<lst>Have any health notes to submit to the paper? New class? New or ongoing support group? Blood drive? Fax a brief write-up to 703-917-0991 or e-mail vienna@connectionnewspapers.com. Call Nina M. Dry at 703-917-6422.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving sponsors a meeting for the Drunk Driving Victim Support Group on Tuesday, March 1 at 7 p.m. Free. New Participants are welcome. For more information, call 703-978-3025.
La Leche League of Vienna meets on March 2, at 10 a.m., at the American Legion Post, 330 Center St., N., Vienna. The topic of the meeting is "Nutrition and Weaning." Free. For more information, call 703-281-5801, 703-716-4872 or send an e-mail to abcgray@hotmail.com.
Mothers First — Vienna/McLean is dedicated to supporting women that have chosen to alter their careers to raise their children at home. Activities include parent/child morning meetings and field trips, moms night out and lectures. March meetings take place March 8 and March 22 from 10:15 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Ave., E. Vienna. For more information, call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Borders at Tysons Corner hosts Roberta Satow who discusses the lecture, "Doing the Right Thing: Taking Care of Your Elderly Parents Even If They Didn't Take Care of You," on Friday, March 18, at 7:30 p.m. Satow discusses her approach to middle-age caregiving in a strained parent-child relationship. For more information, call 703-556-7766. Borders is located at 8027 Leesburg Pike, Vienna.
The Alzheimer's Association, National Capital Area accepts used car donations through its partner cars4charities. To participate, call 1-866-448-3487 or visit www.cars4charities.org. Vehicles are towed away free of charge. Some restrictions apply.
Cholesterol testing available every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Inova Patient Service Center, 110 E. Maple Ave, No. 110 Vienna. Have cholesterol, glucose, Lipid Profile (fasting for this test only), PSA, glycohemoglobin or lead level tested for a small fee. Results mailed directly to participants' home. Walk-ins only. Check or money order accepted. Call 703-599-5219 for more information.
Parkinson's Groups. A Parkinson's Disease caregivers/carepartners support group meets the third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m., at Dolley Madison Library, lower level meeting room, 1244 Oak Ridge Ave., McLean. Call Angela Robb, 703-277-9666.
A Fairfax Parkinson’s Disease support group meets at 1 p.m. on the third Thursday at the Little River Glen Senior Center, 4001 Barker Court, Fairfax. The Parkinson Foundation (PFNCA) welcomes patients and family members. No charge. For more information, call Leon at 202-966-4450.
Vienna Chair Exercise Class. Persons with Parkinson's Disease are invited to join an exercise class that meets on Tuesday and Friday at 12:30 p.m., at the Vienna Community Center. Carepartners and family members are welcome to come and assist the PD patient. For session dates, fees and information, contact Cheryl Bartholomew at 703-281-1560. To register, call the Center desk at 703-255-6360 and specify the "Heart and Sole" class.
Suicide Survivors Support Group. A suicide survivors bereavement support group meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m., at HAVEN of Northern Virginia, 4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale. Call 703-941-7000 or visit www.havenofnova.org.
Donate Blood. Inova Blood Donor Services is open weekdays, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturdays, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., at its main location at 3289 Woodburn Road in Annandale. To inquire about appointments at a convenient donor center or blood drive, call 1-866-BLOOD SAVES (1-866-256-6372) or visit www.inova.org/donateblood.
Other Inova blood donation sites are:
* Inova Alexandria Hospital
4320 Seminary Road, Alexandria, Va.
703-504-3500
Hours: Monday and Wednesday; noon-8 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
* Inova Mount Vernon Hospital
2501 Parker's Lane, Alexandria, Va.
703-664-7229
Hours: Monday-Thursday; 4-7 p.m.
* CentreMed, Centreville, Va.
703-322-1970
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; noon-8 p.m.
Saturday; 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Life with Cancer, an Inova Health System program, 2832 Juniper St., Merrifield, offers a number of support groups and events for individuals and families coping with cancer. For children, call 703-208-5623. Adults, call 703-698-2841, or visit www.lifewithcancer.org.
Lung Cancer Group. Facilitated by an oncology counselor. At the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Merrifield, Room 1E. Call 703-698-2841; visit www.lifewithcancer.com.
Eating Can be Good for You! After a cancer diagnosis and during cancer treatment, many worry about eating the "right" foods. Julia Thorsen, registered dietitian for the Cancer Patient Nutrition Support Program at Inova Cancer Center, provides recent findings and recommendations to get the year off to a good nutritional start. Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Merrifield, Suite 203, Room B. To register, call 703-698-2841 or visit www.lifewithcancer.com.
TLC: Teens Living with Cancer. Monthly social activities for 13- to 18-year-olds who have cancer give them a chance to meet others with cancer, share a little, have fun. Call 703-208-5623 for details. At the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Fairfax. Call 703-698-2841 or visit www.lifewithcancer.org.
Carcinoid Cancer Group. Meet with other carcinoid cancer patients and their adult loved ones to share experiences and learn from one another in this monthly group meeting. At the Life with Cancer Family Center, 2832 Juniper St., Merrifield, Room 1E. 703-698-2841, www.lifewithcancer.com.
Individual Reiki Appointments. Schedule an individual session with a certified Reiki practitioner, and experience the benefits of this ancient healing practice. Dress comfortably. To register, call 703-698-2841 or visit www.lifewithcancer.org.
Mothers and the Law, a support/focus group for women with an interest in promoting justice for mothers and children of separation and divorce, meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m., in the library of McLean Baptist Church, 1367 Chain Bridge Road, McLean. Share experiences as litigants in the courts of Virginia. For more information, call 703-421-6203 or 703-748-0072.
Fibromyalgia/Arthritis Support Group. Meets the second Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m., at the Sherwood Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria. For more information, call Arthritis Foundation at 202-537-6800, Ext. 3026, or Barbara at 703-913-0890.
Weight Management. Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) meets Thursdays at 6:45 p.m., at Bruen Chapel United Methodist Church, 3035 Cedar Lane, Fairfax. For more information, call 703-205-9041.
HAVEN of Northern Virginia, 4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale, offers several ongoing, free bereavement support groups.
A 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.
A widow/widower bereavement support group for anyone grieving the death of a spouse. One group meets the first and third Thursdays of each month, 2-3:30 p.m. An evening group meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays each month, from 7:30-9 p.m.
A 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.
Call 703-941-7000 or visit www.havenofnova.org for more information.
Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Groups. Meetings 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).
In McLean, a caregiver support group meets on the second Monday of each month at 1 p.m. at The Sylvestery, 1728 Kirby Road in McLean. The Sylvestery is Vinson Hall Retirement Community's new assisted living residence for the care of people with memory impairments. Barbara Adams, M.S.W., will be the support group leader. Call Betty Moore, group leader, at 703-255-2050, before attending for the first time.
For a complete listing of Alzheimer’s Association support groups meet 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 to verify date, time and location.
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.
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a national non-profit group whose members help each other understand the pressures to eat and the ways to resist. For more information, call 703-273-3741 or 703-532-3213.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society sponsors the “First Connection” program, which matches patients newly diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma or another blood-related cancer — and their families — with cancer survivors who have lived through a similar illness. For more information on this program, call 703-960-1100, ext. 231.
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.
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. Call 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. Cost is $55-$65 per session. (May be insurance-reimbursable.) For registration, call the Jewish Social Service Agency at 703-204-9100.
The Alzheimer's Family Day Center is looking for volunteers. If interested, contact Joan at 703-532-8899 or afdc@alzheimersfdc.org.