Health Briefs for this week

Cheryl Morey, South Bend Tribune
·6 min read
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Great Lakes Gastroenterology joins Corewell Health

ST. JOSEPH — Southwestern Michigan area residents can access gastroenterology services at a new Corewell Health facility, Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals Gastroenterology, 3903 Hollywood Road. The facility, formerly Great Lakes Gastroenterology, joined Corewell Health on Nov. 1. Services will offer patients across Southwestern Michigan access to experienced gastroenterologists who treat and care for a variety of conditions that affect the digestive system, such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, food allergies and stomach ulcers. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 269-408-1100.

Classes

SOUTH BEND — Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana will offer the free class “Being Their Advocate” from 10 to 11 a.m. Nov. 13 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/.

VIRTUAL — Franciscan Health is offering prediabetic patients the opportunity to help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes with its year-long Diabetes Prevention Program. This program follows guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that have proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Throughout the course, participants work with a certified healthy lifestyle coach with goals to reduce body weight by 5% to 7% and increase physical activity to 150 minutes per week.

The program is open to participants 18 and older who have been diagnosed as prediabetic, not those who have previously been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. They must also have a body mass index greater than 25. Those who had a previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes or a screening result indicting a high risk of type 2 diabetes are also eligible to participate.

A free virtual information session will be held at 5 p.m. CST Nov. 20. Registration for the informational session is available online at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/266329637421901148. To register for the class, which begins Nov. 28 and continues every Tuesday from 5 to 6 p.m. Central, contact Amy Lambert at amy.lambert@franciscanalliance.org.

GOSHEN — Chair Yoga will be offered by the Elkhart County Parks from 9 to 10 a.m. Nov. 16 in the Ox Bow Haus Shelter in Ox Bow Park, 23033 County Road 45. Chair Yoga is a gentle form of yoga that is done while seated or using a chair for balance. Wear comfortable clothing. Some mats are available; bring your own if you have one. This is a free class for those 12 years and older. No registration is required.

Events

MISHAWAKA — The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention invites those who have lost a loved one to suicide to participate in a day of healing at an International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day (Survivor Day) event held on or near the day’s observance on Nov. 18. There will be events held in Goshen and Mishawaka. This event offers attendees the opportunity to learn coping strategies, explore grief and discover resources to help with the healing journey. Survivors can register at:

Mishawaka: St. Peter Lutheran Church, 437 E. Dragoon Trail, 10:30 a.m. to noon Nov. 18; Mishawaka-indiana.isosld.afsp.org.

Goshen: Goshen Theater, 216 S. Main St., 3 to 4 p.m. Nov. 18; Goshen-indiana.isosld.afsp.org.

ST. JOSEPH — Holiday Blues-Hospice & Palliative Care will hold its annual program offering participants to share and gain renewed strength to walk through grief during the holiday season. Contact 269-983-2707 to RSVP. The program will be held at the following locations:

• Corewell Health Hospice & Palliative Care, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, noon to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 14.

• Niles YMCA, 905 N. Front St., Niles, noon to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 16.

SOUTH BEND — Changes are coming to Medicare in 2024 and the St. Joseph County Public Library is offering a free educational presentation, “Medicare 101.” This presentation is for anyone already on Medicare, anyone approaching Medicare age, a spouse and/or children of those on Medicare who help make these decisions, and anyone under 65 who is on disability and receiving Medicare benefits. Many questions and topics will be covered. Medicare annual enrollment period is Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. The presentation will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at the German Township Branch, Black Forest Room, 52807 Lynnewood Ave.

Support Groups

MISHAWAKA — Michiana Hematology Oncology will hold its monthly Breast Cancer Survivor Support Group meeting from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at 5340 Holy Cross Parkway. The group is led by Dr. Zon, physician emeritus of MHO. This month’s guest speaker is Dr. Erica Martin, South Bend pathologist, presenting “Understanding Your Pathology Report.” 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.

Blood drives

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

• Galien American Legion Post 344, 344 Third St., Galien, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 13.

• First Church of God, 2020 E. Lincolnway, LaPorte, noon to 6 p.m. CST Nov. 13.

• University of Notre Dame, 101 Duncan Center, South Bend, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 14.

• Uptown Social, 907 Franklin St., Michigan City, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST Nov. 14.

• St. Isidore Hall, 803 W. Bike St., Bremen, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 15.

• The Acorn, 107 Generations Drive, Three Oaks, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 15.

• Pleasant View Church, 58529 County Road 23, Goshen, 1 to 6 p.m. Nov. 15.

• Silver Beach Center, 333 Broad St., St. Joseph, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 15.

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

• Hardware Plus, 611 Lincoln Way W., Osceola, 2 to 6 p.m. Nov. 10.

• Walkerton/Lincoln Twp. Public Library, 406 Adams Road, Walkerton, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 10.

• VFW Post 985, 1201 W. Pike St., Goshen, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 11.

• Baugo Community Schools, 59021 County Road 3 S., Elkhart, 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 13.

• University of Notre Dame Law School, 1100 Eck Hall of Law, South Bend, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 13.

• Holy Cross College, 54515 Indiana 933, South Bend, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 14.

• Palmer Community Complex, 601 N. Michigan St., Lakeville, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14.

• KMC Controls, 19476 Industrial Drive, New Paris, 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 15.

• Lippert Components, 2703 College Ave., Goshen, 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 15.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Health Briefs for the week of Nov. 10-16, 2023