Health

Updated September 11, 2023

Positively Pink Highlights Benefits Of Laughter

The Positively Pink Women’s Health Series is a program covering a range of topics important to women in the community. The event begins with social time with a few vendors offering pertinent health information on popular women’s health topics, blood pressure screening and snacks. Each event offers an expert speaker that presents a topic to improve women’s health or offer solutions to common problems women face.

Positively Pink will be held on Thursday, September 21, at 7:00 p.m., with social time beginning at 6:30 p.m., in the Wood County Hospital meeting rooms. This event will focus on “Laughter: An Invaluable Tool for Coping with Life’s Stressors.”

Join Katy Maag, Certified Stress Management Coach, author, and Laughter Yoga Teacher, as she shares important tools for managing stress and living a healthier life. Learn more about the fascinating science behind laughter’s impact on our health and well-being. Lastly, you will have an opportunity to practice laughter exercises lead by Katy to feel the benefits of laughter in these current times.

Registration for this event is free but required and can be done by visiting www.WoodCountyHospital.org/classes – Community Wellness or by calling Wellness Services at (419) 354-8887.

Hospice Of NWO Offers Walking Through Grief

Community members are invited to attend an interactive support group aimed at helping adults adjust to the loss of any loved one.

Walking Through Grief will be held on Friday, October 4 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Perrysburg Hospice Center, 30000 E. River Rd.

The walking route will include the hospice grounds and path to the W.W. Knight Nature Preserve. Distance is less than 1 mile. Being outside in nature is one of life’s most healing activities. This is especially true when you’re grieving. Come take a casual walk. Attendees will have the opportunity to express and receive support, adapt to this life-changing event, discover healthy coping skills and gain support in understanding grief.

The sessions are free and open to anyone in the community, whether or not they have had a prior relationship with Hospice of Northwest Ohio; however, advance registration is required. Attendees should wear comfortable shoes.

For more information or to register, contact the Hospice Bereavement Department at (419) 661-4001. To learn more about grief and loss or Hospice of Northwest Ohio, visit www.hospicenwo.org. Find the organization also on Facebook and Twitter.

Hospice Of Northwest Ohio Hosts Yoga For Grievers

Community members are invited to a four-week gentle yoga workshop aimed at connecting the mind, body and heart of those who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Gentle Yoga for Grief will be held on Fridays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Toledo Hospice Center, 800 S. Detroit Ave. on:

Session 2: October 6, 13, 20 and 27.

Session 3: November 3, 10 and 17 (No session on Thanksgiving).

Grieving is a holistic journey. Yoga can help participants find their center and ease the pain of grief. All people regardless of fitness level, age and flexibility are encouraged to attend. This class offers yoga for all bodies and abilities.

Conducted by a certified yoga instructor who specializes in yoga for every body. Participants will work through the energetic and emotional blocks of grief to find peace.

The classes are free and open to anyone in the community, whether or not they have had a prior relationship with Hospice of Northwest Ohio; however, advance registration is required. Attendees should wear comfortable clothing; bring water, a mat and small towel or pillow.

For more information or to register, contact the Hospice Bereavement Department at (419) 661-4001. To learn more about grief and loss or Hospice of Northwest Ohio, visit www.hospicenwo.org.

Klinefelters Gathering Set At Holland Library

The first adult Klinefelters Gathering will be held on Saturday, October 7 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at Holland Public Library Branch, 1032 S. McCord Rd., Meeting Room B, Holland.

If you, yourself have an XXY chromosomal variation, please join others that get it.

For questions or to let us know you would like to attend, please email karenmiley01@gmail.com or call (419) 708-1345.

Monclova GriefShare 13-Week Sessions Set

The Monclova Road Baptist Church GriefShare ministry support group will start a new series of weekly meetings, offering two separate opportunities to participate.

The ministry is for those who are grieving the loss of a family member or friend. There is no time limit on how long ago your loved one may have passed; you are welcome. GriefShare is a nondenominational group that features biblical teaching on grief and recovery topics. Each week is a different topic, and you may join the group at any time during the 13-week program.

Participants may choose to attend Mondays at 6:30 p.m. through December 4 or Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. through December 5.

Both options take place in person in the Community Room, Bldg. A at Monclova Road Baptist Church, 7819 Monclova Rd., Monclova.

To preregister or for more information, call (419) 346-6991.

Hospice Of NWO Offers Community Grief Support

Hospice of Northwest Ohio is offering in-person bereavement groups and private counseling sessions to anyone in the community who is grieving. Masks are required inside the hospice facilities.

Current group offerings include:

Coping With Loss – A twice-monthly interactive support group for adults. Participants will learn about grief and have the opportunity to express and receive support, develop an understanding of one’s loss, learn realistic expectations for oneself and discover healthy coping skills. Held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the Perrysburg center, the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Toledo center, and the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the Michigan office.

Spousal or Partner Loss – Twice-monthly support group for those who have experienced the death of a spouse or partner. Participants will learn ways to adapt to this lifechanging event, set realistic expectations for oneself, learn to take care of oneself, gain support in understanding of grief and live with/manage the loneliness after loss. Held on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Toledo center and the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the Perrysburg center.

To assure the best possible group experience, anyone interested in attending must first speak to a member of the hospice bereavement team by phone to learn about the options and determine which group would be the most beneficial.

All bereavement services are provided free of charge and are available to anyone in the community, whether or not they have had previous involvement with Hospice of Northwest Ohio. All meetings are conducted by licensed counselors.

Contact the Hospice of Northwest Ohio Bereavement Department at (419) 661-4001. To learn more about grief and loss, visit www.hospicenwo.org.

Hospice Of Northwest Ohio Seeks Volunteers

Hospice of Northwest Ohio is building its volunteer team in Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Wood and Monroe counties. Volunteers have the opportunity to work closely with hospice staff to improve the quality of life for patients and families through a variety of tasks.

The current need is for volunteers who are willing to visit patients in their homes or at nursing homes throughout the area. These volunteers provide companionship for patients and respite for caregivers.

Free training is provided. Learn more about the volunteer program and apply via the website at www.hospicenwo.org.

Senior Center Leads Caregiver Support Group

The Maumee Senior Center is now hosting an in-person Caregiver Support Group for area community members.

In Ohio alone, there are approximately 1.5 million family caregivers providing care to parents, spouses, partners and friends. Research has shown 84 percent of these caregivers need more help and information related to caregiving.

At the Maumee Senior Center, participants of the Caregiver Support Group will have the opportunity to invest in their own mental and emotional health by sharing their caregiving story, connecting with other local caregivers in similar situations and receiving support, guidance and information.

The group is open to all levels and types of caregiving regardless of diagnosis or disease. Meetings are held at Maumee Senior Center, 2430 S. Detroit Ave., Maumee, on the last Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. For more information or to register for the group, contact outreach coordinator Laree Shroyer at (419) 893-1994.

For information on all activities at the center, visit www.maumeeseniorcenter.com or Facebook.com/maumeeseniorcenter.

Grief Support Meetings Offered In Maumee

Spring Green Educational Foundation will offer A.F.T.E.R. grief support group meetings at 2319 Detroit Ave., Maumee from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.

A.F.T.E.R. will be led by executive director Dawn Duhaime, a licensed social worker who lost her only child in 2019 and is now assisting others through their grief. This group meets bi-weekly to support one another in the journey after losing someone they love and provides tools for learning to live a new way of life inside of grief through support and activities that help lessen the pain and reduce suffering.

Spring Green Educational Foundation is a nonprofit organization that has been serving the community for 20 years and most recently released its documentary ONE, focusing on the opioid crisis.

Alzheimer’s Association Operates Free Helpline

The Alzheimer’s Association, Northwest Ohio Chapter, operates a free helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week in 140 languages. Staff is available to help with questions about Alzheimer’s disease or memory loss, medications and treatment options, brain health and care options, caregiving tips and respite care options, services available in the community and/or referrals.

The toll-free number is (800) 272-3900. The association is also available online at www.alz.org/nwohio or via email to alzheimersnwo@alz.org.