‘Heart Hero’ program planned for Feb. 5

January 25, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN — Humility of Mary Health Partners is offering its eighth annual “Be a Heart Hero” program Feb. 5 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman. “Heart Hero” is a community program dedicated to increasing knowledge of cardiovascular health.

This year’s program includes presentations about vascular stenting and disease by Drs. Matthew Langenberg and Jason Delatore. Dr. Donald Tamulonis will present “The Heart-Stroke Connection.” The program also offers free health screenings, including for stroke and blood pressure.

Cost is $18 per person for the public and $23 for professionals desiring contact hours. The event includes a heart-healthy buffet dinner. Registration is required. Call (330) 480-3151 or toll free at (877) 700-4647.

Program to assist caregivers offered

CANFIELD — The Ursuline Center, 4280 Shields Road, a ministry of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown, is offering a three-part program on Pastoral Care for Caregivers. Sessions will be from 7 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 3 and 10 and March 10. The cost is $10 a session, or all three for $25. For information and to register, call (330) 799-4941.

“Legal Aspects” of working with an elderly parent or other loved one Feb. 3 will be the focus of Atty. Karen Bovard. She will discuss living wills, durable power of attorney for health care, financial durable power of attorney, trust, survivorships, avoiding probate and other topics to caregivers protect and care for loved ones.

“Different Types of Care — What Fits Your Loved One’s Needs Best” will be Feb. 10. This session will offer practical pointers on how to get started. Presenters will be Mary Lou Clatterbuck, executive director of both Assumption and Humility House, Humility of Mary Health Partners, and Chris Mariotti, administrator of assisted living Services for HMHP.

“Emotional Aspects” will be March 10. Presenters Mary Ann Pernotto and Christine Williams will give practical insights on “how to hold yourself together.” They will address issues such as anger, guilt, depression, methods of communicating with family members and how to build yourself a support team. Pernotto, a clinician and educator in mental health, is a consultant for Turning Point Counseling Services and D & E Counseling Center. Williams is a clinical counselor at Catholic Charities Regional Offices.

Mental health classes

YOUNGSTOWN — The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Mahoning Valley is conducting its 12-week family-to-family education classes, which detail aspects of living with a person with mental illness, from Feb. 9 through April 27. The classes meet from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane. There is no cost to family members of mentally ill people for the classes, which are funded locally by the Mahoning County Mental Health Board. To register, call Dianna at (330) 540-8583 or Mary Jo at (330) 584-9213.

Township honored

HOWLAND — Howland Township is one of 27 Ohio businesses, townships and cities to be recognized by the Office of Healthy Ohio for healthy work site practices at the fifth-annual Healthy Ohio-Healthy Worksite awards Feb. 27 in Columbus during a Health Action Council Ohio’s conference.

UPMC renovations

GREENVILLE, Pa. — The UPMC Horizon Wellness Center recently underwent major renovations, with the assistance of the UPMC Horizon Community Health Foundation and the generosity of two local families. The improvements enable the center to continue to provide health and wellness services and to lay the foundation for further development of outpatient services serving the northern Mercer and western Crawford county communities. The $200,000 capital renovations and enhancements are part of a long-term plan to provide additional outpatient services at the center, located at 26 Conneaut Lake Road, hospital officials said.

Heart disease and women

HERMITAGE, Pa. — Dr. Jocelyn Camara, a cardiologist with the UPMC Cardiovascular Institute at UPMC Horizon, will present “Your Heart is Different: What Women Should Know About Heart Disease” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Womancare Center of UPMC Horizon, 875 N. Hermitage Road. The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. To register, call (724) 347-7700.

Free foot exams for diabetic patients

AUSTINTOWN — Austintown Podiatry Associates, with offices in Boardman, Warren and Austintown, is offering free diabetic foot screening examinations. Call (330) 792-6519 or (330) 729-1200.