The Asperger Syndrome Support Group will meet on Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Higgins Conference Room of Anna Jaques Hospital, 25 Highland Ave., Newburyport. A general discussion is planned.
The group addresses the concerns of parents of school-aged children diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, high-functioning autism, or related challenges. The meetings are free, open to the public and serve families from all neighboring communities.
The group is sponsored by the Asperger's Association of New England.
For more information, call Suzanne Phillips at 978-356-1775 or email her at suzannemphillips47@gmail.com or Carol Keating at 978-372-2799. Her email address is Carol_Keating@comcast.net.
Fire safety program at Amesbury Senior Center
Amesbury firefighters Ryan York and Jeremy Bean will visit Amesbury Senior Center on Monday at 10 a.m. to discuss fire safety with the Amesbury Caregivers Essentials group.
Amesbury Senior Center is at 9 School St.
Hospice volunteers sought
Learn how to make a profound difference in someone's life in just two hours a week.
Merrimack Valley Hospice House is offering an eight-week training program for new volunteers. Trainees will learn how to provide practical help and emotional support to individuals with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones, through lectures and small group exercises.
The next training class will begin on Monday, March 5, and run through April 30 at Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 North Ave, Haverhill. Classes are held on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Volunteers must be 18 years old. This class is offered free of charge. Registration is required. Call Sheryl Meehan at 978-552-4522 or email her at smeehan@homehealthfoundation.org.
Arc offers legal planning session Wednesday
The Arc of Greater Haverhill/Newburyport is sponsoring an information night on legal planning for families who have members with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
The information night will be held on Wednesday at 7 p.m. with attorney Faith Delaney. She will answer questions about guardianship and address the application process, court monitoring and required reports, special needs trusts and applying for financial benefits.
The program will be held in the Ladies Parlor at the Greater Newburyport YWCA, 13 Market St.
The Arc is a community-based organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For more information and to register for the program, contact Kerry.Mahoney@TheArcofGHN.Org or 978-373-0552 ext. 201.
Support group facilitator sought
The Lotus Healing Arts Foundation is looking for a volunteer with some facilitation experience to lead its monthly chronic Lyme support group on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Contact Holly Whiteside at 603-679-5838, or email her at holly@mindfulcaregiving.net.
Registration is under way for triathlon
Never tried a triathlon? Now's the time with Tri for the YWCA, the third annual indoor triathlon on Sunday, March 25. It is hosted by the Greater Newburyport YWCA and the Masters Swim Group.
Events will include: Indoor Swim: 10 minutes in 25-yard pool; Indoor Cycle: 25 minute ride on spin bike; Outdoor Run/Walk: 1.5 miles on the Rail Trail.
Tri for the YWCA begins at 8 a.m. with 15-minute staggered time starts. It is open to all fitness levels. Enter as an individual and try your best at all three sports or enter as a team and do the sport you like best.
Register online only at www.active.com/running/newburyport-ma/Tri-for-the-YWCA-2012.
Workshop will offer tips for managing chronic diseases
Elder Services and The YWCA of Greater Newburyport will co-host a "My Life, My Health" chronic disease self-management workshop for the public this spring.
The six-week free seminar will run on Wednesdays from April 25 to May 30, but registration is now under way. The program will be held at the YWCA, 13 Market St., Newburyport, from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
The workshop is geared toward individuals living with or caring for someone with an ongoing medical condition such as arthritis, asthma, cancer, chronic back pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, COPD or diabetes. Participants will learn tips and advice on how to eat well, control pain, exercise, handle stress, relax and increase energy.
For more information or to register, call Connie Grasso at 978-465-9922, ext. 44.
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If you have an item for Health Beat, contact Katie Lovett at 978-462-6666 or klovett@newburyportnews.com.
