Winter/Spring 2008
Wellness Calendar

Wednesday, January 23, 6:30 PM
Journey to a Healthier Lifestyle Information Session
Facilitated by Sue Fortier, Meeting Waters YMCA Activate Windham County coordinator
Location: BMH – Brew Barry Conference Center
Journey to a Healthier Lifestyle is a facilitated education and support group designed by Meeting Waters YMCA staff for “health seekers”— people who desire a healthier lifestyle, but who need guidance and support to achieve and sustain that goal. Come to this free information session to learn how to support health behavior changes. There is also no cost for the program which starts a week later, but registration is requested. Call 802-246-1036 or e-mail sue@meetingwatersymca.org.

Monday, January 28, 7:00–8:30 PM
Changing For Good – Why Is Change So Hard?
Presented by Sandra Campbell, PsyD., Director of Eating Disorders Services, Retreat Healthcare
Location: BMH – Brew Barry Conference Center
Research shows that there are six well-defined stages of change. In this talk we will discuss these stages, the tasks involved in each stage, and common reasons why we tend to get stuck in our effort to make changes in our lives. This presentation will be of interest to anyone wanting to make a personal or life change, for example: smoking cessation, weight loss, job and /or relationship change. There is no fee for this program and no registration is necessary. Call Dr. Campbell at 802-258-6173 for more information about this program.

Tuesday evenings, January 29 – February 26, 5:30 – 8:00 PM
Death and Dying: A Class for Beginners
Presented by Bettina Berg, Hospice Volunteer and Education Coordinator, Brattleboro Area Hospice
Location: Brattleboro Area Hospice, 191 Canal Street, Brattleboro
Have you been tempted to call Brattleboro Area Hospice about taking the volunteer training, but talked yourself out of it because you do not have the time to volunteer? This winter, Brattleboro Area Hospice will offer a five-week class for those wishing to explore issues connected to death and dying. The curriculum will include material used in the training of hospice volunteers who serve families in the community facing terminal illness and death. The class will provide opportunities to explore ones own attitudes and feelings about death and dying, as well as to learn about how one might support a friend or neighbor during a time of loss. Class size is limited to 10 and registration is required. For questions or to register please call Bettina Berg at Brattleboro Area Hospice, 802-257-0775 x 102.

Wednesdays, January 30 – April 2, 6:30-8:00 PM
Journey to a Healthier Lifestyle – 10-week program
Facilitated by Sue Fortier, Meeting Waters YMCA Activate Windham County coordinator
Location: Marlboro College Technology Center – 26 Vernon St. – 3C conference room
Journey to a Healthier Lifestyle is a facilitated education and support group designed by Meeting Waters YMCA staff for “health seekers”—people who desire a healthier lifestyle but who need guidance and support to achieve and sustain that goal. Topics include: achieving health in spirit, mind and body; readiness for change; goal-setting; enlisting support; reducing barriers; and sustaining our healthy lifestyle. Support for healthy behavior changes will come not only from the Y staff but other participants, as well. More information and/or registration materials: sue@meetingwatersymca.org or 802-246-1036. No cost.

Monday, February 25, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Prevention and Maintaining Your Health After A Diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease
Presented by Dede Cummings, and Gastroenterologists Jeffry Potash, MD, & Corey Siegel, MD, Director, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, D-HMC
Location: BMH – Brew Barry Conference Center
Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, has no cure and can be difficult to diagnose. Cummings, a patient who deals with Crohn’s, is writing a book predominantly as a ‘wellness’ guide and will discuss her approach to maintaining a healthy lifestyle with the disease. Drs. Potash and Siegel will present a medical overview, along with current trends in treatment and options that work. Register for this free session by calling 802-257-8877.

Tuesdays, March 4 - April 8, 5:15-6:30 PM
Ready, Set...STOP Smoking Cessation Class
Location: BMH – Cafeteria Room B Conference Room
Have help from a trained facilitator to stop smoking in this free 6-week class which provides free nicotine replacement products to help kick the habit. To register, or for more information, call 802-251-8456. Other BMH Ready, Set...STOP Smoking Cessation Classes will be held starting Tuesday, May 6 and again Tuesday, July 1.

Wednesdays, March 5 - April 23, 5:00-¬6:30 PM
Letting Go of Stress Intro Session & 6-Week Class
Presented by Marc Cohen, MA
Location: BMH – Brew Barry Conference Center
Learn how stress affects your body and mind, and how you can counteract the negative impact of stress and develop ³stress hardiness². The introductory session on Wednesday, March 5 precedes the start of the six-week class two weeks later on Wednesday, March 19. The class continues until April 23. Call 802-257-8877 to register for the free introductory session. The class will provide participants with the theory, practice, and motivation to establish and maintain an effective lifelong stress reduction program. Enrollment limited; fee: $150 (includes audio tape and handouts). Call 802-257-0319 to register for the 6-week class.

Monday, March 10, 2008, 7:00-9:00 PM
Parenting Challenging Children, or Parenting From The End of Your Rope!
Presented by Mary Ann Abney, APRN, BC, Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse, Anna Marsh Behavioral Care Clinic, Retreat Healthcare & Annie Richards, APRN, Infant-Child Guidance Program
Location: BMH – Brew Barry Conference Center
In this presentation, participants will have the opportunity to share their own struggles with parenting, as well as to learn new and creative approaches to common behavioral issues with children and adolescents. Through video clips and handouts, participants will gain an appreciation of the characteristics of the LESS STRESSED parent. This presentation will encourage flexibility, patience, creativity, and above all compassion for ourselves as the parents of challenging children. Registration is recommended for this free session. Call 802-257-8877.

Tuesdays, March 18 – April 15, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Guiding Good Choices: 5-week Parenting Course
Facilitated by Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition
Location: BMH – Brew Barry Conference Center
Guiding Good Choices is an interactive 10-hour course for parents of 4th to 8th grade students that offers parents the tools and strategies to meet the challenge of guiding their pre-teens through adolescent problem behaviors into healthy, responsible adulthood. This research-based course teaches how to set clear guidelines, how to manage conflict, how to help children resist peer pressure, and how to strengthen family bonds. The course is free and participating parents will receive a $65 stipend for attending all five classes (paid at the end of the course). Pre-registration is required. Contact Sue Graff at 802-257-2175 for information or to register.

Wednesdays starting March 19 – April 23, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM
Healthier Living Workshop Series - 6 Sessions
Sponsored by Brattleboro Memorial Hospital
Location: BMH – Brew Barry Conference Center
This is the first of a 6-part series, free for Vermont residents, which is designed to help people with long-term health challenges maintain active and fulfilling lives. This interactive series is designed to help people who are experiencing chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, fibromyalgia chronic pain, MS, asthma, emphysema, and other long-term conditions to live healthier lives. (Their caretakers and/or support people are encouraged to attend.) Enrollment in this workshop, based on the Stanford University School of Medicine model, is limited. Call Jane Yetter Lunt at 802-251-8459 to register, or for more information. A course textbook and CD are provided.

Monday, March 31, 7:00-9:00 PM
VITAMIN D: It’s Not What You Think, and Does More Than We Thought
Presented by Nicholas H. Bartenhagen, MD, BMH Rheumatologist
Location: BMH – Brew Barry Conference Center
In fact, it’s not a vitamin, but an ancient hormone linking us to plankton and to the sun. Even in this Multivitamin Era, deficiency is still common, yet often overlooked. And the impact of untreated deficiency goes well beyond thinned bones. This free program will provide a ‘cutting-edge’ overview of this ancient hormone, delivered in plain English. Call 802-257-8877 to register.

Saturday & Sunday, April 5 & 6, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
AARP Driver Safety Program
Presented by AARP and BMH
Location: BMH – Brew Barry Conference Center
This drivers’ refresher course is for people 55 years old and over and is designed to provide awareness of aging as it affects driving. The class covers normal changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time associated with aging, and provides practical techniques to compensate. There will be a thorough review of ‘rules of the road’ with emphasis on defensive driving practices. Space is limited to 25 participants. Call 802-251-8425 by March 28 to register ($10 fee covers cost of materials).

Thursdays starting April 10 – May 15, 6:00-8:30 PM
Healthier Living Workshop Series - 6 Sessions
See Wednesday, March 19, for more information about this event.

Monday, April 14, 2008, 7:00-9:00 PM
Effective Caregiving
Presented by Paula J. Fellows, BS, Director, Case Management Program for Council on Aging for Southeastern Vermont.
Location: BMH – Brew Barry Conference Center
Are you taking care or helping to take care of someone? Beyond caring for the physical body, what else you should know? Paula J. Fellows, who has a psychology degree and 20 years of experience working with elders, caregivers, and provider agencies, will answer these, plus update local resources and caregiver funding sources. Paula is recognized for work with “Making the Link Program” and she was recipient of Vermont’s Agency of Human Services Secretary’s Community Award. Register for this free program at 802-257-8877.

Wednesday, April 23, and Wednesday, April 30, 4:00-6:00 PM
Elders on the Internet: Searching for Health Information Online
Presented by Jeanne Walsh, MSLIS, Reference Librarian at Brooks Memorial Library
Location: Brooks Memorial Library – Meeting Room, 224 Main St., Brattleboro
This two-part mini-course, based on a curriculum developed by the National Institute on Aging, will begin with an introduction to basic Internet conventions such as icons, arrows, and menus. From there, students will learn to navigate to a website and will explore the Senior Health website from the National Institutes of Health. Both sessions will include an overview and demonstration by the instructor followed by hands-on practice in two-person teams. This mini-course is for adults 65 and older who are interested in using the Internet as a tool for better health. Space is limited to 12, and participants should plan to attend both sessions. To register for this free course, call the library reference desk at 802-254-5290 x109.

Wednesday, May 7, 5:30 PM
Mediterranean Dining: A Healthy Approach to Living
Presented by Nutrition Services and Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehab
Location: BMH – Brew Barry Conference Center
This dinner, featuring low-fat fare based on food from the Mediterranean area, is open to the public, but seating is limited. The speaker is Casey Blust, BMH Physical Therapy Assistant, who will discuss a heart-healthy exercise program, including strengthening and flexibility, along with safety tips and “do’s and don’ts” for all ages, levels, and abilities. He will also talk about injuries and ways to avoid them. The cost is $9.95 per person, and reservations must be made by the Friday before. Call 802-257-8331.

Saturday & Sunday, May 10 & 11, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
AARP Driver Safety Program
See Sat/Sun, April 5, for more information about this event.

Wednesdays starting May 14 – June 18, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM
Healthier Living Workshop Series - 6 Sessions
See Wednesday, March 19, for more information about this event.

Saturday & Sunday, June 21 & 22, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM
AARP Driver Safety Program
See Sat/Sun, April 5, for more information about this event.

Grace Cottage Wellness Events

Sunday, Feb. 3, 1:00-4:00 PM
Therapeutic Touch Workshop
Location: Grace Cottage Hospital EMS Training Room, Rte. 35, Townshend
Therapeutic Touch encourages healing by balancing a person’s internal energy. Derived from the ancient art of laying on of hands, the recipient can benefit without believing or being aware of it. Presenter Patti Reardon, Grace Cottage’s Interim Director of Nursing, has been using therapeutic touch in her nursing practice for 12 years. To register, call 802-365-7357x218.

Wednesdays, Feb. 6 to 20, 6:00-8:00 PM
Heartsaver CPR & First Aid
Location: Grace Cottage Hospital EMS Training Room, Rte. 35, Townshend
Most heart attacks occur at home, but only six percent of victims survive because most witnesses don’t know CPR. This American Heart Association course teaches basic first aid and CPR. Those who complete the three sessions will receive a certification card. Call Barb Williams (802-365-3634) by January 25 to register and to order a workbook (cost: $16).

Saturday, Feb. 9, 1:00-3:00 PM
Winter Wonderland Family Sledding
Location: Townshend Dam Recreation Area
Oh what fun it is! It looks like a good year for sledding, so join us at Townshend Dam for an afternoon of exercise and good fun. Free, healthy snacks will be provided. This event is free, no need to RSVP. Some sleds will be available, but bring your own if you can. For information, call 802-365-9109.

Thursdays, Feb 21, March 20, April 17, May 15, & June 19, 10:00-11:00 AM
Brown Bag Medication Talks
Location: Grace Cottage Hospital Dining Room & Bill Berry Room, Townshend
Do you know exactly what your medications are? Why you’re taking them? Their side effects and interactions? Do vitamins and herbs affect your prescriptions? Now is your chance to find out. Bring all of your meds in a brown paper bag to Grace Cottage Hospital for a free, private consultation with a registered pharmacist. No appointment necessary. For information, call 802-365-9109.

Mondays, March 3 to April 7, 3:30 -4:30 PM
Relaxation Yoga
Location: Strong Living Room, Grace Cottage Hospital, Rte. 35, Townshend
Learn relaxation tips from certified yoga teacher Crystal Mansfield, Director of Grace Cottage’s Rehabilitation Department. These free classes teach a gentle form of yoga, focusing on breath work and poses. Class size limited to 10. To register, call 802-365-3616.

Mondays, March 3 to April 7, 5:00-6:30 PM
Ready, Set, STOP! Tobacco Cessation
Location: Grace Cottage Hospital EMS Training Room, Rte. 35, Townshend
If you’ve tried to stop, but still smoke, this free “Ready-Set-STOP!” program is for you. To help you, all nicotine replacement products are available free to any participating Vermont resident. Classes are taught by Sindy Hassig, PT, tobacco treatment specialist. Call 802-365-9109 to register. An on-going tobacco cessation support group meets Thursday evenings, 5:00-6:00 PM, in the EMS Room.

Tuesdays, March 4 to April 8, 4:30 -5:30 PM
Relaxation Yoga
Location: Strong Living Room, Grace Cottage Hospital, Rte. 35, Townshend
Learn relaxation tips from certified yoga teacher Crystal Mansfield, Director of Grace Cottage’s Rehabilitation Department. These free classes teach a gentle form of yoga, focusing on breath work and poses. Class size limited to 10. To register, call 802-365-3616.

Mondays & Wednesdays, March 17 to June 4, 10:30-11:30 AM or 5:00-6:00 PM
Tuesdays & Thursdays, March 18 to June 5, 8:45-9:45 AM or 10:30-11:30 AM
Strong Living Classes
Location: Strong Living Room, Grace Cottage Hospital, Rte. 35, Townshend
Strong Living is a 12-week strength and balance exercise program for older adults. Strength, balance, and bone health can help older adults live happier, healthier, more independent lives. Classes are led by Tufts University trained staff. For information and registration, call Laura at 802-365-3637.

Mondays, April 28 to June 9, 5:00-6:30 PM
Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Program
Location: Grace Cottage Hospital EMS Training Room, Rte. 35, Townshend
This course helps people living with arthritis and their caregivers. It covers all types of arthritis and related conditions like fibromyalgia; plus anatomy, joint protection, exercise, nutrition, stress reduction, medications, and communicating with doctors. Participants can reduce pain by up to 20 percent. The $20 fee covers the cost of the book, but this may be waived for financial hardship. Call 802-365-9109 to register.

Saturday, May 17, 10:00 AM-2 PM
Community Health Fair
Sponsored by Grace Cottage Hospital; Location: Leland & Gray High School, Townshend
A variety of non profit health- and safety-related organizations and agencies will present information about their services at this free and informative event. Kids will enjoy touring the state fire safety house and the scavenger hunt for information and prizes. Parents will learn about help for many family health needs. The DHART helicopter plans to land during the event. Raffle prizes, free blood pressure and blood sugar tests, and healthy snacks will be available. Call 802-365-9109 for information.

ONGOING SUPPORT GROUPS

Al-Anon
Every Thursday, 7:00-8:30 PM
BMH – Tyler Conference Room
For more info: Toll-Free: 866-972-5266

Alcoholics Anonymous
Every Thursday, 7:00-8:30 PM
BMH – Room B Conference Room
For more info: Jim 802-257-7100 X105

Bereavement Support Group
For anyone grieving the death of a loved one.
Contact: Brattleboro Area Hospice, 802-257-0775

Better Breathers® Support Group
Information: Jeff Harr, 802-257-8331

Breast Cancer Support Group
1st & 3rd Wednesday of the month, 5:00-6:30 PM
BMH – Tyler Conference Room
Information: Carol Westing, 802-387-2152

Cancer Support Group – see Healing Tools (below)

Co-Dependents Anonymous
Mondays, weekly, 7:15-9:00 PM
BMH –Room B off Cafeteria
Contact: Christin Tandy 603-352-3562, Ext. 102

Diabetes Support Group
Group currently disbanded…
if interested in a diabetes support group,
please call BMH Diabetes Educator
Houghton Smith, RN, CDE, at 802-251-8429

Easy Does It
Every Saturday, 8:00-10:00 AM
BMH – Brew Barry Conference Center
Info: Theodore, 802-380-5332

Healing Tools Support Group
For anyone with critical or chronic illness
Information: Esha Dakavana, 802-254-6860

Lupus Support Group
1st Monday of the month, 6:00 – 7:00 PM
BMH – Tyler Conference Room
Contact: Donna, 802-254-3552

Lyme Disease Support Group
1st Tuesday of the month, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Grace Cottage – Bock EMS Training Room
Contact: Denise Green, 802-896-6870

Multiple Sclerosis Support Group
For information, call 1-800 FIGHT MS

Overeaters Anonymous
Every Monday, 6:00-7:00 PM
BMH – Room B, off Cafeteria
Info: 802-254-9547

Pulmonary Support Group
(see Better Breathers Support Group, above)

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