Valleywide Health News, Oct. 23-29, 2014

HEART FUSION SPONSORS TOYS 4 THE CURE CHALLENGE TO COLLECT TOYS

Community group Heart Fusion is asking the public to join its Toys 4 The Cure Challenge, which will provide toys to children facing challenging medical treatments and conditions. Through Oct. 28, the group is asking residents to help support the Las Vegas-based Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, which operates two programs: The Children’s Specialty Center and the Hemophilia Treatment Center. The foundation also provides toys to patients facing chemotherapy or who just need a little extra love or are celebrating their No More Chemo party.

Heart Fusion is asking the public to purchase two to three toys to donate, which combined do not exceed $25 in value, and create a short video about what they’ve done and to challenge friends to join the effort.

The weeklong challenge will end with a special event and toy drop-off, where participants are eligible for raffle prizes. Additional toy drop-off areas will be announced during the weeklong event. For more information, visit facebook.com/events/1539025782976356.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS OPEN HOUSE SET FOR OCT. 23

A breast cancer awareness open house with Dr. Carl Allen is planned from noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Southwest Medical Lifestyle Center-West, 8670 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 105.

To RSVP, call 855-606-1425.

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION PLANS ANNUAL WALK FOR OCT. 25

The Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter plans to host the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at 7 a.m. Oct. 25 at the plaza at Fashion Show mall, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Registration and entertainment are set for 7 a.m., with the walk to start at 9 a.m.

Along with entertainment and the walk, exercise and education updates on Alzheimer’s care and research, programs and supportive services are planned, as well as a special tribute to honor those affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

To start or join a team, visit lasvegasalzheimerswalk.org.

WEEKLY CLASSES TO TEACH PARENTS AND CHILDREN ABOUT HEALTHY EATING

University Medical Center plans a free parenting education workshop series for children ages 3-5 and their parents at the Family Resource Center, 1120 Shadow Lane.

The goal of the seven-week Little Books/Little Cooks program is to teach healthy eating and nutrition. Sessions are set for 1:30 to 3 p.m. Mondays through Oct. 27.

For more information, visit umcsn.com or call 702-383-2000.

BEREAVEMENT GROUP TO MEET AT TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM

A bereavement group plans to meet at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 29 and Nov. 12 and 26 at Temple Beth Sholom, 10700 Havenwood Lane.

The meetings are open to the community, and coffee is served.

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

RESET SUMMERLIN SET FOR NOV. 1 AT THE FIT LABS

Reset Summerlin is planned from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Nov. 1 at The Fit Labs, 8645 W. Flamingo Road, Suite 104.

The event is generally held the first Saturday of every month and is planned to be followed the next day by the Sunday Reset Project. This month’s Sunday Reset Project is scheduled from 8 to 11 a.m. at Turntable Health, 701 Bridger Ave., Suite 150.

Learn how to reset once a month through movement, a lecture and food. The cost is $15 per person. For more information, visit theresetprojectlv.com or facebook.com/theresetproject.

FARE WALK FOR FOOD ALLERGY PLANNED NOV. 2 IN HENDERSON

The Food Allergy Research & Education Walk for Food Allergy is planned for 11 a.m. Nov. 2 at Cornerstone Park, 1600 Wigwam Parkway. It will raise funds to find a cure and increase awareness about food allergies. TV’s “Supernanny” Jo Frost, National Ambassador of the FARE Walk for Food Allergy, is set to lead the walk.

Participants can sign up as individuals or as part of a team. For more information, visit foodallergywalk.org/lasvegas2014.

CHRONIC LUNG CONDITION GROUP TO MEET

Better Breathers, a support group for people living with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer or other chronic lung conditions, is set to meet from 1 to 2 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Southwest Medical Associates Lifestyle Center-West, 8680 W. Cheyenne Ave.

Family and friends are welcome to come in support of their loved one. Meetings are planned for the second Thursday of each month. To RSVP, call 702-677-3056.

RAINBOW LIBRARY TO HOST AFFORDABLE CARE ACT INFO SESSION

An Affordable Care Act information session is slated for 6 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Rainbow Library, 3150 N. Buffalo Drive. For more information, call 702-507-3710.

LEARN ABOUT THE HOLIDAY BLUES

The Holly Daze open house event, a presentation on seasonal affective disorder and holiday blues with Stephanie Glover, MA, is set from noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Southwest Medical Associates Lifestyle Center-West, 8670 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 105.

To RSVP, call 855-606-1425.

SIENA CAMPUS EARNS CONSUMER CHOICE AWARD

Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican’s Siena Campus, 3001 St. Rose Parkway, has won the 2014-15 Consumer Choice Award for Southern Nevada. The award is given annually by the National Research Corp. to the hospital that consumers rank as best in overall quality and image.

LOU RUVO CENTER ANNOUNCES OCTOBER PROGRAMMING

The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 888 W. Bonneville Ave., has announced its October schedule for caregiver programming.

The interactive Art in the Afternoon program is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month. RSVP to louruvosocialserv@ccf.org or call 702-483-6055.

The Lunch & Learn Educational Series is planned from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdays. Participants can bring their lunch, and drinks and dessert will be provided.

The topic for Oct. 29 is Juices & Smoothies for Your Health by Kathy Wilson and Iris Vargas of Rachel’s Kitchen at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Learn how to make nutritious juices and smoothies. The featured fruit will be acai berry.

The Cleveland Museum of Art Series offers conversations about art through videoconferencing. Conversations are scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon.

All educational programs are free. For more information, contact Susan Solorzano at 702-483-6055 or solorzs@ccf.org, or visit keepmemoryalive.org/socialservices.

MARCH OF DIMES PLANS WOMEN’S HEALTH SYMPOSIUM NOV. 8

The March of Dimes: 2014 Women’s Health Symposium is planned for 8 a.m. Nov. 8 at The Innevation Center, 6795 Edmond St. It aims to educate healthcare providers and community leaders on identifying women who are at risk for preterm birth, manage women at risk for preterm birth and decrease the adverse outcomes associated with preterm birth.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/n8hvdyd.

SOUTHWEST MEDICAL LIFESTYLE CENTER TO HOST MEDICARE PRESENTATION

A Medicare Made Clear presentation is slated from noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 18 at Southwest Medical Lifestyle Center-West, 8670 W. Cheyenne Ave., Suite 105.

The program will be an informational overview. To RSVP, call 855-861-8277.

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.

FREE DIABETIC FOOT SCREENINGS PLANNED AT SMITH’S

Smith’s, the Las Vegas Summerlin Lions Club and the nonprofit Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention (LEAP) Alliance have teamed up to offer free foot screenings, which are simple and painless, to help prevent diabetes-related foot amputation.

The preventative screening program is being offered at two Smith’s locations: 2211 N. Rampart Blvd. and 8555 W. Sahara Ave. To make an appointment, call 702-765-5793.

PROGRAM TO EXPLORE SELF MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASES

A Chronic Diseases Self-Management program is scheduled from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays through Nov. 14 at the Centennial Hills Active Adult Center, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive.

The workshops cover chronic illnesses such as diabetes, arthritis and heart disease. Admission is free but requires advance registration and is open to members of the center who have paid the $2 yearly membership fee.

To sign up, call 702-229-1702.

LOU RUVO CENTER OFFERS SUPPORT GROUPS, SERVICES

Free multiple sclerosis counseling services are offered at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 888 W. Bonneville Ave. Individual, couple and family therapy are available to address a range of issues related to mood, adjustment to diagnosis, relationships and care giving. Also, a multiple sclerosis support group is scheduled to meet from noon to 1 p.m. the first Thursday of every month for adult family members of individuals with MS. For more information, call 702-483-6006 or email fairchj@ccf.org.

A Huntington’s disease support group is scheduled to meet from noon to 1 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of every month. The group is for gene positive individuals (asymptomatic and early stage) and adult family members. For more information, call 702-483-6035 or email municd@ccf.org.

A memory loss caregiver support group is scheduled to meet from 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. Wednesdays. The group is for adult family members who provide care and/or support for loved ones with memory loss and is facilitated by Dr. Donna Munic-Miller. For more information, call 702-483-6035 or email municd@ccf.org.

A Parkinson’s disease support group is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month. The group is for early-stage individuals and adult family members who provide care and/or support for loved ones with Parkinson’s disease. Separate groups meet at the same time. Phone screening for new early-stage participants is required. For more information, call 702-483-6054 or email cliffoj@ccf.org.

For more information on programs and services, visit keepmemoryalive.org/socialservices.

FIBROMYALGIA FRIENDS SUPPORT GROUP ANNOUNCES TEEN PROGRAM

The Fibromyalgia Friends Support Group of Southern Nevada, a nonprofit based in Henderson, has announced the initiation of a teen program to educate and provide support for middle, high school and college-age teenagers with fibromyalgia.

The program will take place monthly via Google Hangouts from 7 to 8 p.m. the second Thursday of each month. Ten people will be able to join each meeting each month. For instructions about how to participate, visit fmfriends.org. and click on “Teen Meetings.”

WALK WITH A DOC PLANNED FOR THIRD THURSDAYS AT LORENZI PARK

University Medical Center plans to host free Walk With A Doc events at 7 a.m. the third Thursday of each month at Lorenzi Park, 3333 W. Washington Ave. Participants are asked to meet at the tennis courts.

The program emphasizes 150 minutes of exercise as a way to become healthier and for people to be better informed about their health. Each walk will open with a three- to five-minute health talk followed by a 30- to 45-minute walk. During the walk, a physician who is the featured speaker will answer general health questions.

For more information, umcsn.com.

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP HOSTS WEEKLY MEETINGS

GriefShare, a national program for those dealing with loss, meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Canyon Ridge Christian Church, 6200 W. Lone Mountain Road. Weekly meetings include showings and discussion. For more information, call the group at 702-481-5833.

SENIOR GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP MEETS BIMONTHLY

A grief support group for seniors is set to meet the second and fourth Fridays of the month at 9 a.m. at the Centennial Hills Active Adult Center, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive.

For more information, call 702-229-1702.