ASSOCIATES TO HOST WEIGHT MANAGEMENT GROUP

The HEW/Weight Management Support Group is planned from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Mondays at the Southwest Medical Associates Lifestyle Center-West, 8670 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 105. Discuss nutrition and exercise and get tips for weight loss.

To register, call 702-877-5356.

MONTHLY SUPPORT GROUPS PLANNED FOR STROKE, BRAIN INJURY SURVIVORS

Monthly support groups for survivors of stroke and brain injuries are planned at Centennial Hills, Desert Springs, Summerlin and Valley hospitals. The meetings offer education, encouragement and resources from other survivors and are facilitated by the stroke coordinators at each hospital.

Support groups are open to all survivors and their spouses/partners/caregivers. All four hospitals are Primary Stroke Centers and are committed to providing a continuum of care through diagnosis, intervention, treatment, acute rehabilitation and ongoing recovery.

Groups are planned at:

— Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center, 6900 N. Durango Drive, from 3 to 4 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month in Conference Room 1 & 2 on the first floor near the cafeteria. Call 702-629-1309.

— Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center, 2075 E. Flamingo Road, from 10 a.m. to noon the first Saturday of every month in the South Magna Conference Center in the black building south of the main entrance. Park off Bruce Street. Lunch is provided. Call 702-369-7560.

— Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, 657 N. Town Center Drive, from 3 to 4 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month in Conference Room B on the first floor past the cafeteria. Call 702-233-7061.

— Valley Hospital Medical Center, 620 Shadow Lane, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month in the fourth-floor acute rehabilitation unit in the dining room. Light refreshments will be served. Call 702-388-8441 or 702-388-4619.

SMOKING CESSATION CLASSES PLANNED ACROSS VALLEY

The American Lung Association plans to host smoking cessation classes through April at locations around the valley. Sessions feature a step-by-step plan for quitting smoking, with each session designed to help smokers gain control over their behavior. The clinic format encourages participants to work on the process and problems of quitting both individually and as part of a group.

Clinics are scheduled for:

— 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Feb. 16 at Desert Springs Hospital, 2075 E. Flamingo Road, in the South Magna Conference Center to the right of the main entrance; call Richard Davis at 702-431-6348 or visit tinyurl.com/qhxx63z.

— 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Feb. 17 at Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada, 4770 Harrison Drive, Suite 105; call Richard Davis at 702-431-6348 or visit tinyurl.com/qhxx63z.

— 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays through Feb. 28 at the Aliante Library, 2400 W. Deer Springs Way; call Deb Sgambati at 702-334-8836.

— 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Feb. 23 at 3552 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 130; call Jocelyn Cluver at 219-916-1085.

— 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Feb. 24 at The Center, 401 S. Maryland Parkway; call Sabra McWhirter at 702-358-4347.

— 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through March 4 at Jesus is the Answer Ministries, 509 Alexander Road; call Patricia Washington at 702-452-5526.

— 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays upon request, St. Christopher’s School En Espanol, 1840 N. Bruce St., Room 8; call Rocio Galicia at 702-376-7429.

— 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Feb. 16 at Whitney Ranch Recreation Center, 1575 Galleria Drive; call Susan Taylor at 702-267-5850.

— 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Feb. 24-April 7 at the Aljian Conference Center at St. Rose Dominican Hospital’s San Martin Campus, 8280 W. Warm Springs Road; call Kimberlee Kobernick at 702-616-4900 or register at dignityhealth.org/las-vegas/classes-and-events.

POWER OF LOVE GALA TO BENEFIT KEEP MEMORY ALIVE

Keep Memory Alive’s 19th annual Power of Love Gala is set for June 13 to raise funds for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 888 W. Bonneville Ave. The event is set to feature Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and friends and include live auctions, wine and cocktails, and cuisine by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck.

Tickets are on sale at keepmemoryalive.org/pol. For more information, call 702-263-9797 or email events@keepmemoryalive.org.

SUMMERLIN HOSPITAL TO HOST STROLLER STRIDES CLASS

A new Stroller Strides Fit4Mom class is planned from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays on the campus of Summerlin Hospital Medical Center at 653 N. Town Center Drive.

Stroller Strides is a total fitness program that moms do with their babies. Activities include power walking/jogging and intervals of strength and body toning exercise using exercise tubing, a stroller and the environment. The class is taught by certified fitness instructors with specialty training in the pre- and postnatal woman. Instructors weave songs and activities into the routine designed to engage and entertain the babies.

Registration is required. To enroll, visit lasvegas.fit4mom.com.

FLU SHOTS AVAILABLE FOR OLDER RESIDENTS

Home Bound Healthcare of Las Vegas is offering flu shots at home for adults 65 or older who are part of the high-risk category for getting the flu. Shots in the home are available to those younger than 65 who have a disability that makes it difficult for them to leave the home.

The service is offered at no out-of-pocket expense for those with Medicare coverage. The cost for the in-home vaccine for those without coverage is $25.

For patients who don’t fit the qualifications for receiving the flu shot at home but still want to get it, Home Bound also provides the vaccine in its office, 1350 S. Jones Blvd., Suite 240, and is available to schedule flu shot clinics at community buildings, senior housing facilities and with other organizations.

For more information or to make an appointment, call 702-433-0800.

FLU SHOTS AVAILABLE

The Southern Nevada Health District is offering flu vaccine clinics. The cost of the shot is $40; the high-dose vaccine for people 65 or older is $56.

For more information or locations, visit snhd.info, or contact the immunization clinic at 702-759-0850.