Powerful Tools for Caregivers

Lee Memorial Health System Older Adult Services, in collaboration with and funded by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and Senior Choices of Southwest Florida, is pleased to present Powerful Tools for Caregivers, an educational series designed to provide you with the tools you need to take care of yourself.

Classes consist of six sessions held once a week. Two experienced Class Leaders conduct the series (many are experienced caregivers themselves, who have successfully applied the techniques they teach). Interactive lessons, discussions and brainstorming will help you take the “tools” you choose and put them into action for your life. Classes will be held at Rotino Senior Center, 5817 Driftwood Parkway, Cape Coral, from today, March 21, April 25.

Sessions are held every Wednesday from 1 p.m. 4 p.m. For information about respite care or to register, please call # 239-343-2751. * Class size is limited and pre-registration is required.

This program helps family caregivers reduce stress, improve self-confidence, communicate feelings better, balance their lives, increase their ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources.

You will receive a book, The Caregiver Helpbook, developed specifically for the class. A donation of $25 to help defray the cost of the book is suggested, but not required to attend the class.

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Night for Life fund-raiser March 26

The annual Night for Life fund-rasier to benefit local organ transplant patients and those on the waiting list will be held Monday, March 26, at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Fort Myers. Music this year will be provided by the Del Prados with comedy by BJ Odom.

Doors open at 5 p.m. for the silent auction and the buffet dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. The evening also includes a live auction with all proceeds benefitting The Fletcher Fund, which assists local transplant patients with the expenses of transplantation not covered by insurance.

Tickets are only $35 each and include a buffet dinner, live entertainment and the auctions. A $10 ticket also is available for seating in the rear of the theater but does not include the buffet.

For tickets and further information, call 239-936-0211 or 239-768-1814.

For more information visit www.organsupport.com.

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James Orr, M.D. recognized

James W. Orr, Jr. M.D., a gynecologic oncologist with 21st Century Oncology, and Medical Director of the Regional cancer Center has been recognized as one of America’s Most Compassionate Doctors for 2011, through the Patients’ Choice recognition program. The award is based on reviews written by patients. Each month, more than 200,000 patients nationwide provide Patients’ Choice with feedback about a recent visit to a physician’s office. Doctors are rated factors including: bedside manner, doctor-patient face time, degree of follow-up, courtesy of office staff, and overall opinions. Dr. Orr was also selected as the first Saks Fifth Avenue Humanitarian Award recipient.

This is the second time that Dr. Orr has been recognized for his compassion in treating his patients; having first received this honor in 2010. Dr. Orr has been recognized with a Patients’ Choice Award every year since 2008.

Of the nation’s 720,000 active physicians, fewer than 3 percent were accorded this honor by their patients in 2011.

A graduate of the University of Virginia School or Medicine, Dr. Orr received his internship, residency and fellowship training at the University of Alabama Hospital (Birmingham). He is a Board Certified Gynecologic Oncologist.

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21st Century Oncology physician presents research

Dr. Constantine Mantz, chief medical officer of 21st Century Oncology, recently presented his research on the use of stereotactic body radiotherapy in the treatment of prostate cancer, at the Annual The Radiosurgery Society Meeting in Carlsbad, Calif.

This is one of the largest and most prestigious gatherings of medical professionals engaged in the use of Radiosurgery in the treatment of cancer. Dr. Mantz is one of a very few community-based physicians presenting research at this leading gathering of medical professionals.

SBRT differs from traditional radiotherapy for prostate cancer in that higher doses are administered over a shorter number of treatments. Using SBRT along with the Calypso System, a device which enables physicians to deliver an increased dose of radiation directly to the tumor while helping to spare the surrounding organs, allows men to effectively combat prostate cancer and for many patients, it can serve as a viable alternative to invasive surgery.

Continuing need for

O Negative blood

The need for blood donations, especially O negative, is extremely high. The supply of O negative blood has reached critically low levels. To keep up with the high amount of blood transfusions needed at local hospitals, donations are needed immediately. All O negative donors are urged to contact Florida’s Blood Centers as soon as possible to donate.

While all blood types are currently needed, O negative blood is the universal blood type – meaning any patient can receive O negative blood regardless of the recipient’s blood type. O Negative is critical for trauma patients, premature babies and emergency surgeries.

O negative donors can donate at any Florida’s Blood Centers location or on any Big Red Bus. Call toll free 1-888-9DONATE for more information or to make an appointment. Visit www.floridasbloodcenters.org/donateNow/viewLocations.stml to view locations.