Children programs

Children programs

The Mahoning Valley Healthy Kids Coalition is offering the Fitness Club and Fitness Lifestyle Challenge programs free for children 7 to 15.

The first six-week session is Jan. 5 in Youngstown and Boardman and Jan. 6 in Niles. The programs promote healthy fitness and eating habits, and safe, gradual weight loss through activities such as obstacle courses, rope jumping, relays, games, swimming and circuit training.

The Fitness Club is open to children without a referral. The Fitness Lifestyle Challenge is for children with high body-mass index or diabetes-related diagnoses, and requires a referral form from a doctor or school nurse. Program participants meet two to three days per week for six weeks.

Participating locations include the Youngstown Central YMCA in downtown Youngstown on North Champion Street, the Davis Family YMCA in Boardman and the Mayor Ralph A. Infante Wellness Center in Niles.

For information or to enroll, visit akronchildrens.org/healthykids or call 330-729-1391.

Insurance help

SALEM

Free health insurance help is offered at the Salem Public Library, 821 E. State St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on these dates: Monday; Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26; and Feb. 2 and 9.

Certified Navigator Elaine Smith from Access Health Mahoning Valley will review options online, including Ohio’s expanded Medicaid and private Marketplace plans with premium tax credits available to lower the cost.

Those with current coverage should also review plans for 2015 as they may find a better deal. Reservations are required. Call 330-373-0703 or go to https://connector.getcoveredamerica.org.

Mike Hull grant

YOUNGSTOWN

The Autism Society of Ohio, Mahoning Valley, presented the inaugural Mike Hull Memorial Family grant of $500 — in the form of an iPad Air 3G and Otter Box case — to Scott Lewis, 26, of Youngstown.

Lewis is nonverbal, and the unit is an aid to help him communicate more easily.

Better flu vaccine

PITTSBURGH

The high-dose flu vaccine is significantly better than the regular flu shot at boosting the immune response to the flu virus in frail, older residents of long-term care facilities, according to a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study.

The study, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases and funded by vaccine-maker Sanofi Pasteur, found that, with the exception of one strain of flu circulating in the 2012-13 season, the high-dose flu vaccine helped participants mount a better immune response to influenza than the standard flu shot.

“The elderly living in long-term care facilities have higher influenza exposure risks, lower immune defenses and a much greater likelihood of flu-related death than the general population,” said lead author David A. Nace, M.D., M.P.H., director of long-term care and flu programs in Pitt’s Division of Geriatric Medicine and chief medical officer for UPMC Senior Communities.

ER lot repaved

SALEM

The repaving project on Salem Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department parking lot has been completed and all parking spaces in the lot are now available for use.

The upgrades include new pavement, curbs and sidewalks to enhance safety and improve traffic flow for pedestrians and vehicles.