Wellness classes
Howard County General Hospital will sponsor the following wellness classes. The classes are held at the HCGH Wellness Center, 10710 Charter Drive, Suite 100, Columbia unless otherwise listed. Online registration at hcgh.org is advised for all programs. Information: 410-740-7601.
•Prenatal classes for early pregnancy. Parents-to-be and those in the first trimesters are invited to attend this class from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 19. Also, Prenatal exercise classes taught by a certified instructor will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, March 11 to April 29. Physician permission is required. Cost $88.
•Rewiring neural pathways of emotion. Examine emotional response patterns using imagery, visualization and meditation. 7 p.m to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 12.
•Essentials in babysitting. Learn to manage children, create a safe environment, and apply basic emergency techniques from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 15. Cost $15.
•Care by certified nurse midwives. Learn about midwifery care and routine gynecology as well as family-centered care during pregnancy. Presented by Jackie Notes, CNM and Kay Mitchell, CNM from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. March 18.
•Bariatric surgery. Learn about weight-surgery from Johns Hopkins Center for Bariatric Surgery from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. March 18. Visit hopkinsbayview.org/bariatrics or call 410-550-0409.
•Living with diabetes. Learn from an endocrinologist, podiatrist, psychologist, diabetes nurse educator and dietitian, from 8:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 21 and 25 in The Bolduc Family Outpatient Center at HCGH. A condensed version of this class will held from 6 p.m. to 9 .m. March 19 and 20. Information about both classes 443-718-3000.
•Healthy aging. Seniors learn about the challenges and management options to live a healthy life. Presented by Susan Gibbons, CRNP, Ph.D., and Joseph Gibbons, M.D. from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. March 21, Elkridge Senior Center, 6540 Washington Blvd.
•Living well. Learn to manage your health, develop a diet and fitness plan, deal with pain and communicate with health professionals from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 28. Cost $28.
Blood donations
The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross is requesting blood donations. Eligible donors can call 800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment. Platelet donors should call 800-272-2123.
Dance classes
Presented by Vantage House, a retirement community, classes are held from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays in the Vantage House auditorium, 5400 Vantage Point Road in Columbia. Dance has shown to improve balance, gait and mood in those with Parkinson's disease. Registration and information: Megan Wallnofer at 410-992-1691.
Spiritual reflections
Bon Secours Spiritual Center offers spiritual enrichment programs, 1525 Marriottsville Road in Marriottsville. Information and registration: 410-442-1320.
Screenings
The county health department's North Laurel Community Health Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, offers HIV/AIDS testing services from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Fridays, and from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. by appointment. Call 410-313-0630. Also, the Columbia Health Center, 7180 Columbia Gateway, conducts HIV testing at 8 a.m. Mondays by appointment. Call 410-313-7500. Testing is free, anonymous and confidential.
VA outpatient clinic
The Department of Veterans Affairs operates a 13,300-square-foot facility to serve veterans in Anne Arundel and Howard counties. The clinic is at 2479 Fifth St., adjacent to the Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center at Fort Meade. Services include general outpatient medical care, preventive health and education services, various medical screenings, TeleHealth services and referrals to specialized programs and inpatient services available throughout the VA Medical Health Care System. Information: 410-305-5300.
Look good, feel better
This free program teaches beauty techniques to women with cancer to help them combat appearance-related side effects of treatment. Participants receive cosmetics donated by major manufacturers, as well as instruction and suggestions for wigs and head coverings. The class is taught by a licensed cosmetologist. Classes are held 3:30 p.m. the third Monday of the month at the Howard County General Hospital Wellness Center in the Medical Pavilion, 10710 Charter Drive in Columbia. Information and registration: 888-535-4555.
Caregivers and seniors
Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland has received an 18-month, $500,000 challenge grant from the Maryland Home and Community Care Foundation, and additional funding from the Howard County Department of Citizen Services. A new program, SERVE (Services, Education and Resources for Vulnerable Elders), will work to improve the safety of seniors, enhance the quality of life for caregivers, help families find services, prevent premature institutionalization and reduce incidents of elder abuse and neglect. For information or to donate, go to fcsmd.org.
Support groups
Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center Offered free at 10710 Charter Drive, Suite G050 in Columbia. Information (410-740-5858):
•Support group for men and women diagnosed with cancer meets from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the fourth Saturday of every month. Registration: 410-740-5858.
•Support group for caregivers offering help for a loved one suffering from cancer or other illnesses meets at 3:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month and from 10:30 a.m. to noon on the third Saturday of every month at the Medical Pavilion, Howard County General Hospital, 10710 Charter Drive, Suite G010 in Columbia. Registration: 410-740-5858.
•A breast-cancer support group meets from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month. Registration: 410-964-9100, ext. 5.
•A living-with-breast-cancer support group meets from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of every month. Registration: 410-740-5858.
•Teens Together support group, a networking group for teens who have a friend or family member with cancer, will meet from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month. Information: 410-740-5858.
Prostate cancer education and support group for men to learn about diagnosis and treatment options, management, side effects and quality-of-life issues. The program provides a confidential setting among peers to discuss and share experiences and problems related to prostate cancer. There are occasional guest speakers. The program is held at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month at the Howard County General Hospital Wellness Center in the Medical Pavilion, 10710 Charter Drive in Columbia. Information and registration call Gary, the facilitator 202-253-1025.
Vision-impaired support group sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind will meet from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month at the Other Barn, 5851 Robert Oliver Place in Columbia. Information: Sharon Maneki at 410-715-9596.
Laurel Regional Hospital Offered free at 7300 Van Dusen Road in Laurel (301-497-7914 or 410-792-7636):
•Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m. Sundays
•Bipolar disorder, 6 p.m. Thursdays
•Narcotics Anonymous, 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays
•Parkinson's disease, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Information: 301-776-3426
•Rehabilitation for strokes and long-term illness, 6 p.m. the second Thursday of every month
Parkinson's disease An education and support group meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of every month, 8180 Lark Brown Road in Elkridge. Information: 410-955-8795.
HIV support group for those infected with or affected by HIV. A women's group meets from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the third Friday of every month. A group for men and women meets from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. Meetings are at the Columbia Health Center, 7180 Columbia Gateway Drive. Information: 410-313-6267.
Essential tremor is often confused with Parkinson's disease. The group will meet from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the third Monday of every month at the Howard County Hospital Wellness Center, 10710 Charter Drive, Suite 100, Columbia. The support group is sponsored by HopeNET, an all volunteer, nonprofit organization. Information on HopeNET at theHopeNET.org. Information: 301-776-8073.
Living with cancer The group meets from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the third Monday of every month at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 17055 Scaggsville Road, North Laurel. Information: 410-792-0470, ext. 214.
Bereavement support A support group for adults will meet from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Room 105, 8300 Old Columbia Road, Fulton. Information: 410-792-0470.