Health Beat: MS walk set for Saturday

The community is encouraged to take part in Walk MS tomorrow.

Walkers follow a 5-mile route that begins and ends at Market Landing and includes a stretch through Cashman Park along the riverfront, plus two rest stops with snacks, beverages and restrooms.

Organized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the walk is intended to increase awareness of multiple sclerosis and to raise money to help individuals and families affected by MS, while also funding research leading to the prevention, treatment and cure of the disease.

Check-in opens at 9 a.m., and the official start is 10 a.m. Each walker, age 12 and older, is required to raise at least $25.

T-shirts are awarded for at least $100 in fundraising, but historically, walkers easily average more than $200.

Teams and individuals can register to walk by visiting www.walkMSgne.org or by calling 1-800-344-4867, opt. 2, and in person on the day of the walk. Volunteers are also invited to man the registration table, rest stops and help with lunch.

Donations in support of walkers and teams may be made online, at www.walkMSgne.org. Click on the Donate/ePledge link, select Massachusetts, Newburyport Walk MS and enter the name of the individual or team you want to support.

Asperger support group meets Monday

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 in Newburyport.

The guest speaker will be Jonathan Stevens, M.D. Stevens will talk about medications commonly used in children and adolescents with Asperger's.

This support group addresses the concerns of parents of school-aged children diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, high-functioning autism, or related challenges. 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 questions, call Carol Keating at 978-372-2799 or email carolkeating@verizon.net, or call Suzanne Phillips at 978-356-1775 or email suzannemphillips47@gmail.com.

Support group meeting at Atria

An Alzheimer's support group will be held Monday at Atria Merrimack Place at 6 p.m.

The group is facilitated by Gail Buccini, LPN. Susan Lamkins is the guest speaker and will discuss long-term care options that are available for those with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Admission is free. Atria Merrimack Place is at 85 Storey Ave., Newburyport. The support group meets the second Monday of each month.

Clinician receives teaching award

Jennifer Howard, nurse practitioner, has been awarded a Clinical Teaching Excellence Award in Community Health Nursing from Simmons College, School of Nursing and Health Sciences.

The award is given annually to a professor who demonstrates care and compassion with students by providing a personal interest in student learning, coaching and encouraging students in challenging clinical situations, and collaborating effectively with the health care team.

Howard, of Newburyport, is an alumnus of Simmons College. She has been an adjunct professor for five years while working for Merrimack Valley Hospice and teaches courses in pain and symptom management and end-of-life care to nursing and nurse practitioner students.

"I am truly honored to be recognized by my colleagues for work that is so personally and professionally rewarding" Howard said in a press release. "Teaching also gives me opportunities to stay current with the latest treatment options for pain and symptom management. I then share that information with my colleagues at Merrimack Valley Hospice to benefit patients in our care."

Dyslexia seminar on Wednesday

If you, your child, or your students have difficulties with reading, decoding, phonemic awareness, writing, spelling, math, or attention deficits, dyslexia could be the cause.

Join New England Dyslexia Solutions for a free informational seminar on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon. The seminar will offer an in-depth understanding of what dyslexia is, signs to look for and solutions that help.

The seminar will be at the Boston North Technology Park conference room, 110 Haverhill Road, Amesbury. Registration is required.

Swim class registration coming up

Registration for the YWCA Greater Newburyport's Spring II Session swim lessons will be held from Monday, April 18, through Saturday, April 30, at the YWCA Greater Newburyport, 13 Market St.

Spring II Session will run from Monday, April 25, through Saturday, June 18. There are no classes on Memorial Day.

Swim lessons for all levels, beginning at 6 months of age, are offered Monday through Saturday, with morning and afternoon options.

Sessions last for 7 weeks.

For more information and registration forms, visit www.ywcanewburyport.org or call 978-465-9922.

Alzheimer's conference April 30

The Merrimack Valley Alzheimer's Partnership is hosting its 23rd Annual Merrimack Valley Alzheimer Conference on Saturday, April 30, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wyndham Hotel, 123 Old River Road, Andover.

This year's conference is themed "Your Caregiver Toolbox: Essential Resources," and is geared toward caregivers developing their own toolbox of resources that will enable them to thrive, not just survive, through caregiving.

The goal of the conference is to educate and provide long-term benefits to caregivers to live happy and safe lives with their dependent loved ones.

Joining the conference is Dr. David Lennox, discussing behavioral incident prevention, and Jo Ann Jordan, discussing "The Care Journey: Making the Tough Times Easier."

For more information on the conference, contact René©e Merritt, Elder Services' caregiver manager, at rmerritt@esmv.org or 978-946-1321.

Healthy aging workshop tackles chronic disease

A free, six-week healthy aging workshop called My Life, My Health will meet Wednesdays from 1 to 3:30 p.m. from April 27 through June 1 at YWCA Greater Newburyport, 13 Market St., Newburyport.

The workshop, which is being offered though Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley's Healthy Aging Program, will focus on chronic disease self-management.

It is open to adults of any age who are living with or caring for someone coping with the challenges of one or more ongoing health conditions, such as chronic heart failure, cancer, chronic fatigue system, fibromyalgia, arthritis and Parkinson's disease.

Participants will learn to eat well, control their pain, start an exercise program, deal with fatigue and frustration, handle stress and relax, increase their energy level, solve problems and meet personal goals, and communicate effectively with their health-care providers.

To register, call Connie at the YWCA at 978-465-9922, ext. 44, or visit www.esmv.org for more information.

YWCA Encore Program starts this month

The YWCA Greater Newburyport is currently accepting applications for its Session III, Encore Program (after breast cancer). Session III will meet on Wednesdays from April 27 through June 15 at 5:50 p.m. for land exercises, followed by warm water exercises at 6:30 p.m.

Peer support group sessions are also available.

YWCA Encore is designed specifically for those who have experienced breast cancer at any time in their lives. This free program incorporates gentle land/warm water exercises and relaxation techniques that target areas that have been affected by breast cancer surgery and treatment. The peer group support sessions provide an opportunity for participants in the program to share their experiences and information in a safe and supportive environment.

Applications are available at www.ywcanewburyport.org. or at the YWCA membership desk, 13 Market St. For more information, contact Connie 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.

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Health Beat: MS walk set for Saturday

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