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Health Notes: Week of Aug. 22

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* Hope president receives honorary doctorate

Samira K. Beckwith, president and CEO of Hope HealthCare Services, was presented with a Doctor of Humane Letters when she delivered the commencement speech during Southwest Florida College’s recent graduation ceremonies at Harborside Event Center in Fort Myers.

Beckwith was chosen for the honor from a list of candidates recommended by faculty and administrators at the Fort Myers college.

“Samira is the quintessential professional and an outstanding woman,” said Dr. Stephen Calabro, president of Southwest Florida College, in a prepared statement. “An honorary degree is the highest academic honor a college can bestow and signifies that individual has reached a level of achievement and contribution to their profession that is comparable to the highest level of academic learning.”

Dr. Calabro said he was pleased to see Beckwith’s name on the nominating committee’s short list, calling her “absolutely the perfect choice.”

“Samira has brought so much attention and focus to hospice and quality health care,” he said. “She has set the direction for her profession to emulate locally and nationwide. She’s very innovative, forward-thinking, bright, articulate, compassionate and caring. She is worthy of the highest recognition we could bestow.”

Beckwith, he said, also was a fitting speaker for the college’s 755 graduates – with 45 percent of the students earning medical-related degrees.

During her speech, Beckwith urged students to “do something today about what’s happening in the world tomorrow.”

“We appreciate the important role that Southwest Florida College plays in educating new professionals in all areas – and particularly in health care,” said Beckwith. “It was heartwarming to be part of the celebration and see the quality of these students. I was deeply honored by Dr. Calabro’s recognition.”

* Annual Family Health Forum

A Family Health Forum will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at Dunbar High School, 3800 E. Edison Avenue, Fort Myers.

The focus of the free community family event is health will be awareness, prevention and education. This year there will be an entire new area dedicated to children’s health that will focus on the Successful Three: Health, Education and Self-Esteem. There will be activities for children including a play area. Children 18 and younger will also be able to receive free immunizations (parents please bring your child’s shot records). While the children learn, adults have the opportunity to benefit from health screenings and education too.

The Harry Chapin Food Bank also will distribute groceries for the first 300 households. Please bring reusable shopping bags or a box to carry the food.

Attendees will be able to receive free health screenings and/or information on various health topics including:

– Prostate and colon cancer

– Breast and cervical cancer

– Diabetes

– Blood pressure

– Tobacco cessation

– Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) and HIV

– Sleep disorders

– Asthma

– Children’s health and information

Event organizers/participants include Omega Youth and Community Development Foundation, Lee Memorial Health System, Lee County Health Department, 21st Century Oncology, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Latino 97.7 & the Kleist Center. For more information, please call 239-424-3806.

* Hording seminar set

Lee County Task Force on Hoarding will present an educational seminar, “Hoarding-Clearing the Way,” from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Aug.30.

The seminar will be held at The United Way of Lee County, 7273 Concourse Drive, Fort Myers. The cost is free but registration is required due to limited seating. To register or for more information, contact Sharon Giancola, Department of Human Services, (239) 533-7936.

Continuing education credits will be available for attendees. The seminar will offer training on definitions of hoarding, identifying hoarding vs. collecting, intervention techniques, and resources available to those in need or their families.

* Nurse pinning ceremony held at Hope Hospice House

Rasmussen College’s inaugural graduating class of registered nurses was honored in a pinning ceremony at the Hope Hospice House in Cape Coral recently.

This hospice house is one of four operated by Hope HealthCare Services in Lee County and the venue where the nurses participated in their first clinical experience. The 11 nurses-in-training were able to gain practical experience with patients, according to Jackie Houle, dean of nursing at the college’s Fort Myers campus.

“We thought it would be nice for the students to finish where they started,” Houle said in a prepared statement. “I think the venue was very befitting for our nurses.”

As part of the two-year-old nursing program at Rasmussen, students complete 570 hours of clinical experience to earn an associate degree. At the hospice house, students learn fundamental skills, including bathing, mealtime assistance, transporting patients and administering medications, Houle said.

“This is the first clinical experience they have as students, and Hope has done a great job ensuring that it’s a meaningful one,” she said. “The staff is always welcoming and willing to provide them with real-world experience as a clinical partner.”

Rasmussen’s nursing program, launched in the summer of 2010, currently has 191 nursing candidates who will complete their fundamental clinical experience at a Hope Hospice House. The college has been approved to offer degrees in licensed practical nursing beginning in October. In addition to the associate RN degree, the school also provides an LPN-to-RN mobility program that allows LPNs to transfer credits toward an RN.

* Tony Rotino Senior Center

Annual Membership fee is $30 for Cape Coral residents and $60 for non-residents. This includes membership to both Lake Kennedy and the Tony Rotino Senior Centers.

Exercise Classes

Seniorcise Class: Tuesday 1:30-2:30 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday. 9:30 to 10:30 a.m Cost $4, members; $8, non-member. Certified Aerobics Instructor Monica Jipson: This class is designed for the senior who enjoys keeping active and is looking for a fun time while getting all the benefits of a workout.

Slimnastics Class: Tuesday and Thursday. 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Cost $50/yearly $65/6 months (One must be a member to attend this class) Instructor Sharon Swanson R.N. Slimnastics at the Tony Rotino Senior Center is geared toward the active, mature adult.

Zumba: Tuesday and Thursday 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Cost $5 per class. The first class is free! This dynamic aerobic workout fuses Latin rhythms and easy to follow moves to tone to sculpt your body while burning fat!

The Tony Rotino Senior Center is at 516 Driftwood Parkway, Cape Coral.

For more information and to register call 574-0807.

* Drivers needed for Meals on Wheels

Community Cooperative Ministries Inc., is in need of Meals on Wheels drivers for Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and Fort Myers .

For more information or an application, call Lisa Cronin at 239-332-0441 or visit www.ccmileecounty.com

* Blood pressure checks

Cape Coral Hospital Auxiliary conducts blood pressure tests every Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. in the hospital main lobby. For more information call 574-0206.

* Wellness programs open to the public

n Zumba Gold every Saturday 10 to11 a.m. Cost $6 per class

n Tai Chi, on Tuesday, 9 a.m.; Thursday 9 a.m. Cost $6

Classes held at Gulf Coast Village, 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd.

For more information and to register: call: 239-573-3334

* Lake Kennedy Senior Center

– Yoga with Eileen Coppol, Monday and Thursday, 2:30 p.m. cost $6 per member, $10 per non-member

– Simply Fit with Sandy: Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. cost is $4 per member and $8 per non-member.

– Zumba four days a week, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. and Wednesday 7 p.m. Cost $5 per member and $9 per non-member

Exercise attire is recommended.

– Boomer Boot Camp with Missy Tuesdays 5:15-615 p.m. Boomer Boot Camp is a fitness and motivational program. The cost is $7.50 per session

– Tai Chi with instructor Russ Cline Monday 6 p.m.

Cost $5 per member and $9 per non-member Comfortable clothing and footware is recommended.

– Lake Kennedy Senior Center is located at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd.

Call 239-574-0575

* Free pain clinic

Southwest Florida Free Pain Clinic at Fort Myers First Church of the Nazarene, 13545 American Colony Blvd., Fort Myers, meets Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m. For more information call Alan Gruning, DO, 239-939-3303 or Pastor Joey Brummett, 239-936-2511.