Health Notes ; Abil Support Group

Agoraphobics Building Independent Lives holds support-group meetings at different times and locations for people suffering from anxiety and panic disorders.

For details, call 353-3964.

MEDICAL CARE DECISIONS

“Medical Care Decisions — What You Need to Know” will be the topic of a free program on advance directives. The meeting is Tuesday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital, 5801 Bremo Road, in the education center auditorium.

To register, call 627-5010.

MENOPAUSE PROGRAM

“Has Anyone Seen My Hormones? Finding the Best Health Strategies for Menopause and Beyond” will be the topic of a program Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. in the boardroom at Retreat Hospital, 2621 Grove Ave.

Registration will begin a half-hour before each program. To register, call 254-9895 by tomorrow.

MENDED HEARTS

“Organic and Natural Foods: Thinking Outside the Box” will be the topic of a program by Don Caffery, owner of Good Foods Grocery, at the Mended Hearts Inc. Chapter 28 (central Virginia) meeting.

The meeting will be Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Kraus Auditorium at CJW Medical Center (Chippenham), 7101 Jahnke Road.

For details, call 741-3893 or visit www.geocities.com/mendedh/ meetings.html.

GLUTEN INTOLERANCE

The latest information on gluten intolerance will be the topic of the West End Gluten Intolerance Group meeting next Thursday at 7 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 903 Forest Ave.

For details, call Madelyn Smith at 968-4111 or e-mail twegig@comcast.net.

FREE MASSAGES

ShawnMarie Kerley, a certified massage therapist with Whole- Istics Health in Powhatan County, is offering free care to cancer patients. They can receive up to one hour of massage care per month with a doctor’s written referral and prescription. She also will offer a free mini-massage-care class to a friend or family member of someone with muscular dystrophy. The individual must be willing to perform massage care at least three times per week on the muscular- dystrophy patient.

A doctor’s referral also is needed to qualify for this type of massage care.

For details, call ShawnMarie Kerley at 677-0805.

Items for Health Notes should be sent at least one week before publication. They can be sent to Pauline Clay, Richmond Times- Dispatch, P.O. Box 85333, Richmond, VA 23293 or e-mailed to tdhealthnotes@timesdispatch.com.