Support groups at BID-Plymouth
The Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth, 275 Sandwich St. in Plymouth (formerly the Jordan Hospital), offers numerous support groups on a regular basis. Visit www.bidplymouth.org/calendar or call 508-746-2000 for details.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership. Visit www.alcoholics-anonymous.org or www.aaboston.org, or call 508-746-5611 or 617-426-9444 for information and to find a meeting in your area.
Al-Anon
For more than 50 years, Al-Anon (which includes Alateen for younger members) has been offering hope and help to families and friends of alcoholics. It is estimated that each alcoholic affects the lives of at least four other people. Alcoholism is truly a family disease. No matter what relationship you have with an alcoholic, whether they are still drinking or not, all who have been affected by someone else’s drinking can find solutions that lead to serenity in the Al-Anon/Alateen fellowship. Call 888-4AL-ANON or visit www.al-anon.alateen.org for details.
Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous is an international, community-based association of recovering drug addicts with more than 33,500 weekly meetings in over 116 countries worldwide. Narcotics Anonymous sprang from the Alcoholics Anonymous program of the late 1940s, started as a small U.S. movement and has grown into one of the world’s oldest and largest organizations of its type. Visit www.na.org for details or call 866-243-3578.
Narconon
Narconon would like to remind families that the use of addicting drugs is on the rise. Take steps to protect your family from drug use. If you know anyone who is struggling with drug addiction, get them the help they need. Call for a free brochure on the signs of addiction for all drugs. Narconon also offers free screenings and referrals. Call 800-431-1754 or visit the site at DrugAbuseSolution.com.
South Shore OCD support group
The South Shore OCD Support Group holds regular meetings for adults, teens and children suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. Parents of children, family and friends of adults are all welcome. Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month, at South Shore Mental Health, 64 Industrial Park Road, Plymouth. There is no cost and the building is wheelchair accessible. Call Barbara Lashley at 508-830-1630 for more information.
Debtors Anonymous
Compulsive debting is both a serious problem and an addiction. This involves credit cards and any other form of unsecured debting. DA offers recovery from compulsive debting. Meetings are held from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays in the community room at Gleason Family YMCA, 33 Charge Pond Road, Wareham.
Compulsive gambling
The Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling is a private, nonprofit health agency dedicated to reducing the social, financial and emotional costs of problem gambling. The Council provides information, prevention, education, advocacy and referral services for problem gamblers, their loved ones and the greater community. Visit www.masscompulsivegambling.org for details. The Council headquarters is located at 190 High St., Boston, 617-426-4555; and there is a Helpline number, 800-426-1234.
Grief support groups
Beacon Hospice, 32 Resnik Road, Plymouth, offers a variety of grief support groups that are open to anyone in the community who is experiencing grief due to the death of a loved one. Groups offered are: Coping with the Loss of a Spouse or Partner, Parent Loss for Adults, Loss of an Adult Child, Men Coping with Grief Breakfast Club. In addition to groups, one-to-one grief support sessions are also provided to any member of the community free of charge. For more information, call Scott Ciosek, M.Div., at 508-747-7222.
Dementia support group for caregivers
A support group for loved ones of patients with dementia will meet from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at BID-Plymouth, located at 275 Sandwich St. The Senior Behavioral Health Center (SBHC) at BID-Plymouth support group is committed to providing positive support to all who attend. The intention is to be empathetic and accepting to all; confidentiality is the priority. For more information, contact Maryann Sweeney, SBHC activities coordinator. Visit www.bidplymouth.org for more information.
Therapy referral service
The Social Work Therapy Referral Service offers free confidential counseling referrals for individual, couple, family and group therapy, matched for specialty, location and insurance. This is a public service of the National Association of Social Workers. Call 617-720-2828 or 800-242-9794.
Hearing Loss Association
For information on The Hearing Loss Association of America Plymouth Chapter, go to hearingloss.org or Sandy Spekman at sspekman@gmail.com.
CleanSlate treatment center in Plymouth
In response to the growing opioid epidemic impacting the South Shore, CleanSlate Addiction Treatment Centers has opened its eleventh center within Massachusetts, at 110 Long Pond Road in Plymouth. CleanSlate is accepting new patients. Founded in 2009 to address to the growing opioid crisis facing Massachusetts, today CleanSlate is the largest, non-cash based provider of medication assisted treatment services with buprenorphine and extended release naltrexone in the commonwealth. As of May 2015, Plymouth had averaged one opioid-related overdose per day thus far this year. Within Massachusetts, there are now on average three opioid-related deaths occurring each day. CleanSlate’s assistance was requested by BID-Plymouth hospital. CleanSlate Centers was founded in 2009 in response to the growing opioid epidemic facing the country. A network of outpatient addiction treatment centers, CleanSlate provides compassionate, effective, medication assisted treatment and related therapies for patients who have addiction and associated disorders using the highest quality, evidence based practices. Call 800-newstart or visit www.cleanslatecenters.com for more information.
LiveStrong program at Old Colony YMCA
Old Colony YMCA- Plymouth Branch will become a provider of the nationally recognized LiveStrong at the YMCA in partnership with the LiveStrong Foundation. The 12-week physical activity and wellbeing initiative helps people affected by cancer reach their holistic health goals. Additionally, programs like LiveStrong at the YMCA are part of the Y’s overall commitment to help cancer survivors recover in a safe and supportive environment.
LiveStrong at the YMCA is an evidence-based program based on best practices for cancer survivor exercise. The goals of the program are to empower adult cancer survivors to improve functional capacity and to increase their quality of life through an organized program of fitness and strength offered in a supportive, small-group setting. For more information on the LiveStrong at the YMCA program in Plymouth, contact Kelly Protz, health and wellness coordinator, Old Colony YMCA Plymouth Branch, at 508-927-3100, ext. 104, or at Kprotz@oldcolonyymca.org. If anyone you know needs cancer support, visit LiveStrong.org/WeCanHelp. For more information about programs and services, visit LiveStrong.org.
Heidrea for Heroes’ Incline Corps
Heidrea for Heroes has launched Incline Corps, a monthly fitness program for veterans, at Live Life Believe Fitness Center, 10 Cordage Park Circle, Plymouth. This free program features a group workout and a social hour afterward with food and drinks from 7:15 to 8 p.m. J.C. Jasa, a certified fitness trainer, MMA fighting coach and Marine Corps veteran, will lead a workout that combines strength, conditioning, plyometrics and some elements of boxing mixed in. All fitness levels are welcome, and the workout will be modified to suit individuals. Drop-ins are welcome, but advanced sign-ups are appreciated. For information: 774-773-3951; info@heidrea4heroes.org; heidrea4heroes.org.
South Shore Community Partners in Prevention launches Health Literacy Initiative
South Shore Community Partners in Prevention recently launched its Health Literacy Initiative by holding a kickoff event at Hotel 1620 in Plymouth. The event had over 75 people in attendance representing over 60 different local organizations, from pharmacists and community health workers to nurses and other health care professionals. The event included welcoming remarks from Peter Holden, president and CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth; a keynote address by Lindsey Tucker, associate commissioner at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, who spoke about the significance of this kickoff event being the first of its kind in Massachusetts; and Helen Osborne, president of Health Literacy Consulting and founder of Health Literacy Month, who underscored the importance of health care professionals and organizations to use simple and plain language in both their written and spoken communication to patients. After lunch, attendees broke up into groups by topic to discuss, share, learn and collaborate with one another on ways to improve health literacy, not only in their own organizations, but in the community at large. “This event confirmed for us that SSCPP’s goal to improve health literacy is one that is worthwhile,” said Mike Jackman, chair of SSCPP. “We will continue to keep the momentum going by collaborating with current and new partners and to take what we heard from the discussions and put them into action.” For more information or to learn how to become a part of the Health Literacy Initiative, visit chna23.org.
Walk-in urgent care center in Plymouth
A new walk-in urgent care center, staffed by board certified emergency medical physicians, has opened at 59 Long Pond Road in Plymouth. Drs. Chris Whelan and Michael Hughes are expanding on the new, innovative model in health care that they started locally in 2012. Health Express offers unique benefits to Plymouth area residents, including being staffed exclusively by board certified emergency room physicians, walk-in service (which doesn’t require referrals), low wait times, on-site lab and x-ray. Most insurance polices are accepted, with co-pays comparable to a regular office visit. Common ailments that the Health Express physicians see include coughs, cold, flu, sore throat, earaches, fractures, lacerations, asthma, sports injuries and rashes. The doctors will also provide physicals for their patients. Health Express Plymouth is the third urgent care center run by Whelan and Hughes. The original center, located at 330 Washington St. in Weymouth, opened in early 2012. The second location, at 117 Old Church St. in Pembroke, welcomed its first patient in February 2013. Health Express hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. To learn more, visit www.healthexpressma.com or Facebook at Health Express MA or Twitter at @HealthExpressMA.
Cancer Support Community
The Cancer Support Community of MA-South Shore (CSC-MSS) offers a Participant Support Program for people living with cancer. The ongoing support group meets weekly at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays and from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursdays at Cancer Support Community, 120 Longwater Drive, Suite 104, in Assinippi Park in Norwell. An initial screening is required. The Participant Support Group offers people living with cancer a safe place to connect, share and learn from one another. Open to people at any point in their cancer experience, the group is facilitated by a professional, licensed therapist. Registration and screening for the program is currently underway. If interested in learning more, call 781-610-1490 or email Gail Colton at gcolton@nvna.org.
Multiple sclerosis
For people with MS, run by people with MS. Individuals with multiple sclerosis, their families, friends and other care partners, are welcome to the Plymouth MS self-help group (affiliated with the National MS Society Greater New England Chapter). Group members share common experiences and concerns, provide and receive emotional support, and obtain information on living and coping with MS. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of the month, at PartyLite Worldwide, in Plymouth Industrial Park at 59 Armstrong Road, Plymouth. Call Susan Howard at 508-361-9421 for information and directions.
Eating disorders
The Eating Disorder Support Group at Farm Fare Market meets from 6:30 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday at 68 Tupper Road in Sandwich, and is open to individuals with all forms of disordered eating and body image concerns. The group’s primary focus is a wellness approach to recovery and will include topics such as art therapy, growing food, the value of food, self-image and cooking. The group leaders are Nicole Cormier, RD, LDN, and Jennifer Ladd. Anyone interested in attending should contact Ladd by phone at 508-813-9282 or via email Nicole@DeliciousLivingNutrition.com to register prior to initial group attendance.
Plymouth New Beginnings
Plymouth New Beginnings offers a safe place for single people to meet for mutual support. The group meets from 6 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday at the Plymouth Methodist Church, 29 Carver Road, Plymouth. All singles are welcome.
NAMI of Plymouth
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is a nonprofit organization serving Plymouth and nine surrounding communities. NAMI sponsors a free Family to Family support group Thursdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Sgarzi conference room at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth, 275 Sandwich St., Plymouth, for family members and caregivers of those living with depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or other psychiatric disorders. Call the Plymouth area NAMI at 781-829-7215 or Jean Albanese at 508-746-8094 with questions.
Parkinson’s Support Group
The Parkinson’s Support Group of Plymouth moved its monthly meeting to a new location. The group now meets from 2 to 3 p.m. the last Wednesday of each month at the Spaulding Outpatient Center at 1 Scobee Circle in the Plymouth Industrial Park. Formerly the group met at Comfort Keepers. John Allen, Ph.D., health psychologist with a special interest in Parkinson’s disease, will serve as co-facilitator of the group with David Banks, a clinical psychologist who was instrumental in establishing the group under the auspices of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, Massachusetts chapter. For information about the Plymouth Parkinson’s Support Group, call David Banks at 781-871-0555.
The Edge
The Edge is funded by a grant from the Department of Public Health and works to inspire young adults to find their passion and avoid underage drinking and substance abuse. Andrue Coombes is a community organizer, social analyst and the founder of The Edge – Plymouth. For more info on getting involved, you can reach Coombes at acoombes@hptc.org.
Harbor Community Health Center adds hours
Harbor Community Health Center-Plymouth, 10 Cordage Park Circle, Plymouth, announced that its medical and dental clinical hours have been extended to include Monday evenings. After a trial period, the center will consider extending evening hours to other days as well. Harbor Community Health Center-Plymouth opened its medical and dental clinics at Cordage Park in March 2014. The center is a public health agency that seeks to provide comprehensive health care to residents of Plymouth County and offers access to comprehensive family medicine and dental services, and accepts Free Care, MassHealth and all major commercial insurances. Individuals having no insurance and looking for primary care and dental services are welcome and a financial counselor is on staff to assist individuals with enrollments. For details, call 508-778-5470 or visit www.hhsi.us/harbor-community-health-center-plymouth-2.
Alzheimer’s and dementia educational support group for caregivers
A free Alzheimer’s and dementia educational support group for caregivers meets from 1:30 to 3 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Duxbury Council on Aging, 10 Mayflower St., Duxbury.
The group provides an opportunity for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia to share their experiences and receive information, guidance and support regarding care planning strategies. The group will foster the development of a mutual support system helping caregivers to improve their own health and well-being and assist them in learning ways to provide optimal care for the person with dementia and become a better advocate. The group is free and confidential allowing for open conversation and exchange and is led by Suzanne Faith, R.N. Psych., senior director; and Alan Johnson, LICSW, director of community and family outreach, Hope Dementia & Alzheimer’s Services. New participants are welcome to join at any time. For more information or to register, call 508-775-5656 or email Info@HopeDementia.org.
Matching donors
Matchingdonors.com links organ donors with people in need of kidney and other transplants. In the U.S., 19 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant, most of them for kidneys. If you’ve ever considered becoming a living organ donor or if you are someone in need of an organ transplant, visit matchingdonors.com.
Adult wheelchair clinic
To better meet the needs of individuals with disabilities, Spaulding Outpatient Center Plymouth now offers an adult wheelchair clinic at its One Scobee Circle location in Plymouth’s Industrial Park. The clinic is open Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. by appointment. Physical Therapist Debbie Bright, PT, ATP, will provide wheelchair fittings, adjustments and recommendations. She is a certified assistive technology professional specially trained in the selection of appropriate assistive technology for patients with mobility issues. For information or to make an appointment, call 508-927-7424 or visit www.spauldingrehab.org.
CARES program
CARES (Compassionate Alzheimer’s Respite, Education and Support) provides an opportunity for people with memory impairment and their care partners to participate in two separate support groups – held simultaneously. One group provides information, guidance and respite to caregivers while the other group provides conversation and socialization for those with memory impairment. The program is free and confidential, allowing for freedom of self-expression and open conversation. Programs are led by trained facilitators from Hope Dementia & Alzheimer’s Services with specialized training and extensive experience. CARES program is held the first Wednesday of each month from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at South Meadow Village, on South Meadow Road in Carver. For more information or to register, call South Meadow Village at 508-866-4480 or email Info@HopeDementia.org.
Caregiver support group
Beacon Hospice is offering a caregiver support group from noon to 1:45 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Plymouth COA Senior Center, located at 44 Nook Road. This group is for anyone who is a caregiver for a family member or friend and will provide a time for support and education with others who are in a similar situation. Respite care will be provided for loved ones of those who attend the meeting. Take your loved one to enjoy socialization and activities provided by the Plymouth Technical Studies Health Assistance Program. For more information and to preregister for the group, call Beacon Hospice at 508-747-7222.
Stuttering therapy
The Stuttering Foundation estimates that more than 70 million stutter worldwide. It notes that the more than 320 past graduates of the Boston Workshop program have created a “ripple effect” back in their home communities as they continue to share their knowledge. The Stuttering Foundation is a nonprofit organization that has been helping those who stutter since 1947. For more information, call 800-992-9392 or visit the websites at www.StutteringHelp.org and www.tartamudez.org.
BID-Plymouth support groups
The Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth, located at 275 Sandwich St. in Plymouth (formerly the Jordan Hospital), offers numerous support groups on a regular basis. Visit www.bidplymouth.org or call 508-746-2000 for details or 855-424-3759. Alzheimer’s: A support group meets the first Tuesday of each month, at Stafford Hill, 60 Stafford St., Plymouth. Call Brenda Correia for information, 508-746-4343, ext. 298. Bereavement groups: loss of a child, loss of partner/spouse; call Denise Brack at 781-936-8068 or Kathleen McAleer at 508-746-0215 for details. Tuesday Club: Groups for kids and adults coping with death-related loss, meets every other Tuesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. during the school year. Pizza and drinks provided. Boys & Girls Club, Marshfield. Call Kathleen McAleer, 508-746-0215. Three Little Birds for teens: After-school program for teens dealing with a death related loss. Pizza and drinks provided. Call Kathleen McAleer, 508-746-0215. Cancer survivor: This drop-in support group is for all types of cancer patients and their caregivers. Meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the hospital. Call Kathy Horsman, LICSW, 508-732-1651. Stage IV cancer: Support group for patients with a treatable but not curable cancer diagnosis. Meets the first and third Thursday of the month from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the hospital. Call Kathi Horsman at 508-830-3019 or 508-732-1651. Caregivers: For loved ones of cancer patients, meets first and third Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. at the hospital; call Kathi Horsman at 508-830-3019 or 508-732-1651. Caregivers: Meets third Thursday of the month, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Duxbury Senior Center, 10 Mayflower St., Duxbury. Call Joan Wright at 781-659-2342 or Donna Ciappina at 781-934-5774, ext. 105. For dads dealing with a child’s chronic illness: men’s group for dads; call Denise Brack at 781-936-8068 for details. Chronic lung disease: Better Breathers Club meets at the hospital, admission free; call 888-4BIDPLY or 888-424-3759 for information. Depression after delivery: Meets the second Thursday of each month, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., in the meditation room on the third floor; all new mothers and their families are welcome; call Gerri Piatelli at 781-837-4242. Diabetes: For patients, families and friends of diabetics; meets at the Diabetes Education Center, 36 Cordage Park Circle, Suite 314, Plymouth, every other month, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; for information, call 508-830-2446. Family to Family: NAMI is a nonprofit organization serving Plymouth and nine surrounding communities, and it sponsors a free Family to Family support group the first and third Thursdays from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the hospital, for family members and caregivers of those living with depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or other psychiatric disorders. This is program is free and open to the public. Email Kathleen Considine at kconsid@att.net. Fertility: Support groups for women and couples dealing with fertility issues, couples currently receiving fertility treatments and pregnant women who have received fertility treatments. Meetings are 7 to 8:30 p.m. first and third Tuesday of each month, facilitated by a clinical social worker. Call 508-830-2412 for details. Ostomy: This group meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the third Wednesday at the hospital. Meetings are open to patients with ostomies and their family members. Call Donna Golden at 508-746-2000, ext. 8350, for information. Overeaters Anonymous: Meets from 10 a.m. to noon every Sunday at the hospital. Visit www.oa.org for details. Sexual assault: This group meets for 12-week sessions and is free of charge for survivors. Call Patti Jean Horton at 508-830-2835 for information. Stroke: The “Coffee Hour” Stroke Club is a support group offering guest speakers and group discussion aimed at the challenges facing victims of stroke and their families. Meets the first Thursday of each month, noon to 2 p.m.; call Ed Gallagher at 508-224-2050 for information. The group is made up primarily of people who have suffered strokes, but loved ones, spouses and caregivers of stroke survivors are encouraged to attend. Suicide loss: Meetings are every other Monday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Kingston. Call Denise Brack at 781-936-8068 to register. Transplants: STATS, the Second Time Around Transplant support group, is for organ recipients, those waiting for a transplant, donors, family members and anyone with an interest. Meets the second Tuesday of the month from 6 to 9 p.m. at the hospital. For information call Bob Fredericks at 774-269-1283.
BID-Plymouth classes
The Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth, located at 275 Sandwich St. in Plymouth (formerly the Jordan Hospital), offers numerous classes on a regular basis. Visit www.bidplymouth.org or call 508-746-2000 for details. CPR and Heartsaver first aid: Call Janet Fletcher at 508-789-7077 for details. Self-management for adults learning about diabetes: A four-week series that meets once a week in two-hour sessions, at the Diabetes Education Center, 36 Cordage Park Circle, Suite 314, Plymouth; physician referral and blood test required; call Kay Grosberg, RN, 508-830-2446. Gestational diabetes education: Meets for two hours on an as-needed basis, at the Diabetes Education Center, 36 Cordage Park Circle, Suite 314, Plymouth; physician referral is required and blood tests are performed before and at the end of each program; call Kay Grosberg, RN, 508-830-2446. Visions for Tomorrow: A free, eight- to 10-week education course for primary caregivers of adolescents with brain disorders; taught by trained family-member volunteers; the curriculum covers brain biology, ADD/ADHD, PDD/autism, Tourette’s, conduct disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, eating and anxiety disorders, OCD, childhood schizophrenia/psychosis; Contact Jan Holt-Kerns at 781-837-1162 for details or to register. Pre-op joint-replacement class: Prepares the pre-op patient for joint surgery; topics include review of physical therapy, occupational therapy, equipment and discharge planning; classes are at 1 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the hospital. Babysitter safety training: For new and seasoned babysitters ages 11 and up. Learn child care skills, basic first aid, how to handle emergencies and more. Class is held at the hospital. Call Bette Antonellis at 508-830-2174 for list of upcoming classes and to register. Quitters stop smoking program: Six-class series providing behavioral modification techniques, strategies, motivation and support to help individuals quit smoking or chewing tobacco. Call Bette Antonellis, LPN, CTTS, at 508-830-2174.
