Health fair slated April 25 at Life, Health, and Wellness Center in Ansonia

 

Ansonia Senior Center to host 5-part series on brain health; registration required

The Ansonia Senior Center is at 153 Main St., Ansonia.
 

Griffin Health offers free tobacco, nicotine cessation program

Griffin Health offers education, advice, and support to help individuals prepare to quit tobacco and nicotine with two upcoming sessions of its free cessation program this January.

“That’s It! Learn to Quit!” teaches a variety of methods to help individuals quit tobacco and nicotine over the course of six weekly meetings. There will be a session on Mondays Jan. 19 and 16, Feb. 2 and 9 and March 2 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Griffin Faculty Physicians Family Health Care Center, 110 Commerce Drive, Shelton. There will be another session Tuesdays Jan. 20 and 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., Derby.

The program encourages participants to acknowledge and honor past successes in their goal to quit tobacco. 

The goal is to help individuals learn how to stop using tobacco and nicotine without the guilt, shame, and fear of failure by teaching several different methods of quitting and managing nicotine withdrawal. 

Through group discussion and interactive activities, participants learn how to develop a quit plan that addresses their personal behaviors and habits. Strategies to manage nicotine withdrawal, behaviors, triggers, and urges are discussed as well as weight control and stress management.

Participants must be prepared to attend all six sessions. 

To register, visit griffinhealth.org/ tobacco-nicotine-cessation or call 203-732-1369.

This free tobacco and nicotine program is part of Griffin’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of its community through free education, guidance and assistance in preventing and managing chronic disease, and in promoting overall wellness. Griffin’s mission is to empower individuals to make choices that change their lifestyles for the better, and to go beyond caring for individuals when they are not well by building a meaningful relationship, guiding, and coaching them to maximize their quality of life.

This is a press release from Griffin Health.

Griffin Health Center in Oxford to host cooking demo on natural health tonics

OXFORD - The Griffin Center for Healthy Living Teaching Kitchen will host a free nutrition education presentation and cooking demonstration about natural health tonics.

Natural Health Tonics to Boost Immunity will be  Oct. 30 at 5:15 p.m. at The Griffin Center for Healthy Living at Quarry Walk, 300 Oxford Road.

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, former Executive Director of Massaro Farm and sustainable nutrition expert Caty Poole will discuss natural health tonics that are high in vitamin C and how the natural antiviral properties of herbs and honey can be a powerhouse to fight common germs during cold and flu season and can be helpful in preventing cancer. 

Poole will also demonstrate how to make the immunity boosting fire cider and elderberry syrup.

Space is limited so registration is required. 

Visit www.griffinhealth.org/natural-tonics or call The Griffin Center for Healthy Living Coordinator at 203-732-1369 to sign up.

This is a press release from Griffin Health.

Griffin Bariatrics to offer virtual weight-loss presentations in October

Griffin Bariatrics will offer free virtual presentations on its weight-loss services throughout October.

Led by Griffin Hospital Director of Bariatrics Dr. Abe Fridman, these seminars will explain how bariatric surgery can help patients lose significant amounts of weight, enhance their health, and provide long-term well-being. 

Additionally, techniques, support programs, pre- and post-operative expectations, and insurance questions are also discussed.

Upcoming seminars will be held on Oct. 7 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Oct. 15 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.; and Oct. 28 from 12-1 p.m.

Griffin Hospital established its comprehensive weight loss surgery program, Griffin Bariatrics, to provide a medical solution for patients with more substantial weight loss needs. 

The long-term success enjoyed by Griffin Bariatrics patients is a result of excellent medical care, including the latest minimally invasive surgical procedures, combined with access to a full range of multidisciplinary services that have been assembled to support them before, during, and after their surgery.

To register, contact Bariatric Care Specialist Kimberly Fisher at kfisher@griffinhealth.org or 203-732-7108. 

For more information about Griffin Bariatrics, visit griffinhospitalbariatrics.com.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Health to host 'That's It! Learn to Quit!' sessions in Shelton, Derby

Griffin Health offers education, advice, and support to help individuals prepare to quit tobacco and nicotine with upcoming sessions of its free cessation program.

“That’s It! Learn to Quit!” teaches a variety of methods to help individuals quit tobacco and nicotine over the course of six weekly meetings. There will be a session on Thursdays, Sept. 11, 18, and 25, and Oct. 2, 9, and 16 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Griffin Faculty Physicians Family Health Center, 110 Commerce Drive, Shelton. Another session Wednesdays Sept. 17, and 24 and Oct.1, 8, 15, and 22 from 9-10:30 a.m. at The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave., Derby.

The program encourages participants to acknowledge and honor past successes in their goal to quit tobacco. The goal is to help individuals learn how to stop using tobacco and nicotine without the guilt, shame, and fear of failure by teaching several different methods of quitting and managing nicotine withdrawal. Through group discussion and interactive activities, participants learn how to develop a quit plan that addresses their personal behaviors and habits. Strategies to manage nicotine withdrawal, behaviors, triggers, and urges are discussed as well as weight control and stress management.

Participants must be prepared to attend all six sessions. 

To register, visit griffinhealth.org/ tobacco-nicotine-cessation or call 203-732-1369.

This free tobacco and nicotine program is part of Griffin’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of its community through free education, guidance and assistance in preventing and managing chronic disease, and in promoting overall wellness. 

Griffin’s mission is to empower individuals to make choices that change their lifestyles for the better, and to go beyond caring for individuals when they are not well by building a meaningful relationship, guiding, and coaching them to maximize their quality of life.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to offer free prostate cancer screening

DERBY - In recognition of Men’s Health Month, The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital and the Health Initiative for Men (HiM) will host free prostate cancer screenings from 3-5 p.m. June 26.

The screening is sponsored by HiM, which encourages men to see their physician annually, and empower them to actively manage their health by being screened for various diseases that respond better to treatment if detected early. 

Ansonia businessman Frank Michaud and his wife, Judy, established the “Health Initiative for Men Fund” at the Valley Community Foundation to promote outreach efforts that would help raise awareness about men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer and colorectal cancer.

Every screening participant will also be entered into a raffle for a Yeti Cooler sponsored by HiM.

In addition to the screenings, individuals can come to the Center during the event to get information about men’s health topics, including surgical hernia treatment, bariatric surgery, low-dose lung cancer screening, genetic testing for cancer and wellness visits with a primary care physician.

Prostate cancer screenings are recommended for men at 50 years old. Men at higher risk, including African American men and men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65, should be screened at age 45. 

Men at a very high risk (multiple family members diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65 years) should be tested at age 40.

“Screening programs are an inexpensive and non-invasive way to identify men who have treatable prostate cancer before they have symptoms,” said Radiation Oncologist Dr. Sanjay Aneja. “Identifying prostate cancer early before patients have symptoms is our best chance to cure their disease. It’s unfortunate that prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among men because we have excellent treatment options which, if initiated early enough, can provide patients with a cure.”

The screenings will take 10-15 minutes. Space for the free screenings is limited; early registration is encouraged. 

To register, call 203-732-1280.

About Prostate Cancer

Approximately 1 in 8 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. As with most cancers, early diagnosis is important to improve chances of cure. 

Screening, although controversial, is important because early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. 

There have been tremendous advances in the treatment of prostate cancer making treatments more effective and causing much less side effects.

For further information on your prostate health, contact your physician or call Griffin Faculty Physicians Urologists at 203-732-2651 or visit https://gfp.griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Yale seeks Derby residents to participate in focus groups about health

 

This is shared from TEAM's Facebook page.

Health fair slated Saturday at Life, Health, and Wellness Center in Ansonia

 

Griffin Health in Oxford to offer free stress management workshop

OXFORD - The Griffin Center for Healthy Living is helping individuals better understand and cope with the pressures of daily life with a free workshop in March.

Stress can cause or worsen many health disorders, including excessive weight gain, poor sleep, lung and heart conditions, a weakened immune system, reproductive health issues, and skin and hair ailments. 

The Griffin Health Stress Management Workshop provides practical tools and techniques based on the proven, best practices for stress management by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine to help individuals better understand and cope with the pressures of daily life in healthier ways, leading to increased resilience, improved emotional balance, and a better quality of life overall.

Offered on Fridays, March 28 and April 11, 18, and 25 from 1-2 p.m. at the Griffin Center for Health Living, Second Floor, Quarry Walk, 300 Oxford Road, the workshop will teach attendees how to identify stress triggers, practice relaxation exercises, and implement mindfulness strategies to help reduce stress levels and improve both mental and physical well-being.

This free wellness program is part of Griffin’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of its community through free education, guidance and assistance in preventing and managing chronic disease, and in promoting overall wellness. 

Griffin’s mission is to empower individuals to make choices that change their lifestyles for the better, and to go beyond caring for individuals when they are not well by building a meaningful relationship, guiding, and coaching them to maximize their quality of life.

To register or for more information, visit www.griffinhealth.org/stress-workshop or contact The Griffin Center for Healthy Living Wellness Coordinator at 203-732-1369.

This is a press release from Griffin Health. 

Save the date: Health fair slated at Life, Health, and Wellness Center in Ansonia

 

Derby Senior Center to host health & wellness clinic for pets

 

Griffin Health in Derby offers 6-week Healthy for Life program

DERBY - The Griffin Center for Healthy Living will offer a session of its innovative high blood sugar management program this month.

Healthy for Life with Elevated Blood Sugar is a free, six-week program designed for individuals diagnosed with either pre-diabetes or diabetes to help them control their elevated blood sugar.

There will be a session on Mondays, Jan. 20 and 27, and Feb. 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 2-3:30 p.m. at The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital.

Participants will be empowered to manage their elevated blood sugar though education on healthy eating, weight management, physical activity, medication and glucose management technology, health related risks, coping skills, and healthy lifestyle goal setting. 

Based on the National Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes and The American Heart Association Healthy for Life, this program engages participants in learning and discussing clinical and lifestyle self-management behaviors to support optimizing their health, blood sugars, quality of life and psychosocial factors.

Register at griffinhealth.org/healthy-for-life or contact The Griffin Center for Healthy Living Coordinator at 203-732-1369 to sign up or for more information.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Live Well workshop sessions slated at Ansonia Senior Center

 

Griffin Health in Oxford to host cooking demo on cancer-fighting food

 OXFORD -The Griffin Center for Healthy Living will host a free cooking demonstration on foods that can help fight cancer as part of its Food Is Medicine Series.

How to Boost Cancer Fighting Benefits with Meal Planning will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Griffin Center for Healthy Living Teaching Kitchen, Quarry Walk, 300 Oxford Road.

This free culinary workshop will provide evidence-based cancer prevention education through cooking demonstrations and a discussion of how a variety of food choices can enhance the health benefits of weekly meal planning. 

Carolyn Gundell MS, CDCES, of The Griffin Center for Healthy Living, will present easy-to-understand cooking methods and demonstrate delicious recipes that can boost the cancer fighting benefits of daily meals.

This event is free, but seating is limited and reservations are required. Contact Lindsay Vitale at 203-732-1408 or Lvitale2@griffinhealth.org to sign up.

The Griffin Center for Healthy Living Teaching Kitchen Food Is Medicine Series provides nutrition-related education and resources in an interactive, real-world kitchen environment.

Participants of this free program will receive vital information on what types of food are most beneficial to their health, how their diet can help them prevent or manage chronic health conditions and live, step-by-step instruction on how to make nutritious dishes for themselves and their loved ones.

The Griffin Center for Healthy Living Teaching Kitchen Food Is Medicine Series is part of Griffin’s commitment to the Planetree patient-centered care model, which promotes greater well-being in communities through access to health information and assistance in helping individuals address the social determinants of health such as access to fresh nutritious foods and how to prepare them.

For more information and to view upcoming Food Is Medicine events, visit griffinhealth.org/food-is-medicine or contact The Griffin Center for Healthy Living Coordinator at 203-732-1369.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

TEAM, Inc. in Derby marks Diaper Need Awareness Week, seeks donations

Want to help? Bring diaper donations to our office at 30 Elizabeth St., Derby. Sizes 4, 5, 6 and 4t/5t pull ups (and wipes) are needed most. 

Or, donate monetarily at the link below selecting "Diaper Bank" from the dropdown. https://givebutter.com/TEAMDonate

This is shared from TEAM's Facebook page.

Recuperation journey 2.0: The eyes have it

 

Eight days ago I was startled by an ocular event while working at my computer.

Out of nowhere I felt a goosh in my left eye. It was a sensation I had never felt before. I got up and looked in the mirror. I looked like a monster out of a horror movie. There was no visible white in my eye. I tried to tell myself not to panic, but I did. 

I thought I should go to the emergency room. Since I'm still not driving I called a friend who has been driving me to medical appointments, etc. and told her I needed to go to the ER.

It was after 9 p.m. when she came over and took a look at my eye. She reassured me that although it looked terrible, she had had a similar issue a few years ago and that it would eventually fade away. 

I wasn't in pain and the bloodiness wasn't affecting my vision so we decided to wait until the next morning for our ER visit. The physician there told me I had a  subconjunctival hemorrhage - a broken blood vessel in the eye and that there really is no treatment; I would just have to wait until the blood was absorbed into my body.  Fortunately it looks much better today.

Posting this not for sympathy, but as a public service announcement because apparently it can happen at any time. 

I thought I'd be kind and not post a photo of how it looked. You're welcome! ☺

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host virtual presentations on bariatric surgery

DERBY - Griffin Bariatrics will offer free virtual presentations on its weight-loss services throughout August and September.

Led by Griffin Hospital Director of Bariatrics Dr. Abe Fridman, these seminars will explain how bariatric surgery can help patients lose significant amounts of weight, enhance their health, and provide long-term well-being. 

Additionally, techniques, support programs, pre- and post-operative expectations, and insurance questions are also discussed.

Upcoming seminars will be held on Aug. 13 at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 21 at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 27 at noon, Sept. 3 at 5:30 p.m., Sept. 18 at 5:30 p.m., and Sept. 24 at noon.

Griffin Hospital established its comprehensive weight loss surgery program, Griffin Bariatrics, to provide a medical solution for patients with more substantial weight loss needs. The long-term success enjoyed by Griffin Bariatrics patients is a result of excellent medical care, including the latest minimally invasive surgical procedures, combined with access to a full range of multidisciplinary services that have been assembled to support them before, during, and after their surgery.

To register, contact Bariatric Care Specialist Kimberly Fisher at kfisher@griffinhealth.org or 203-732-7108. 

For more information about Griffin Bariatrics, visit griffinhospitalbariatrics.com.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Live Well workshops slated at Seymour Community Center

 

Save the date: A Chance to Shine annual event slated June 1 in Oxford

A Chance to Shine is an annual event to benefit all BHcare programs. The funds raised will help countless children, adults, and families in the community as they strive to recover from mental illness, substance use, domestic violence and other health-risk behaviors.