News Release

September 21, 2006

Contact: Carolyn Pennington, 860-679-4864
e-mail: cpennington@uchc.edu

Celebrate Health Programs: October 2006

FARMINGTON, CONN. –  Celebrate Health at the University of Connecticut Health Center encompasses two free membership programs, Celebrate Women and Celebrate Aging, that provide valuable health and wellness information for targeted audiences in the community. A variety of educational programs are being offered in October.

Dealing with Loss: Loss is an inevitable part of life, and grief is a natural part of the healing process. The reasons for grief are many, such as the loss of a loved one, or a life-threatening health condition. Norman Andrekus, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry, will focus on different kinds of loss, grieving reactions, and the process of healing. The talk will take place on Wednesday, October 4, from 1 to 2 p.m. at The Gables at Farmington, 20 Devonwood Drive.

The Talks at Covenant Village of Cromwell: Join us once a month for an informative talk at Covenant Village of Cromwell. This month Patrick Coll, M.D., UConn Center on Aging, will discuss ways of preventing flu and pneumonia. The talk will be held on Thursday, October 5, from 9:30 to 10 a.m. at Covenant Village of Cromwell, Commons Building, 52 Missionary Road.

The Wellness Lecture Series at Seabury: Join us at the Seabury Retirement Community for a “healthy” lecture intended to promote successful aging led by Patrick Coll, M.D., UConn Center on Aging. This month's lecture will discuss the best ways to prepare for the upcoming flu season. The lecture series is free and open to the public and will be held Friday, October 6, from 11 a.m. to noon at Seabury, 200 Seabury Drive, Bloomfield. To register or for further information, call the Seabury Retirement Community at 860-243-6071.

Creating Heaven on Earth Spirituality Group: Tap in on your inner self, the source of guidance and advice on the things that matter most to us. Group sessions will be led by the Kathleen Kiley, an expert in spiritual healing and dream analysis, on the second Thursday of each month and will include discussion, reflection, dream interpretation, and guided meditations to unite your inner and outer self. The talk will be held on Thursday, October 12, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Medical Arts and Research Building, Room N4002, at the UConn Health Center. The fee for the class is $10.

Confronting the Myths of Domestic Violence: Kerry Conroy, who represents the state’s largest non-profit domestic violence intervention and prevention organization, will discuss the need to prevent and break the cycle of family and intimate partner abuse and how to recognize the signs of domestic violence. Conroy is the director of community education at Interval House, which provides a 24-hour hotline, safety planning, crisis counseling, emergency shelter, support groups, community education, and other services. The talk will be held Monday, October 16, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Henry Low Learning Center at the UConn Health Center and can also be viewed live via web cast at www.celebrate.uchc.edu/webcast. 

Powerful Aging at Seabury Retirement Community: Powerful Aging, the supervised exercise program for people over 50, is designed to safely and effectively improve strength, endurance, mobility and coordination. It gives special attention to health care problems – something many other exercise programs can't offer. Learn more about Powerful Aging by joining us at the Open House on Tuesday, October 17 at the Seabury Retirement Community, 200 Seabury Drive, Bloomfield. The first session of Powerful Aging will begin Tuesday, October 31, and end Thursday, December 21. Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The cost is $108 per session and $96 for Celebrate Aging members.

Build Up Your Bone Bank Account: Osteoporosis is often referred to as the silent disease because it has no symptoms. The risk of osteoporosis is highest among older women; however, it is important to remember that men are also at risk. Don’t let osteoporosis leave you broke. Join Pamela Taxel, M.D., UConn Center for Osteoporosis, and learn what you can do to prevent or treat osteoporosis. The talk will be held on Tuesday, October 17, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Riverfront Community Center, 300 Welles St., Glastonbury.

National Breast Cancer Prevention Month: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and the chance of getting breast cancer goes up as a woman gets older. Nearly 8 out of 10 breast cancers are found in women over age 50. Lori Wilson, M.D., Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, will discuss the importance of following recommended guidelines; mammography, breast self-examination, and yearly clinical examination as a method of early detection and prevention. The talk will be held on Wednesday, October 18, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Granby Senior Center, 15C North Granby Road, Granby.

Breast Health: October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Malini Iyer, M.D., assistant professor of surgery at the UConn Health Center, will discuss breast cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The talk will be held on Wednesday, October 18, from 6 to 7 p.m. at The Center Studio, 20 Isham Road, West Hartford.

Men’s Night Out – Conquering Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Good sleep is as important to good health as regular exercise and proper nutrition, but if you snore you're not getting the best rest - and neither is your bed partner. Chronic snoring could be associated with a more serious health problem such as sleep apnea, is more frequent in males, and usually worsens with age. Daniel McNally, M.D., director of the UConn Sleep Disorders Center, and Jeffrey Spiro, M.D., division of otolaryngology at the UConn Health Center, will discuss the risk factors, medical conditions and treatments associated with snoring and sleep apnea. The talk will be held on Thursday, October 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. in Keller Auditorium at the UConn Health Center. The program is free and open to both men and women.

Breast Health Awareness: During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, women of all ages and ethnic groups need to become more aware of their breast health, especially early detection. Malini Iyer, M.D., assistant professor of surgery at the UConn Health Center, will discuss risk factors, genetics, and lifestyle as they relate to breast cancer prevention, treatment and management. Nancy Baccaro, A.P.R.N., Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, will explain the Health Center’s Navigator Care Program for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Trained volunteers “navigate” the women through the different facets of care and treatment. The talk will be held Tuesday, October 24, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Henry Low Learning Center at the UConn Health Center.

Medicare Part D: Navigating the Options for 2007: The next Medicare Part D enrollment period begins November 15. If you haven’t enrolled, this program will answer questions about the new drug benefit. If you’re already enrolled, learn about any new changes or additions to the benefit in 2007. Eric Rodko, CHOICES program for the North Central Areas on Aging, will lead the discussion on Wednesday, October 25, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Onyiuke Dining Room at the UConn Health Center.
 
Registration for these programs is required. The programs are free unless otherwise noted. Call 800-535-6232 or 860-679-7692. For more information, visit the Celebrate Health web site: www.celebrate.uchc.edu.

The University of Connecticut Health Center includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, John Dempsey Hospital, the UConn Medical Group and University Dentists. Founded in 1961, the Health Center pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. To learn more about the UConn Health Center, visit our website at www.uchc.edu.

Note: News professionals are invited to visit the Office of Communications homepage at www.uchc.edu/ocomm/ for archived news releases and other information.