Health Briefs for the week

Three shops participate in Indiana Black Barbershop Health Initiative

MICHIGAN CITY — Franciscan Health Michigan City will provide free blood pressure, blood glucose and body mass index screenings at three barbershops on April 20 as part of the 12th Annual Indiana Black Barbershop Health Initiative. The events, which are free and open to the public, will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT at Sharper’s Image inside Meijer, 5150 Franklin St.; Platinum Designs, 1801 Franklin St.; and Marvelous Cuts, 4327 Franklin St. Health education and giveaways also will be part of the events.

Classes

SOUTH BEND — Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana will offer the free class “Not Wandering, Think Exploring” from 10 to 11 a.m. April 15 in the Care Partner Academy. Patty Piechocki, director of the Institute for Excellence in Memory Care, will lead this live/interactive web session. Participants can connect through their computer. Register online at https://alzni.org/caregivers/caregiving/.

SOUTH BEND — RiverBend Cancer Services Wellness House, 3516 E. Jefferson Blvd., will offer the following “Living Well with Cancer” classes. All classes are free and open to cancer patients, survivors, their families and caregivers; pre-register for all classes by calling 574-287-4197 or e-mail programs@riverbendservices.org.

• April 14: 1:30 p.m. Head & Neck Support Group.

• April 15: 9 a.m. Harper Cancer Research Day; 10 a.m. Seated Strength; 11:15 a.m. Breathworks; 1 p.m. Paint with Wool; 5:30 p.m. Gentle Yoga.

• April 16: 10:30 a.m. Chair Yoga; 11:45 a.m. Chair Yoga; 1 p.m. MELT; 1 p.m. Mary’s Garden Club.

• April 17: 10 a.m. Support Squad; 10 a.m. Seated Strength; 10 a.m. Knitting Krew; 1 p.m. Unity Gardens; 2 p.m. Dominoes; 5:30 p.m. General Cancer Support Group.

• April 18: 10 a.m. Yarnwork; 10:30 a.m. Chair Yoga; 11:45 a.m. Chair Yoga; 1 p.m. Healthy Cooking with Mary; 5:30 p.m. What is Lymphedema?

• April 19: 9 a.m. Walking Club.

GOSHEN — Chair Yoga will be offered by the Elkhart County Parks at 9:30 a.m. April 18 in the Ox Bow Haus Shelter in Ox Bow Park, 23033 County Road 45. Chair Yoga is a gentle form of yoga that is done while seated or using a chair for balance. Wear comfortable clothing. Some mats are available, bring your own if you have one. This is a free class for those 12 years and older. No registration is required.

SOUTH BEND — The St. Joseph County Public Library is offering “Yoga for EveryBODY” from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. April 17 in Classroom B, Community Learning Center, 305 S. Michigan St.

MISHAWAKA — Battell Community Center, 904 N. Main St., offers the following fitness classes. Please note that fees and charges are subject to change without prior notice.

• Cardio Drumming — Combines dance and fitness. All skill levels are welcome. 6:30 p.m. Mondays; 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cost: $5 per class.

• Middle Eastern Dance — Fitness and fun for all ages. Level 1 (beginners), 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays; Level 2 (intermediate/advanced), 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. Wednesdays; Level 3 (approval from Ruby); 6 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays. For cost and information, contact Ruby at 574-315-1915.

GOSHEN — Goshen Parks & Recreation is offering Zumba classes to help participants de-stress, lose weight and make new friends. The class is held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; 10 to 11 a.m. Saturdays through the month of April. The cost is $5 drop-in rate. Class is held in the studio at the Park Department Office, 524 E. Jackson St.

Events

BRISTOL — Enjoy hiking a different park trail every month, make new friends, get a little exercise, and glimpse the bounty of nature at every curve and corner. The Hiking Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month through October. On April 16 meet at 6 p.m. and take a 1-mile hike through Lieber Nature Preserve (Pipewort Pond), 51602 County Road 23, Bristol. There is no fee for the Hiking Club. All ages welcome. No registration required.

SOUTH BEND — Self-Healing Communities of Greater Michiana will present: “Brain Care is Self-Care and Our Mortality,” from 5 to 6 p.m. April 17 at St. Joseph County Public Library, Western Branch, 611 Lombardy Drive. Explore the connection between caring for our brains and embracing our mortality. The aim is to foster greater self-compassion and offer caregiver tricks for caring for themselves as they care for a loved one.

Support Groups

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services offers the following support groups every month. Registration required.

Elkhart County

• First Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Beardsley Ave., Elkhart, 5 to 6:30 p.m. every second Tuesday, Norene Smith 574-303-9971.

• Greencroft, 1820 Greencroft Blvd., Goshen, 3 to 4:30 p.m. every fourth Tuesday, Amy Willhelm 574-537-4000 or Frank Piaskowy 574-903-1176.

• Waterford Crossing, 1332 Waterford Circle, Goshen, 6 to 7 p.m. every fourth Thursday, Lisa Zolinger at 574-534-3920.

• Brentwood at Elkhart Independent Living, 3600 E. Bristol St., Elkhart, 2 to 3 p.m. every second Wednesday, Gayla Konanz at 574-232-8487.

• Brentwood at Elkhart Assisted Living, 3109 E. Bristol St., Elkhart, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. the last Wednesday, Jennifer Kedik, 574-266-4508.

• Harmony at Elkhart, 1129 Parkway Ave., Elkhart, 6 to 7 p.m. every third Wednesday, Michelle Niswonger at 574-821-7137.

LaPorte County

• Rittenhouse Senior Living, 4300 Cleveland Ave., Michigan City, 2 to 3 p.m. CDT every third Wednesday, Debbie Burgess 219-256-1239 or Dorothy White 219-369-1247.

• Brentwood at LaPorte, 2002 Andrew Ave., LaPorte, 10 to 11:30 a.m. CDT every second Thursday, Amy Harner 219-325-1599.

Marshall County

• Marshall County Council on Aging, 1305 W. Harrison St., Plymouth, 3 to 4 p.m. every third Thursday, Joe Collins 574-232-4121.

St. Joseph County

• Milton Village, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, 10 to 11:30 a.m. every third Tuesday; or 10 to 11:30 a.m. every first Thursday, Norene Smith 574-232-4121.

• Hamilton Grove, 31777 Chicago Trail, New Carlisle, 1 to 2:30 p.m. every first Wednesday, Dorothy White 219-369-1247 or Sandy Papai 574-213-4637.

• North Woods Village, 1409 E. Day Road, Mishawaka, 2 to 3 p.m. every fourth Tuesday, Deejra Lee or Cristy Kaniewski 574-247-1866.

• Always Best Care, 310 N. Ironwood Drive, South Bend, 10 to 11 a.m. every fourth Monday, Gayla Konanz, 574-383-9010; or 11 a.m. to noon every second Tuesday, Patricia Spagnola, 574-383-9010.

• You Too! Caring for Caregivers, location changes, call for address, 2 to 4 p.m. every third Saturday, Wanda Dudley, 574-400-5021.

• St. Paul’s, 3602 S. Ironwood Drive, South Bend, 1 to 2 p.m. every third Wednesday, Kris Borkowski at 574-284-9000.

Starke County

• Brickyard Healthcare, Knox Care Center, 300 E. Culver Road, Knox, 6 to 7 p.m. CDT every second Thursday, Connie Boisvert, 574-772-6248.

Virtual

• Call for virtual Zoom meeting invitation, 2 to 3 p.m. every first Wednesday, Joe Collins 574-232-4121.

Blood drives

Medical Foundation will hold the following drives. Register at givebloodnow.com:

• Leadership SBM and IUSB Honors Program, 1700 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 12.

• PEI Genesis, 4747 Cleveland Road, South Bend, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 12.

• Christ the King Lutheran Church, 17195 E. Cleveland Road, South Bend, 8 a.m. to noon April 14.

• Washington High School, 4747 W. Washington Ave., South Bend, 9 a.m. to noon April 15 and 16.

• Saint Joseph Health System Mishawaka, 5215 Holy Cross Parkway, Mishawaka, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 16.

• South Bend Area Realtors, 1357 Northside Blvd., South Bend, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 17.

• Laidig, 14535 Dragoon Trail, Mishawaka, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 17.

The American Red Cross will hold the following drives. Register at redcrossblood.org:

• First Mennonite Church, 203 E. Lawrence, Middlebury, noon to 6 p.m. April 15.

• Fireman’s Building, 1013 E. Arthur St., Warsaw, noon to 6 p.m. April 15.

• Ivy Tech Community College, 220 Dean Johnson Blvd., South Bend, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 16.

• Pleasant View Church of Christ, 60550 Crooked Creek Road, Cassopolis, noon to 6 p.m. April 16.

• St. Joseph Catholic Church, 16603 U.S. 12 East, White Pigeon, noon to 5:30 p.m. April 16.

• A.K. Smith Career Center, 817 Lafayette St., Michigan City, 7:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. CDT April 16.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Health Briefs in the South Bend area beginning April 12, 2024