Health Notes
Autism screening for toddlers
The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, in partnership with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida, will offer free monthly autism spectrum disorder screening for toddlers 18 months to 36 months of age.
The first screening will be held on Nov. 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, located in the Cape Coral Hospital parking lot. Additional screenings will be conducted monthly at different locations across Lee County.
The ASD screening is conducted by the Neurosciences Center at TCH, under the guidance of pediatric neurologist Jose Colon, MD, MPH, and pediatric psychiatrist Marianne Krouk, DO. The onsite screenings will be administered by an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, who has extensive training and experience in typical child development and developmental disorders.
A physician referral is not required. To schedule a screening, call 239-985-3608.
Lake Kennedy Senior Center
Free blood pressure and glucose clinic by Bright Star Healthcare will be conducting free monthly health screenings on the third Wednesday of the month from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Kennedy Senior Center, 400 Santa Barbara Blvd. Appointments are not necessary but registration is required. For more information and to register call 574-0575.
Adopt a Publix Store
The Harry Chapin Food Bank needs volunteers to “Adopt a Publix Store” for the Holiday Season. This is a very important food drive that will restock the shelves at this very busy time of year. Area Publix stores prepare bags of groceries available for the public to purchase, the bags are deposited in bins at the local stores and then picked up by volunteers and delivered to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. Volunteers need to be available to go to their assigned store on an as needed basis from the end of October through mid-January to pick up the bags. A van or pick-up is preferable for transporting the bags. Stores are located in Fort Myers. North Fort Myers, East Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers Beach and Lehigh Acres. Please be our partner and help provide food to the needy of Southwest Florida.
For more details and information contact Marta Hodson at the Harry Chapin Food Bank at 334-7007 ext 32 or at martahodson@harrychapinfoodbank.org.
Suicide Prevention Center earns award
C.A.R.E.S. Suicide Prevention Resource Center was recently awarded $25,000 as a recipient for the 2009 Major Annual Grant from the Southwest Florida Community Foundation.
This grant is for the intention to hire a part-time program director for one year. C.A.R.E.S. is proud to announce the first paid employee within the organization, Pedro LaTorre, who has joined us as of Oct. 19. His duties will consist of overseeing our many programs already serving our community, as well as assisting with promotion and outreach.
Pedro comes to us with a background in the nonprofit field. C.A.R.E.S. is privileged to have him on our team.
Blood pressure and blood sugar clinics
Tatalomo’s Nurses Registry will provide free blood pressure and blood sugar clinics on the third Monday of each month at the Lake Kennedy Senior Center, 400 Santa Barbara Blvd. For information, call 574-0575.
SW Florida COPD Advocate Team
Fall Schedule: Nov 10, Better Breather Club at Lehigh Regional Medical Center, Conf. Rm.
Top Ten Tips for Talking with my Doctor: Nov. 12 in the Better Breather Club, Share Club North, Card Room
Top Ten Tips for Talking with my Doctor: Nov. 16 in the Better Breather Club, Wellness Center of Cape Coral, Conf. Rm. Registration is required.
To preregister, call 656-7760 or e-mail paula.short@leememorial.org.
Blood pressure tests
The Cape Coral Hospital Auxiliary conducts blood pressure tests from 1 to 3 p.m. every Thursday in the main lobby. For information, call 574-0206.
Cape Coral Kidney Thrift Store
The Cape Coral Kidney Thrift Store, located at 4836 Candia St., is a little known treasure chest of donated items from the community. All of the proceeds go to the Kidney Foundation and dialysis patients in Cape Coral. The store carries clothing, household items, home decor and more. All donations are tax deductible. For information, call 945-1835.
Free screenings
Free diabetes screenings will be held Nov. 4 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Sweetbay Pharmacy, 5690 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers.
American Cancer Society volunteers
The American Cancer Society is seeking volunteers. Opportunities include committee members for Relay for Life to help organize teams, recruit members and more. The ACS is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. To volunteer, call Cheri Hallock at 677-0516.
Power wheelchairs
Medicare’s regulations now make it easier for seniors and others with debilitating conditions, such as arthritis, stroke, heart and breathing problems or diabetes, to obtain a power wheelchair at little or no cost. Miracle on Wheels is trying to increase public awareness about the assistance options that allow seniors and the disabled to remain independent in their own homes rather than undergo difficult surgery or other expensive treatment or resort to moving into a nursing home. These assistance options are available to anyone with problems getting around their home or who are in danger of falling due to a medical condition. To learn about qualifying for a power wheelchair at little or no cost, contact Miracle on Wheels at (800) 400-4210.