Health Notes
Cape Coral
Test for macular degeneration-risk
A new genetic test is now available to help individuals assess their risk of developing the vision-threatening disease Age-related Macular Degeneration, or AMD. AMD is the leading cause of legal blindness in the United States, affecting more than 20 million Americans. Retina Consultants of Southwest Florida is among only a few local medical practices now offering the new test, called macular risk. For information about macular risk, visit: www.macularisk.com. Information about Retina Consultants of Southwest Florida is available at: www.eye.md.
Blood pressure and blood sugar clinics
Tatalomo’s Nurses Registry will provide complimentary blood pressure and blood sugar clinics on the third Monday of each month at Lake Kennedy Senior Center, 400 Santa Barbara Blvd. The clinics are free. For information, call 574-0575.
Vaccines and autism
Connections, diagnosis and treatments, a seminar with physician Robert Murdoch, will be held from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday at Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library. For reservations, call 540-1220.
Juniper Village
Just like a fine wine, or aged cheese, we improve as we grow older. “Aging to Perfection” is a an interactive program designed to connect people and resources with ideas and strategies to live a healthy lifestyle, while growing older. The session is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Call 542-3121 to reserve a seat or e-mail eileun.sobeck@junipercommunities.com. The session will be held from 1:30-3 p.m. June 29. Juniper Village is located at 4920 Viceroy Court.
Teen obesity
Everyone is invited to the biggest “Teen” Loser Camp Kick Off/Health Fair and weigh-in day from 9 a.m.-noon June 28 in Hafer Hall at Christ Lutheran School, 2911 Del Prado Blvd. The Biggest “Teen” Loser Camp is a four-week camp for ages 11-16. The camp will run from July 7-Aug. 1. For information, contact Julie Casey 990-4461 or jace2nd2@comcast.net.
Literacy Volunteers of Lee County
The Literacy Volunteers of Lee County has been awarded a one-year $5,000 grant for the implementation of a health literacy program in Cape Coral to benefit adults who are not native English speakers.
The grant, awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and Florida Literacy Coalition, will provide free “Healthy Living” classes starting this summer. The focus is to help adults who are learning English to acquire information and resources that will help them navigate the medical system and make informed health decisions.
Health literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.
The group will partner with Lee Memorial Health System to present the classes. Adults who wish to find out more about the classes should call 242-4374.
Fort Myers
Senior Wheels USA
The Senior Wheels USA Program makes available power wheelchairs to senior citizens and the permanently disabled at no cost to the recipient, if they qualify. The power wheelchairs are provided to those who can no longer walk safely, nor self-propel a manual wheelchair, and who meet the additional guidelines of the program. If the patient’s need is for use in the home, call for information to see if they qualify. Call toll-free at (800) 248-6010.
Children’s Day
In celebration of Children’s Day, the Florida Skin Center will open its doors to the area’s needy children to help with their skin care needs. On Saturday, the first 100 children will be examined and treated at no charge. Doors open at 8 a.m. The center is located at 13691 Metropolis Ave., Fort Myers. For information, call 561-3376.
Fort Myers
Edison State College
Edison State College, 8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers, is offering the following continuing education classes:
– CPR for Baby sitters: Parents like to know that their baby sitter is prepared for any emergency. CPR for Baby sitters is designed to teach baby sitters how to deal with a child who is not breathing or choking, or whose heart has stopped beating. Topics include one- and two-rescuer infant and child CPR, choking and safety. Class is an American Heart Association Pediatric Basic Life Support Course, designed for baby sitters. Participants receive an AHA certificate valid for two years. Class size is limited. One-day class will be held June 27 from 9 a.m.-noon. Cost is $60.
To obtain information and registration form, call 489-9235, e-mail celee@edison.edu or visit: www.edison.edu/lee/ce/.
CCMI receives grant
The Junior League of Fort Myers has awarded Community Cooperative Ministries Inc. a $1,700 grant for a nutrition-based education program for its Montessori Preschool.
According to Cindy Venezia, director of CCMI’s Montessori Preschool, the funds will be used to purchase materials that will be used to educate the Montessori students ages 2-5 in growing food, practical life usages, the food pyramid and how food affects the human body.
CCMI serves Fort Myers and the greater Lee County area, including Bonita Springs, Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres. The soup kitchen serves a noontime meal six days a week to men, women and children in a traditional soup kitchen setting.
The Junior League of Fort Myers Inc., a member of the Association of Junior Leagues International Inc., is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
For information, call CCMI at 332-SOUP (7687).
PACE Center for Girls in Lee County
The PACE Center for Girls in Lee County graduated its second class June 4, when seven girls left troubling pasts behind to start on the path toward brighter futures.
Rep. Nick Thompson and local philanthropist Eleanore Kleist were the commencement speakers at the ceremony at Hodges University in Fort Myers.
More than 152 girls ages 12-18 have been helped by the Lee County PACE Center since the program opened its doors in February 2007.
PACE is a non-residential delinquency prevention program targeting the unique needs of girls who are faced with challenges such as foster care, domestic violence and drug problems.
Many girls also experience abuse and neglect, death of a parent, substance abuse, and/or a family history of incarceration.
For information about PACE, contact Webb at 425-2366, ext. 23, or visit: www.pacecenter.org.