Health News
By Kandace Power Graves
And Baby Makes Glee
Couples interested in adopting an infant should call Catholic Charities Access to Life adoption program at 885-1141 this month. The group recently expanded its domestic adoption program and now is accepting applications through June 30.
Prospective parents will be asked to complete a questionnaire, and those accepted into the program will attend classes and receive both support and legal assistance as they navigate the adoption process.
Catholic Charities, which also offers international adoption services, is a human services agency that operates dozens of programs open to people of every faith and background.
Have a Ball!
Enjoy a night of music, dancing, dinner, cocktails and auctions and support a good cause at the same time at Red Cross Humanitarian Ball Friday, June 11, at the New Orleans Marriott (555 Canal St.). Proceeds benefit the Southeast Louisiana Chapter of the American Red Cross' disaster response fund.
Tickets are $150 for the ball, which starts at 7:30 p.m., or $200 for the ball and a patron party, which starts at 6 p.m. Tables of 10 for the ball and two patron tickets are available for $1,500.
The ball is dedicated to Humanitarian of the Year P.K. Scheerle, a registered nurse, philanthropist, and founder, president and CEO of American Nursing Services Inc.
The ball includes silent and live auctions, music by ABIEA and the Boogie Men, dinner, an award program, cocktails and dancing. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 520-3105 ext. 114.
Graceful Aging
East Jefferson General Hospital's (4200 Houma Blvd., Metairie) Elder Advantage program offers Qigong classes every Wednesday except holidays from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The cost is $5 per class and no registration is required. Call 454-4066 for room location and information.
The classes are presented by Tai Peter Hom, director of the Tai Chi Wellness Center, and use gentle movements and optimal breathing patterns to optimize energy, help alleviate stress and promote well-being.
Help for Alzheimer's Caregivers
Those who care for Alzheimer's patients can hear advice from local author and expert Joe Huey during a free luncheon sponsored by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 9, at Smith Regional Branch Library (6301 Canal Blvd.).
Huey will discuss 'Communicating With the Person With Alzheimer's Disease' at the event, presented by Alzheimer's Services of the Crescent City. Seating is limited; call 340-8656 or email info@alzheimerservicescc.com for reservations.
Dance Your Blues Away
Former Gov. David Treen, his wife, Dodie, Blanche Francis and Sharon Litwin will be the honored guests at the Mental Health Association in Metropolitan New Orleans' third Mental Health Awards Gala at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 12, at the Fair Grounds Race Course (175 Gentilly Blvd.). A patron party begins at 7 p.m.
The Chasin' Away the Blues gala will feature food, dancing to music by the Spectacles, and a silent auction. Tickets are $75 for the gala and $125 for the gala and patron party. Call 897-1140 or 296-8880 for tickets or more information.
Proceeds benefit the nonprofit Mental Health Association in Metropolitan New Orleans, which provides a mental health advocacy network, advocacy leadership training, a community resource directory and other educational materials and programs.
Vital Organs
Tulane University researchers are now enrolling patients who have been diagnosed with early signs of kidney disease to participate in a clinical study that will help doctors learn more about the causes of kidney disease and how it affects the heart. The Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study, which will be conducted at several medical institutions across the country and will include about 500 patients in New Orleans, is funded by the National Institutes of Health.
No experimental treatments or drugs will be used in the study, which will last for several years. The purpose is to learn more about the causes and course of kidney disease so doctors can better understand how to prevent and manage it. NIH data indicates that one in nine American adults suffers from kidney disease and some 50,000 people are waiting or a kidney transplant. Of those, only about 14,000 will receive one.
Participants will answer questions about their medical history, have blood pressure measured and receive EKGs and other tests that will be repeated over the course of the study.
For more information, contact Tamara Pearson at 988-4392 or email tpearson@tulane.edu.
Help Is on the Way
Parents and educators who want to sharpen their skills in dealing with children and kids with behavioral problems can attend a series of workshops being held this summer by Families Helping Families (4323 Division St., Suite 110, Metairie, 888-9111; www.fhfgno.org).
A workshop focusing on summer activities for children not attending a full-time summer camp is scheduled Wednesday, June 9, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Westwego Library (645 4th St., Westwego). Dana Voelkel, Child Search coordinator, and Shannon Gross of Families Helping Families will discuss physical activities, arts and crafts, enrichment, remediation and mini camps for kids.
Parents and educators hoping to better cope with children with behavior problems can attend a workshop from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 10, at the East New Orleans Regional Library (5641 Read Blvd.). The session will teach adults how to identify problem behaviors and how to make an effective positive behavior plan. Similar behavior problem workshops will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 15 at the Belle Chasse Library (8442 Hwy. 23, Belle Chasse) and from 10 a.m. to noon June 26 at the North Kenner Library (630 W. Esplanade Ave., Kenner).
For more information about the workshops, log onto www.fhfgno.org, or to register, call 888-9111.
Fitness Made Fun
Learn healthy exercise routines and eating habits, stress management and receive personal health assessments among other things at the monthlong Fit-Fun-N-Thin-Some Program offered free by the Daughters of Charity Neighborhood Health Partnership.
Education seminars and exercise classes are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays, and exercise only is available from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays from June 22 to Aug. 24 at Incarnate Word Center (8326 Apricot St.). Call 866-5978 ext. 21 for more information.
Cognitive Trial
Adults with mild cognitive decline may be eligible to participate in a study to determine whether a drug now used to treat Alzheimer's Disease might also be useful in treating their symptoms.
Researchers at Tulane University are looking for people between 45 and 90 who are experiencing memory loss and other changes in thinking not attributed to Alzheimer's. For more information, call 588-5800 or (800) 588-5800.
Voice Your Opinion
Women who participate in an on-line survey about hormone therapies can receive a copy of the recently released issue of the National Women's Health Report from the National Women's Health Resource Center.
The center is using the survey to collect information about women's perceptions and preferences for various hormone therapy delivery options. Those who complete the survey can receive the health report by mail or can download it from the Web site.
Women can answer questions on the survey, which can be found at on the National Women's Health Resource Web site at www.healthywomen.org through June 30. The resource center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating women about health and wellness issues. 
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