Health Briefs for the week

Activities

ELKHART — Enjoy hiking a different park trail every month, make new friends, get a little exercise and glimpse the bounty of nature at every curve and corner. The Hiking Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month through October. On Oct. 17, meet at 6 p.m. and take a hilly 1.25-mile hike through the beauty of Bonneyville Mill County Park, 53373 County Road 131, Bristol. Meet at the Briar Patch Shelter, located on the south side of the park. There is no fee for the Hiking Club. Maximum participants per event is 50 people. Please follow current CDC guidelines. Register at elkhartcountyparks.org/events/ by Oct. 16.

Classes

SOUTH BEND — Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana will offer the free class “Is it Delirium or Dementia?” from 10 to 11 a.m. Oct. 16 in the Care Partner Academy. Patty Piechocki, director of the Institute for Excellence in Memory Care, will lead this live/interactive web session. Participants can connect through their computer. Register online at https://alzni.org/caregivers/caregiving/.

SOUTH BEND — RiverBend Cancer Services Wellness House, 3516 E. Jefferson Blvd., will offer the following “Living Well with Cancer” classes. All classes are free and open to cancer patients, survivors, their families and caregivers; register for all classes by calling 574-287-4197.

• Oct. 15: 1:30 p.m. Head and Neck Cancer Support Group.

• Oct. 16: 10 a.m. Seated Strength; 1 p.m. Halloween Fun Craft; 5:30 p.m. Gentle Yoga.

• Oct. 17: 10:30 a.m. Chair Yoga; 11:45 a.m. Chair Yoga; 1 p.m. MELT.

• Oct. 18: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Massage; 10 a.m. Seated Strength; 2 p.m. Dominoes; 2 p.m. Reiki; 4:30 p.m. Game night; 4:30 p.m. Tai Chi; 5:30 p.m. General Support Group.

• Oct. 19: 10 a.m. Yarnwork; 10:30 a.m. Chair Yoga; 11:45 a.m. Chair Yoga; 1 p.m. Debbie’s Wig Salon; 2 p.m. Personal Training.

Events

LAKEVILLE — Attend a free educational presentation at the Lakeville Branch of the St. Joseph County Public Library, 120 N. Michigan St. from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17. Titled “Medicare 101,” the presentation is for anyone already on or approaching Medicare age, spouses or children who help make these type of decisions, and anyone under 65 who is on disability and receiving Medicare benefits as well. Information will include explanations of Part B and Part D, how to enroll, when to enroll and more.

GOSHEN — Goshen Health is offering free advance planning seminars every third Tuesday of the month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Advance care planning is a process to document the medical care you want to receive if you would become unable to communicate your wishes. The seminar will explain the role of an advance care plan, what to include in a plan and how to designate a healthcare representative. Participants will have the opportunity to schedule a private appointment to complete their document. The seminar is held in the Arbor Conference Room at Goshen Hospital, 200 High Park Ave. Registration is required at GoshenHealth.com/Plan-Ahead or by calling 574-364-2288. Participants are encouraged to bring a family member or close friend who will be involved with their healthcare decisions. The next seminar will be held Oct. 17.

SOUTH BEND — The St. Joseph County Department of Health will provide free lead screenings, for children ages 1 to 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 19 in Study Room L105 at the St. Joseph County Public Library, 304 S. Main St. Screenings are done via blood draw and take approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Risks of lead poisoning for a child include living/spending time in homes built before 1978; siblings with elevated blood lead levels; family members working in high-risk environments that include working with metals or lead based items; and household members with high-risk hobby (stained glass, refurbishing antiques, etc.)

SOUTH BEND — The South Bend Police Department will host a free car seat safety check from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at 701 W. Sample St. Follow the signage to enter the inspection site. SBPD Car Seat Technicians will ensure car seats are installed properly and that children are in the appropriate seat for their age, height and weight. Children must be present for the safety check. Techs will also inspect infant car seats for babies that haven’t yet arrived. The event is in partnership with State Farm and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institution.

GOSHEN — Working through grief alone can be difficult. Goshen Health is offering a half-day event on grief and loss, depression and the spiritual elements of grief. The workshop, Understanding Grief, will provide information about grieving and how to develop comforting ways of remembering people you have lost. The schedule will allow for questions and small group discussion. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Arber Conference Center at Goshen Hospital, 200 High Park Ave. Registration is encouraged and can be completed at goshenhealth.com/forms/grief-workshop or by calling 574-364-2533. Dr. James Wheeler of Goshen Center for Cancer Care will lead the event.

Support Groups

MISHAWAKA — Michiana Hematology Oncology will hold its monthly Breast Cancer Survivor Support Group meeting from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at 5340 Holy Cross Parkway. The group is led by Dr. Zon, physician emeritus of MHO. This month’s guest speaker is Katherine Leng, medical science liaison, who will present “Find Your Finish to Anti-Estrogen Therapy with Precision Testing.” All are welcome including current patients, family members and cancer support advocates. Sign-up is not required. If you would like to RSVP or ask a question, contact Monica Chan at 574-231-6479; monica.chan@mhopc.com.

Vaccinations

GOSHEN — Goshen Physicians will host drive-thru flu shot clinics this fall. All community members, age 10 and older, are eligible. The shot is free with most insurance plans. Cash, check and credit card will also be accepted. Self-pay is $40 for the low dose and $107 for the high dose. No prior registration is necessary. Bring a photo ID, insurance card and payment method. Parent/guardian signature is required for those under 18.

• Oct. 14 – 8:30 a.m. to noon, Urgent Care Goshen Physicians, 2824 Elkhart Road, Goshen.

• Oct. 24 – 6 to 8 p.m., Goshen Physicians Family Medicine/North Webster, 301 N. Main St., Suite 121, North Webster.

• Nov. 4 – 10 a.m. to noon, Goshen Physicians/Parkway at 17, 851 Parkway Ave., Elkhart.

Dates and times are subject to change for inclement weather.

Blood drives

Medical Foundation will hold the following drives. Register at givebloodnow.com:

• Elkhart Health and Aquatics, 200 E. Jackson Blvd., Elkhart, 2 to 6 p.m. Oct. 13.

• North Liberty Fire Department, 305 S. State St., North Liberty, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 14.

• St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church, 203 S. Lincoln Ave., Niles, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 15.

• Tenneco, 3605 W. Cleveland Road, South Bend, 5 to 9 a.m. Oct. 17 and 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 19.

• Saint Joseph Health System-Mishawaka, 5215 Holy Cross Parkway, Mishawaka, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 17.

• VFW Post 985, 1201 W. Pike St., Goshen, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 18.

• Lab Corp, 3575 Moreau Court, South Bend, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 19.

The American Red Cross will hold the following drives. Register at redcrossblood.org:

• St. Pius X Church, 52553 Fir Road, Granger, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 13.

• St. Mary of Assumption Church, 28 W. Ash St., Three Oaks, noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 13.

• Shipshewana Church of the Nazarene, 2695 N. 900 W., Shipshewana, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 14.

• Mishawaka High School, 1202 Lincoln Way E., Mishawaka, 1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 16.

• Caretel Inns of St. Joseph, 3905 Lorraine Path, St. Joseph, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 17.

• Knights of Columbus, 901 E. Jefferson St., Plymouth, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 18.

• Silver Beach Center, 333 Broad St., St. Joseph, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 18.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Health Briefs for South Bend area from Oct. 13-19, 2023