Health briefs: Eastern YMCA offering healthy living workshops and classes
The Eastern Community YMCA is offering a series of free healthy living workshops and classes which are open to the community.
Classes include:
• Weight Loss Workshop: The 12-week program begins Jan. 29 and meets Mondays from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The workshops focus on nutrition, activity, stress and sleep.
• Diabetes Prevention: People with diabetes and prediabetes and 100-125 mg/dl fasting glucose are invited to participate in the course, which includes 25 session that meet over a year. Begins Feb. 6 and meets Wednesdays from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Participants will learn, laugh, share stories, try new things and build new habits, all while lowering their risk of type 2 diabetes and improving their health.
• Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention: The eight-week program is geared toward people who have not experienced a recent cardiac event. The program includes discussions on topics related to high blood pressure including nutrition, exercise and other factors that may contribute to hypertension. Proper use of a blood pressure monitor is demonstrated and each participant will have his/her blood pressure checked every week. Begins Feb. 20 and meets Wednesdays from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Exercise Class for Parkinson's: The “Movement Improvement” class is ongoing and meets Monday and Wednesday from 12-1 p.m. The class is intended to improve functions affected by Parkinson’s including coordination and strength, balance and posture, range and speed of movement and voice volume and cognitive abilities. Participants must be able to walk without a cane or walker.
Call 419-725-7844 or visit healthyliving@ymcatoledo.org to reserve a spot.
Alzheimer’s support goup forming in Ottawa County
The Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter is looking for caregivers to start a new support group in Ottawa County.
Those who would be interested in attending a support group may contact Dakota Stone, program coordinator for Ottawa County, at 567-302-3608 or dlstone@alz.org
Alzheimer’s Association caregiver support groups are free, ongoing meetings for caregivers of individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
These groups provide a forum for caregivers to share feelings, needs and concerns in a confidential, safe, supportive, non-threatening and non-judgmental atmosphere. Support groups help participants develop coping methods and encourage maintenance of their personal, physical and emotional health, as well as optimal care for the person living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.
The groups provide an opportunity for members to:
• Exchange practical caregiving information, challenges and possible solutions.
• Share ways to adapt to the ongoing stress of caregiving.
• Express and work through feelings of fear, frustration, worry, guilt, anger and other caregiver emotions.
• Assist family members in understanding the impact of the disease on family dynamics and develop realistic expectations of themselves and the person living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.
• Provide social contact for those who feel isolated because of their care responsibilities.
• Connect people with similar experiences so they support each other outside of meetings.
• Emphasize the importance of maintaining physical and mental health through respite and involvement in family life, work, community, and social and recreational activities.
• Familiarize participants with the association and other community resources.
• Help participants learn to appropriately advocate on behalf of their needs.
There are 493,000 people caring for 220,000 Ohioans 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association’s “2023 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures” report. The number of Ohioans living with Alzheimer's is expected to increase to 250,000 by 2025.
Those concerned about themselves or a loved one may contact the Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter at 419-537-1999 to schedule a care consultation and be connected to local resources.
New Year’s Baby
ProMedica Bay Park Hospital welcomed its first baby born in 2024 at 9:25 p.m. on Jan. 1.
The baby boy, born to Ashley Howard and Derrik Laderach, of Toledo, was named Sawyer Richard Laderach. He weighed in at 9 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 22 inches long.
Lucas Board of DD hosting drive-thru
The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is hosting its second annual drive-thru event in honor of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on Tuesday, Jan. 9. Staff will be handing out sensory tool kits to area law enforcement agencies.
These kits feature a weighted blanket, headphones and board-branded fidget toys. The items can help someone with autism or sensory sensitivities to calm and manage their emotions, especially during interactions with police officers or other first responders.
Last year, the board handed out more than 40 tool kits to around 12 police departments.
The event will start at 11 a.m. and run through 1 p.m. at the agency’s South Toledo headquarters at 1154 Larc Lane.
Magruder hosting lab screenings, blood drives
Magruder Hospital’s next monthly community lab screening will be held Thursday, Jan. 11 between 8 and 11:30 a.m. at the Magruder Community Clinic, 730 Jefferson Street in Port Clinton.
The main lab test is a CBC, CMP and lipid profile, which includes liver and kidney function, fasting blood sugar, cholesterol, HDL/LDL, triglycerides and a complete blood count (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood) for $50.
Add-on tests are also available, including:
• Lipid profile: $20.
• Hemoglobin A1C: $20.
• PSA (prostate specific antigen): $30.
• TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone): $25.
• Vitamin D: $35.
Community lab screenings are offered on the second Thursday of each month. Appointments are required and may be made by calling 419-301-4304.
Participants are asked to fast for 12 hours prior to their appointment time, but they can have water. No insurance is accepted – payment may be made by cash, check or credit card (no American Express).
Blood drives
The American Red Cross will hold blood drives in the Magruder Hospital Conference Center, 615 Fulton St., Friday, Jan. 12 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 23 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Appointments are required and may be made by calling 1-800-RED-CROS or visiting redcrossblood.org.
Learn more about nearby blood drives by visiting redcrossblood.org and entering your ZIP code.
Mobile mammogram van
Mercy Health’s mobile mammography unit has visits scheduled throughout the region in January and beyond.
Customized for patient convenience, the mobile mammography unit delivers mammograms to women age 40 and older. It is equipped with the newest 3D technology and offers patients the option of self-compression, meaning the patient will have the ability to control the compression once she is in position.
Upcoming stops include:
• Wednesday, Jan. 10: Old West End Community Health Center, 2244 Collingwood Blvd., Toledo.
• Friday, Jan. 12: Mercy Health - Jefferson Family Avenue Medicine, 2200 Jefferson Ave., Toledo.
• Monday, Jan. 15: Mercy Health - Perrysburg Primary Care, 1103 Village Square.
• Friday, Jan. 19: Mercy Health - Waterville Primary Care, 1222 Pray Blvd.
• Monday, Jan. 22: Oak Street Health, 553 E. Manhattan Blvd., Toledo.
• Tuesday, Jan. 23: Sanger Branch Library, 3030 W. Central Ave., Toledo.
• Friday, Jan. 26: Mercy Health - St. Luke’s Campus, 5757 Monclova Rd., Maumee.
• Mercy Health; Sylvania Medical Center, 3100 King Rd.
• Tuesday, Jan. 30: Halim Clinic, 6855 Spring Valley Dr., Holland.
• Wednesday, Jan. 31: Mercy Health - Maumee Primary Care, 1657 Holland Rd., Maumee.
Certified radiologists read all mammograms. All results are double-checked with a computer-aided detection system that detects more breast cancer than mammography alone. The patient and her physician receive a copy of the results.
While mammogram screenings may be covered by insurance, for best coverage, patients should verify if Mercy Health – St. Charles Hospital is an in-network provider with their insurance carrier. Financial need-based assistance programs are available for those who are uninsured or underinsured (have high deductibles). Call 1-800-929-6626 for more information.
Screenings at the Mercy Health Mobile Mammography unit are by appointment only. Call 833-MAMM-VAN to schedule.
To view the full list of dates and locations, visit mercy.com/toledomobilemamm.
Hospice seeking hair care volunteers
Hospice of Northwest Ohio is seeking volunteers with a special skill set. Licensed hairdressers and barbers are needed to meet the needs of hospice patients and their families.
Hair care volunteers provide basic haircuts only for patients living in their homes or at nursing homes throughout Wood, Lucas, Fulton, Henry, Ottawa and Monroe counties.
For many hospice patients, getting out of the home or even out of bed is impossible. For some, it has been quite some time since they have been able to get a haircut. Having a fresh haircut can do much to improve the way patients look and feel about themselves.
Free volunteer training is provided. Learn more by calling 419-931-5534 or visit hospicenwo.org.