Do you, or someone you know, serve as a caregiver for a friend or loved one living with Alzheimer's disease? If so, it's important to know that a new therapy group is being formed to help you deal with the ongoing stress.The Anxiety and Stress Treatment Program of the Department of Psychiatry at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset is beginning a cognitive-behavioral therapy group for caregivers of Alzheimer's Patients. According to Dr. Juliana Lachenmeyer, who heads up the Anxiety and Stress Treatment Program, "The group format will include stress management, coping and problem skills training. Participants will have an opportunity to learn from and support each other." Sessions will meet on six consecutive Monday afternoons at noon beginning May 10. Fees are often partially reimbursed by insurance carriers.If you are interested in joining the group or would like to obtain more information, contact Mia Downing at 562-3339. Space is limited, so call immediately to reserve a spot.
Clergy conference
Franklin Hospital Medical Center has announced its Annual Pastoral Care Conference May 12, entitled "Meaning In Caregiving: Understanding What Sustains A Caregiver."The Conference is planned each year by the hospital's Pastoral Care Committee comprised of hospital staff and community clergy members. Registration for the Conference begins at 9 a.m. in the hospital's Shankman Auditorium. The conference will conclude at 11 a.m. There is no fee for the conference and a kosher continental breakfast will be served.The featured speakers will be the Rev. Jon Overvold, M.Div., BCC and Dr. Andrew J. Weaver. The Rev. Overvold is a graduate of Luther Theological Seminary and is a board certified chaplain in the Association of Professional Chaplains and serves as the New York state representative. The Rev. Overvold serves on the Bioethics Committee of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and is involved in the palliative care initiatives there. Dr. Weaver is a United Methodist minister and licensed clinical psychologist. Dr. Weaver is presently director of research at the Health Care Chaplaincy in New York. He is responsible for coordinating the research initiatives of 42 chaplains in 28 health care institutions in New York.The focus of the program will explore the key dynamics of caregiving, particularly the spiritual meaning that caregivers find in their activities. This conference will give participants a familiarity with some of the recent scientific research on religion and health and they will take away from this conference a deeper understanding of the spiritual foundations of caregivers and ideas about how to recognize and enhance that particular meaning it has.For more information or to register, contact External Affairs Department at 256-6397.
'Grease' production at Winthrop
The timeless songs of the musical production "Grease" will be brought to life by Kids Performing Who Kare, an organization that produces and presents theatrical and musical productions involving children ages seven to 18. The show will benefit the Cancer Center for Kids at Winthrop-University Hospital. Kids Performing Who Kare was founded by a former patient of the Cancer Center, 15-year-old Gina Baez, who directs and performs in all of the organization's shows.This year's performance of "Grease" will be held at the Covert Elementary School in Rockville Centre May 14 at 8 p.m., May 15 at 5 p.m. with a Silent Auction/Prom Night Dinner to follow the show at the Rockville Centre Links, and May 16 at 2 p.m."Grease" is the organization's third production for the Cancer Center for Kids at Winthrop. Prior production include "Annie Jr." in 2002 and "Into the Woods Jr." in 2003. All of the performers are volunteers who devote their time and energy to help children battling childhood cancer and blood related diseases. For more information or tickets, call Virginia Baez at 764-4173.
Exercise and obesity in kids
The arteries of overweight children act like those of middle age smokers, increasing their risk of an early heart attack or stroke. But the damage can be reversed through diet and regular exercise, according to a report in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.The researched studied 54 boys and 28 girls, average age 9.9 years. Based on body mass index, 28 were deemed overweight and 54 were obese.The study did not include children with a family history of early heart disease, but the youngsters already showed signs of early atherosclerosis. Using ultrasound, the researchers measured the ability of the brachial artery in the arm to expand in response to increase blood flow. This response is called endothelium-dependent dilation, and is a measure of an artery's reactivity.A less-reactive artery is a sign of vascular damage and an early feature of atherosclerosis, the disease process that underlies heart disease and stroke. The researchers also used ultrasound to measure the thickness of inner layers in the wall of the carotid arteries, which are in the neck and supply blood to the brain. This measure is a well-established, noninvasive way to assess plaque build-up in the arteries and monitor its progression.To assess whether these risk factors could be improved, the researchers divided the children into two groups - diet only or diet-plus-exercise.
