Support Groups
Bariatric Surgery Patient Support Group
Better Breathers Club
Breast Cancer Support Group
Breastfeeding Support Group
Cancer Support Group
Caregiver Support Group
Celiac Support Group
Community Birth/Loss Support Group
Diabetes Education & Support Group
HIV & AIDS - Support, Education & Advocacy
Parkinson's Support Group
Substance Abuse Family Support Group
Suicide Survivor Support Group
Transgender Support Group
Bariatric Surgery Patient Support Group
For Bariatric Surgery Patients a Support Group (such as Gastric Bypass and Adjustable Gastric Banding for weight loss). The group is open to those who have had bariatric surgery as well as those considering the surgery. No registration needed-just come and join in!
The topics of discussion will be decided by the group and focus on the needs of the group.
The meeting will be held monthly on the third Tuesday of the month from 6:30pm - 8:30pm. The meeting location is at Heywood Hospital in the Volney Howe Conference Room. This group session is not to be considered medical advice or as a replacement for any required steps in the gastric bypass medical care plan you have in place with your physician.
For more information please contact Lynne Shaw, RN, BSN, MBA at Phone/Fax: 978-724-0040 or Email: quabbinHCC@gmail.com.
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Better Breathers Club
The Better Breathers Club is designed to provide a source of ongoing education and support for individuals with breathing problems and lung disease, along with their families and friends. The topics of the meetings are suggested by the group members and are presented by a variety of guest speakers. The meetings are held in a relaxed atmosphere and conversation between group members on experiences or coping techniques is encouraged.
The group meets on the first Monday of every month (except for January, February, July, August & September) from 2:30pm - 3:30pm in the Heywood Hospital Dining Room Conference Room. The program is co-sponsored by the American Lung Association.
For more information regarding the Better Breathers Club, contact Pamela Heglin in Cardiopulmonary Services at (978) 630-6222.
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Breast Cancer Support Group
The Breast Cancer Support Group meets the 2nd week of the month, Wednesday at 7:00pm alternating with Saturday at 9am at
Call Paula D'Entremont at (978) 632-5491 for more information.
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Breastfeeding Support Group
This is a support group of local mothers who meet to exchange breastfeeding information, support and encouragement in an informal setting. Babies (and breastfeeding) are always welcome at all of the meetings.
Meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month from 10:00am - 11:00am in the Lactose Room on the Maternity Unit. Meetings are free of charge.
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Cancer Support Group
The Cancer Support Group is designed to provide support for patients and their families through participation in group discussion with people with similar life experiences. The group is sponsored by
The group meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month from 7:00pm - 8:00pm in the Medical Arts Building Conference Room at Heywood Hospital.
For more information regarding the Cancer Support Group, contact Linda LaRoche, RN in the Special Procedures Department at
Caregiver Support Group For The Cancer Patient
Any caregiver of a cancer patient that needs support will be welcome.
Meetings will be held on the last Wednesday of every month at 3:00pm. Location will vary...please call ahead for the location. There is no cost to attend this group.
It will be facilitated by Brenda Mildish, LSW Medical Social Worker. If you have any questions, please call Brenda at 978/630-6517.
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Caregiver Support Group
The Caregiver Support Group is for family and caregivers of a person with Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia.
All meetings will be held from 2pm to 3pm in the OBS Conference Room. Dates and times are subject to change. The 2012 meeting schedule is as follows: May 30th, June 27th, July 25th, August 29th, September 26th and October 31st.
For more information please call Josh Diggins or Ann Fenlason at 978-630-6325.
This program is co-sponsored by the Geriatric Psychiatry and Social Service Departments.
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Celiac Support Group
Celiac Support Group is for individuals diagnosed the celiac disease or gluten/wheat intoloerance. This group will meet 3-4 times per year.
The next meeting will be held in the Spring on May 17 at
Keynote Speaker is Melinda Dennis, MS, RD, LDN, Nutrition Coordinator/Registered Dietitian. Melinda is a registered dietitian who specializes in counseling patients with celiac disease and is a Nutrition Coordiator of the
Contact: Bonnie Hathaway, MS, RD, LDN-978-630-6289 or email Bonnie.Hathaway@heywood.org for more information.
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Diabetes Education & Support Group
The Diabetes Support Group is a multi-purpose support program designed to expand participants' diabetes knowledge and help with daily coping, as well as provide participants with the opportunity to share ideas/experiences with other diabetics.
The group meets monthly (September - June)on Mondays from 6:00pm - 7:00pm or Wednesdays from 2:00pm - 3:00pm in the
For more information regarding the Diabetic Support Group contact Doug Miller, R.N., CDE, Clinical Coordinator Diabetes Education at 978-630-5719.
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HIV & AIDS - Support, Education & Advocacy
The Infection Control Department provides support, education and advocacy for HIV positive individuals and their families upon request.
Meetings are scheduled with clients on an as-needed basis by calling Jeannie Sanborn, Infection Control Director at (978) 630-6490.
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Parkinson's Support Group
When someone is diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease there are many concerns for the patient and his or her family and friends. This support group was developed to aide these individuals to be more effective in their plan or care and to enable a better understanding of their disease.
Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month in the Heywood Hospital Dining Room Conference Room B at 2:00pm.
The meetings are facilitated by a Sixteen year Parkinson's pateint and a Licensed Social Worker. For more information contact: Carl Billington 978-632-9682 or email:karter@tiac.net.
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Substance Abuse Family Support Group
Are you the parent of a teenager or young adult who is currently abusing drugs and/or alcohol? Would you like to meet other parents in a confidential, relaxed environment to share your experiences and provide mutual support?
We feature a guest speaker at every meeting and refreshments are served.
The Substance Abuse Family Support Group meetings for 2012 will be held
from 7:00pm-8:00pm on the following dates:
Tuesday, July 10th - OBS Conference Room, Al-Anon Representative
Tuesday, July 24th - Volney Howe Conference Room
Tuesday, August 14th - OBS Conference Room, Section 35 Issues
Tuesday, August 28th - Volney Howe Conference Room
Tuesday, September 11th - OBS Conference Room
Tuesday, September 25th - Volney Howe Conference Room
Tuesday, October 9th - Hospital Aid Conference Room
Tuesday, October 23rd - Volney Howe Conference Room
Tuesday, November 13th - OBS Conference Room
Tuesday, November 27th - Volney Howe Conference Room
Tuesday, December 11th - Hospital Aid Conference Room
Tuesday, December 18th - Volney Howe Conference Room
If you have any questions, please call Sue at (978) 630-6221 or Tina at (978) 630-6132.
Sponsored by SBIRT Program, Heywood Hospital Emergency Department
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Transgender Support Group
Meetings held the 4th Wednesday of every month at 6:30pm in the Volney Howe Conference Room, near the Cafeteria. Spouses, family and significant others are welcome. Group is lead by Leslie Fabian, LICSW. For more information, contact Heywood's Multicutural Service Department at 978-630-6166. Interpreter services are available upon request.
Transgender Support Group Dates:
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - CANCELLED
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
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Suicide Survivor Support Group
This group is intended for individuals who lost someone they know to suicide. Meetings are held the Second Wednesday of every month at 6:30 PM. All are welcome to attend. For more information call (978) 630-6377.
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Community Birth/Loss Support Group
This Support Group is for Parents who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of a Newborn. Society often does not understand the depth of feelings parents experience after infant loss. The Community Birth/Loss Support Group is a collaborative of UMass Memorial Health Care, Heywood Hospital and Milford Regional Medical Center; sharing resources and providing support, understanding and acceptance of bereaved families.
We welcome parents, families and friends to any or all of the monthy meetings.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT:
UMASS MEMORIAL HEALTH CARE
119 Belmont Street, Worcester, MA 01605
Elena Coffey, MA LCSW
(508) 334-1000 (pager) or
(508) 334-8567 (voice mail)
MILFORD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
14 Prospect Street, Milford, MA 01757
Karen Pecci, LICSW
(508) 422-2030
HEYWOOD HOSPITAL
242 Green Street, Gardner, MA 01440
Jill Cormier, LCSW
(978) 630-6458
~Any parent experiencing a pregnancy loss is welcome.
~No pre-registration (unless noted).
~ No fees or costs involved.
~Parents may come as couples, individuals, or may bring a family member or friend.
~Parents may share feelings, talk or just listen.
~All that is shared remains confidential among group members.
~A “lending Library” is available at each meeting site.
PARENT OUTREACH VOLUNTEER
PROGRAM
Parent-to-parent telephone contacts are available by calling the contacts listed above.
PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS MEET
EACH MONTH
FIRST THURSDAY
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Heywood Medical Building
The Conference Room
250 Green Street
Gardner, MA 01440
Contact: Jill Cormier, LCSW
(978) 630-6383
SECOND THURSDAY
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Milford Regional Medical Center
Hill Building, 2nd Floor
14 Prospect Street
Milford, MA 01757
Contact: Karen Pecci, LICSW
(508) 422-2030
THIRD THURSDAY
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
UMass Memorial Health Care
Nursing Conference Room, Mem. 1
119 Belmont Street
Worcester, MA 01605
Contact: Elena Coffey, MA LCSW
(508) 334-8567
SUBSEQUENT PREGNANCY MEETING
Pregnant or planning a pregnancy after a loss?
Contact: Claudia Neithercut, LICSW
(508) 835-4613
STORM ALERT
In the event of inclement weather, cancellations will be announced over WSRS and WTAG Radio.
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