Springfield Med offers free health ed classes, support groups

Springfield Medical System’s Community Health Team has announced its free education offerings for 2016’s spring and summer months. There is no charge for any of the programs but space is limited and registration is required. Contact the Community Health Team for more information or to register, 802-886-8946 or email cht@springfieldmed.org.

Classes meet at Springfield Health Center, 100 River St., Springfield unless otherwise indicated.

Your Money, Your Goals

10 a.m.–noon; A series of seven classes meeting Wednesdays, April 13, 20, 27; May 4, 11, 18, 25
The Meeting House, Springfield Hospital, 25 Ridgewood Road, Springfield.

Learn to become financially empowered. Class will cover savings plans, spending plans, goal setting, everything you need to know about credit. Develop confidence to effectively use your financial knowledge, skills and resources to reach your goals. For more information contact Karen Woodcock at SEVCA by calling 802-722-4575, ext. 151.

Taste the Rainbow

2–3 p.m.; Friday, April 22: Celebrate Earth Day with a tasting demo of plant-based dishes brought to you by Community Health Team dietitian and Women, Infants, and Children, WIC, Program nutritionist. Recipes and tips for building more vegetables into your diet will be provided as well as tips for using WIC foods.

Sweet Enough

5:30–7 p.m.; Thursday, April 28, May 5, May 12; Note: the first class 6:30 p.m.

The new USDA guidelines now include a recommendation on maximum added sugar. The first class starts with an introduction to sugar, where it is found in food, benefits and harms, grocery shopping tips, and how to meet the new guidelines. The following two weeks are spent with the goal to eat a diet within the recommendations with support from a dietitian as well as the group.

Weight Loss & Wellness *PLUS* for Adults

10–1 p.m.; Tuesdays May 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31 and June 7

This series of six classes is designed to help adults achieve a healthy weight. The program will explore a number of topics related to food and activity and provide opportunities to learn new skills for a healthy lifestyle.

Weight Loss & Wellness for Adults

5:30–7 p.m. Tuesdays May 31, June 7, 14, 21, and 28

This five-class weight and wellness program is designed to help adults lose weight or maintain weight lost with the assistance of registered dietitian nutritionist, and the support of other program participants.

Cooking For One

5:30–7:30 for first class, 5:30–7 p.m. for the rest; Wednesday, June 8, 15, 22 and 29

This is a series of four cooking classes to demonstrate strategies that can help individuals prepare single meals, based on the plate mode, in a minimal amount of time, ideally 5-10 minutes to reheat food. There is a strong focus on batch cooking, freezing, and pre-prep of fresh produce. Note: This class is demonstration based. Participants will be offered the food that is prepared during the class. Recipes will also be provided.

Tobacco Cessation

Class ONE: 2–3 p.m.; Tuesday April 5, 12, 19, 26
Whitcomb Building, 1 Mineral St., Springfield
Class TWO: 2–3 p.m.; Thursday, April 7, 14, 21, 28
Huber Building, 80 Main St., Springfield

Talk about smoking, quitting, staying quit and all the challenges in between, in a non-judgmental, friendly environment. Many insurance companies will pay for smoking cessation treatments such as nicotine patches or gum after taking a cessation class.

YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program

6–7 p.m.; Wednesdays, May 4– Aug. 17

This program helps adults at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes reduce their risk for developing the disease by taking steps that will improve their overall health and well-being. Call to register. Space is limited.

Healthier Living with Chronic Conditions

5:30–8 p.m.: Monday May 2, 9, 16, 23, June 6, 13
The Group Room at Rockingham Medical Group, 1 Hospital Court, Bellows Falls

The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is a six-week program that helps individuals with chronic conditions manage and improve their own health by focusing on problems that are common to them, such as pain management, nutrition, exercise, medication use, emotions, and communicating with loved ones and health care providers. A light dinner will be provided.

Learning to Live Well with Diabetes

Class ONE: 10–11:30 a.m.; Friday April 8, 15, 22 and 29
Class TWO: 5:30–7 p.m.; Wednesday May 4, 11, 18 and 25

This four-week program is an opportunity for individuals newly diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes and a refresher for those with diabetes to learn all about the best strategies to manage it successfully.

SMCS support groups

Breast Cancer Support Group

Meets at noon every third Wednesday. All are invited to attend. Those interested in attending should call to confirm date and time by contacting Nancy Thibodeau, RN, BSN, breast care coordinator, Springfield Hospital at 802-885-7584.

Breastfeeding Support Group

Meets from noon–2 p.m. every 2nd and 4th Tuesday the month
No registration required. The Meeting House Springfield Hospital 25 Ridgewood Road, Springfield. For more information, call Erin at 802-885-7511

Pulmonary Puffers Support Group

Meets from 4–5 p.m. every 3rd Wednesday of every month
Contact Mary Anne Riley at Springfield Hospital by calling 802-885-7421

Tobacco Cessation

See description above. Call Sarah Doyle at 802-886-8946 for information.

Community support groups

Caregivers’ Support Group presented by the Alzheimer’s Association, Vermont Chapter
Meets 5—6:30 p.m., every third Wednesday of the month. Springfield Hospital Library, Level D
Call 800-272-3900 or visit www.alz.org/Vermont.

Grief Support Group an open and ongoing group
Meets at 4:30–6 p.m., every Tuesday. Attendees are invited to come as often as they like.
Springfield Hospital Meeting House. Contact the Rev. Susan Church, 802-591-3539 or email schurch@vnavnh.org.

Springfield NAMI Connection This weekly group is a peer recovery support group for adults living with mental health challenges. Meets at 6:30 p.m., every 3rd Wednesday. HCRS, 390 River St., Springfield, Clare Munat, 802-824-3909.

Overeaters Anonymous Bellows Falls
A 12-step recovery program for people striving to overcome obesity, compulsive overeating, binge eating, bulimia or anorexia. Meets 7–8 p.m., on Mondays. Lower Level Conference Room, The Health Center, 1 Hospital Court, Bellows Falls. Contact Kathy, 802-732-8219 or keekat2009@comcast.net