Inova Blood Donor Services is seeking new donors and past donors to give blood. On Aug. 29, 2:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., a blood drive will take place at Trader Joe's at Baileys Crossroads, 5847 Leesburg Pike, Baileys Crossroads. On Aug. 29, three donor centers also will be celebrating with tropical treats at a luau. Come and celebrate the fun while giving the gift of life to members of your community. The three Inova Blood Donor Services facilities are taking part in this special event.
Woodburn Donor Center
3289 Woodburn Road, Suite 10
Annandale, 703-698-3885
CentreMed Donor Center
6201 Centreville Road
Centreville, 703-322-1970
Inova Alexandria Hospital Donor Center (appointments required)
4320 Seminary Road
Alexandria, 703-504-3500
Special donor days include Friday, Sept. 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.at Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street, SE, Vienna. Call 1-866-256-6372.
For further information, call 1-866-BLOODSAVES or visit www.inova.org/donateblood.
Keeping your brain healthy into the future. Get out for dinner and gain strength as a couple facing the journey into Alzheimer's disease and its challenges. Learn how to cope with each other's concerns and increase understanding of the disease and practical solutions for day-to-day life. Alzheimer's Family Day Center (AFDC) will host it's Couple's Facing Alzheimer's Disease Potluck Dinner, Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 6 - 8 p.m. There will be dinner and then a discussion, "Health Aging: Keeping your Brain Healthy into the Future." AFDC is located at 2036 Westmoreland St., Falls Church. Contact Joan at 703-532-8899 or afdc@alzheimersfdc.org for details and to sign up.
TransPARENTING seminar. Formerly known as Children COPE, this seminar can help parents know how to respond to their children during the transitions of family break-ups or separations. Registration for summer and fall sessions is being accepted by Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS). Information includes feelings associated with separation and divorce, ways that children of different ages react during transitions, parenting approaches that benefit children, and ways to talk to children about change. Seminar is inappropriate for children, so parents attending must make alternative child care plans. Fee is $35 per person and payable at any NVFS office. All classes are on Saturdays, 8:45 a.m.-1 p.m., and meet the parental education guidelines specified by the Virginia Supreme Court. Space limited; registration required. For information in English, call 703-219-2198; for Spanish, call 703-219-2199. Classes are: Aug. 30, Merrifield, English; Sept. 13, Oakton, Spanish; Sept. 20, Merrifield, English; Oct. 4, Merrifield, English; Oct. 11, Oakton, Spanish. For general services, call 703-385-3267. Visit www.nvfs.org.
La Leche League of Vienna will host its next meetings on Sept. 3 and Oct. 1 at 10 a.m. The topic for September is "Baby Arrives: The Family and the Breastfed Baby." Pregnant and nursing women as well as their children are welcome to attend. Meeting location is St. Mark's Catholic Church, 9970 Vale Road, Vienna. Free. For more information or questions, contact a La Leche League Leader at 703-281-5801 or 703-716-4872 or abcgray@hotmail.com.
"Clutter Control and Time Management" will be the topic of the Sept. 18 program of CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) of Northern Virginia. The session will be conducted by Sandy Maynard, the writer of "Coaches on Call" for ADDitude Magazine. The program is at 7 p.m. in the multipurpose lecture room at Fairfax High School, 3500 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. The program is free and open to the public.
Learn from a master gardener how to design an arthritis-friendly garden. A rheumatologist will discuss rheumatoid arthritis and the latest treatments. An occupational therapist will talk about the physical and psychological benefits of gardening. The meeting will take place on Sept. 30 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the Mariott in Tysons Corner, 8028 Leesburg Pike. The event is free. R.S.V.P. at 1-877-99-CANDO.
Equipping Teens, a skill-building group for teenagers based on the Equip model, teaches anger management through fun and engaging activities and group discussion. This Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) group begins Oct. 6 and is open to youth ages 15 to 18 who are currently enrolled in high school. Participants should be substance free and not have felony convictions or be at serious risk of harming themselves or others. Led by NVFS's professional social workers and family clinicians, the 90 minute sessions cost $25 each. For more information, call Beth Spring at 703-219-2179. Visit www.nvfs.org.
HAVEN of Northern Virginia, 4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale, offers several ongoing free bereavement support groups.
*General bereavement support group for anyone grieving the death of a loved one. Meets the first and third Wednesday of each month, 7:30-9 p.m.
*Widow/widower bereavement support group for anyone grieving the death of a spouse. One group meets the first and third Thursday of each month, 2-3:30 p.m., the other on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, 7:30-9 p.m.
*Suicide survivors bereavement support group for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide meets the first Tuesday of each month, 7:30-9 p.m.
*Grandparents bereavement support group for anyone grieving the loss of a grandchild meets the third Thursday each month, 7:30-9 p.m.
Call 703-941-7000 or visit www.havenofnova.org for more information.
Alzheimers Association Caregiver Support Groups are facilitated by trained group leaders, ongoing, free and open to the community. Support groups allow families to meet other caregivers, to share experiences and caregiving tips while developing coping skills. Caregivers and family members are invited to visit.
In Oakton, the group meets the third Monday of the month from 7:30 p.m. at Sunrise Senior Living (10322 Blake Lane). Call Betty Moore, group leader, at 703 255-2050 prior to attending for the first time. For a complete listing of Alzheimerís Association support groups meeting throughout the National Capital Area, call toll-free 1-866-259-0042 or visit www.alz-nca.org. Support groups are subject to change. Contact the support group leader prior to attending for the first time to verify date, time and location.
Inova Blood Donor Services is in critical need of all blood types and of blood platelets. Donating blood now will ensure that supplies will be plentiful during the summer months, a time when supplies decrease and need increases. With more traffic accidents on busy highways, the only Level 1 trauma center in Northern Virginia, Inova Fairfax Hospital, will be needing more blood. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended. Each facility has morning and evening hours. Must be 17 or older and weigh 100 pounds or more. Call 1-866-BLOODSAVES or log on to www.inova.org/donateblood to schedule an appointment.
CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Hyperactivity Disorder) of Northern Virginia. A support group meets on the second Tuesday of each month, 7:15 p.m., at Dolley Madison Library, 1244 Oak Ridge Ave., McLean. Contact Annette Spector, aspector@der-online.com, with questions. The support group schedule is also posted online at www.novachadd.org. For more information about these and other upcoming meetings, call 703-641-5451 or e-mail nova_chadd@hotmail.com.
Good Grief for Teen-Agers 13-18. Meetings on Mondays to be decided, 7:30-8:30 p.m., at the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Suite 203, Room B. Through group activities and art therapy, teen-agers can share thoughts and feelings about their loss to help with the grief process. Call 703-698-2841 for information and upcoming group schedule, or visit www.lifewithcancer.org.
The Parkinson's Disease Young Onset Support Group will meet on the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Dolley Madison Library lower level meeting room at 1244 Oak Ridge Avenue in McLean. There is no charge. Patients, caregivers and family members are welcome. Call Hilary Blue at 703-821-1393 for more information.
The Northern Virginia Epilepsy Group meets every Wednesday, 7-8 p.m., at the Falls Church High School Career Center, Room 100, 7521 Jaguar Trail.
The Reston Epilepsy Group has a new meeting location. The group will now meet from 7-8:30 p.m. on the second Friday of each month at Supervisor Catherine M. Hudgins/Hunter Mill District office, North County Government Center, meeting room, 12000 Bowman Town Drive.
Inova Reference Laboratory is expanding laboratory testing services with a newly opened location in Vienna. The new site is located at 110 Maple Ave. E., and is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Life with Cancer Caregivers Meeting. Every Wednesday, 5:30-7 p.m. Meetings for family members to discuss and explore topics of concern including coping strategies, support, information related to cancer and more. Use Blue parking garage. Meetings held at Inova Fairfax Woman's Center, radiation oncology conference room at 3300 Gallows Road in Falls Church. 703-698-2841 for registration and information.
Social Skills/Therapy Groups. In small, age-appropriate groups, children who have difficulty in social situations learn and practice appropriate behavior, such as initiating and maintaining conversation, listening, sharing, problem-solving, self-control, handling teasing, dealing with emotions, and making friends $55-$65 per session. (May be insurance-reimbursable.) For registration, call the Jewish Social Service Agency at 703-204-9100.
HAVEN of Northern Virginia, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, needs volunteers to provide emotional support to the bereaved, the seriously ill, the dying and their family and friends. Volunteers must be available during weekdays and must be able to commit to a minimum of 2 1/2 hours a week for phone duty for at least one year. Training is provided and will be offered in September. For additional details and information, call 703-941-7000. Visit www.havenofnova.org.
The Alzheimer's Family Day Center is looking for volunteers. If interested, contact Joan at 703-532-8899 or afdc@alzheimersfdc.org.
Recovery Inc., a nonprofit support group for depression, bipolar disorder and other nervous diseases, meets every Friday at Boulevard Baptist Church, 7000 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church. Contact Lee, 703-777-1708.
The American Red Cross is offering Infant and Child CPR at Dunn Loring United Methodist Church, 2501 Gallows Road, from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. The fee is $40. To enroll, call 703-964-0004 or visit www.redcrossnca.org.
The Caregivers Meeting is a weekly drop-in group for family members and friends of those with cancer to discuss various concerns. Wednesdays from 7-8:30 p.m., Inova Fairfax Hospital in the Radiation Oncology Conference Room. Use the Blue garage. 703-698-2841, or visit lifewithcancer.org.
Become a Foster or Adoptive Parent Today. A chance to make a difference in a child’s life. Call Fairfax County’s Foster Care and Adoption Program at 703-324-7639.
Amputee Support Group of Northern Virginia. A support group for amputees, their families and friends. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month, 7:30-9 p.m., at Inova Fairfax Hospital, Physician's Conference Center, Room 1D, first floor, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church. There is no cost to participants, and parking is provided free in the garage for cars displaying handicapped placards or license plates. Contact Irvin Axelrod at 703-222-7120 or e-mail asgnva@earthlink.net for more information.
Depression and Manic Depression Support Group. The Sterling/Reston Chapter of DRADA, meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month, 7-9 p.m. For location, contact Traci at 703-433-1448 or Jan at 703-669-5177. DRADA stands for Depressive and Related Affective Disorders Association, a nonprofit, self-help group sponsored by Johns Hopkins, which has been in existence for over 20 years.
Virginia Health Information (VHI). VHI, a nonprofit, independent organization, has published information on its Web site, www.vhi.org, reporting on the in-patient cardiac care provided at all licensed hospitals in Virginia. The information compares their performance and mortality outcomes. VHI’s study is based on over 100,000 cardiac patient discharges submitted by Virginia hospitals for the year 2000.
Shoplifters Anonymous. Group offers a new 12-step meeting program for those who wish to stop compulsive shoplifting. The group meets every Thursday, 7-8 p.m., at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 7426 Idylwood Road. Call Sue at 703-759-0396 or Carol at 703-764-0347 to confirm the meeting date.
The American Hospital Association has named Inova Regional Trauma Center's Rebuild program a 2003 AHA NOVA award finalist. The award recognizes Rebuild for being an effective and collaborative effort aimed at improving the community's health. Rebuild offers trauma patients the chance to support each other through support groups and mentoring programs, thereby offering the emotional support that many trauma patients need.