Wellness
On a recent Monday morning, visiting nurse Kristine Cammorata attended to Marcia MacGillivray at her home in Vineyard Haven to check on a melanoma recently removed from her shin. Mrs. MacGillivray had called the Vineyard Nursing Association (VNA) the previous weekend because she thought the wound was looking too red and puffy.
“See how it’s bleeding? Bleeding is good, that means it’s nice and healthy tissue,” Ms. Cammorata told her patient. Ms. Cammorata has been visiting Mrs. MacGillivray a few times a week to help with the wound.
Eat Before Swim
A shark bite never felt so good.
This weekend the YMCA is celebrating all things Mako, the local swim team, of course.
On Saturday, Feb. 4, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. the Y turns into an Italian restaurant with a benefit pasta dinner prepared by Tea Lane Caterers; you supply the Billy Joel.
The cost is $15 for individuals and $45 for a family ticket. Tickets are available at the Y in advance and on the night of the event.
Alzheimer’s Support
A group for those caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or other dementia will begin meeting on Wednesday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m. for the next 12 weeks. The first meeting takes place on Wednesday, Jan. 18.
Topics to be discussed include managing medications, the lonely and isolating experience of caretaking, behavior issues, activities of daily living, taking care of yourself, talking with others about dementia, managing family issues and more.
Yoga Teacher Training
On Saturday, Jan. 14, FLY Yoga will offer a preview of their spring teacher training school with Sherry Sidoti. The event takes place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Tapas Hot Yoga in Vineyard Haven (near the Steamship Authority)
There will be a donation-based 60-minute yoga class followed by question and answer session. The 200 Hour certified teacher training will take place from April 2 through 13 and May 14 to 25 on Martha’s Vineyard.
For more details, visit flyyogamv.com.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Information: 508-627-7084.
All meetings are nonsmoking.
Sunday, 6:45 a.m., open discussion meeting, First Baptist Church, William street, Vineyard Haven.
Sunday, 10 a.m., open discussion, State Beach, first bridge, Oak Bluffs, (weather permitting).
Sunday, 11 a.m., open discussion meeting at the Council on Aging on Wamsutta avenue in Oak Bluffs.
Sunday, 7 p.m., grapevine meeting at old Oak Bluffs School, School street, Oak Bluffs.
As a wave, or tsunami rather, of baby boomers is expected to populate the Vineyard in the coming years, the Island faces a number of challenges delivering health care to its seniors. Six rural health scholars from the University of Massachusetts Medical School recently documented those challenges in a report on the current mental health needs of the Island’s elderly population. Transportation, isolation and access to mental health services emerged as major areas needing improvement.