• Listing of area doctors
• Resources for seniors
• Emergency numbers
• National Library of Medicine
• Healthfinder: Your guide to reliable health information


Update 7/5/05
• Hypnosis can help smokers quit
• Healthy eating doesn’t have to include meat
• Brain scans to determine memory loss debated
• Heat and humidity can be deadly

Health Archive
• Washing hands key to keeping germs at bay
• Determination is woman’s tonic for adversity
• Many don’t know mental illness treatable, beatable
• Stretching can help keep sports-loving youngsters injury free
• Gardening’s rewards reaped even by beginners
• Assertiveness yields self-respect, respect from others
• Teaching children restraint can help fight obesity
• Training strengthens seniors mentally, physically
• Device to help stutterers yields dramatic results
• Healthy eating a lifestyle, not a ‘diet’
• Thinking outside the (lunch)box
• Skipping breakfast can hurt kids’ learning ability
• Facing source of anxiety can help banish fears
• Secondary infertility always frustrating, often treatable
• Hand-washing a habit best learned early
• Pool safety demands year-round vigilance
• Proper sleep, diet, fewer activities can ease kids’ stress
• Caution required to keep picnic food safe
• Breaking from routine important for mental health
• Early, frequent visits can help calm kids’ dentistry fears
• Make safety first priority when grilling
• Genetics, personality play major roles in addictions
• Hepatitis C more common than most people realize
• Good housekeeping can help fight indoor allergies
• Solid friendships take work, but the rewards are worth it
• Easing into fitness routine can limit injuries
• Proper treatment can guard pets, kids against parasites

Senior resources

Prescription assistance
Caring Connection, 403 Scammel St., Room 200, Marietta, (740) 376-9903 — Assists with utility shut-offs, rent, court eviction and/or deposits, gas, food and emergency prescriptions.
Discount Resources Limited, 864 Stradford Circle, Buffalo Grove, Ill., (847) 808-8609 — Offers prescription drugs, corrective lenses, dental work, chiropractic health and in-home health discount programs, with a prescription discount card accepted at more than 35,000 locations; $19.95 annual fee for prescription card; $79.95 annual fee for prescription/dental/hearing/chiropractic/vision card.
Hoffman-LaRoche Inc., Medical Needs Program, 340 Kingsland St., Nutley, N.J., 1-800-285-4489 — Private practice outpatients who are considered by the physician to be medically indigent and who are not eligible to receive drugs through any other third party reimbursement program. A physician’s signature and DEA number are required for all applications.
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Patient Assistance Program, 1800 Robert Fulton Drive, Reston, Va., 1-800-544-2987 — Patient must have less than $25,000 total annual household income and can have Medicare or private insurance, but cannot have prescription coverage.
Marion Merrel Dow Inc., 10236 Marion Park Drive, Kansas City, Mo., 1-800-221-4025 — Company provides a limited supply of prescribed medication to patients who meet the criteria upon receipt of an Indigent Patient Eligibility form properly filled out and signed by a licensed practitioner. Prescription medication will be dispensed and sent out to eligible patients through their physician. There is no fee for the service.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Patient Assistance Program, 59 Route 10, Building 502, Room 306, East Hanover, N.J., 1-800-257-3273 — Patients who meet preliminary screening eligibility will receive an application form that must be returned within 30 days. Applicants are considered on a case-by-case basis. A physician must complete part of the application. People who do not have or qualify for insurance, government assistance or other sources of funding are eligible. Temporary assistance while the patient pursues long-term support is available. The patient is required to pay a $5 co-payment to cover dispensing fee and any additional cost share they may incur.
Proctor & Gamble Pharmaceuticals Inc., 17 Eaton Ave., Norwich, N.Y., 1-800-448-4878 — The patient is entitled to a six-month supply of products, which is given in two intervals. Physicians are entitled to enroll six patients each year in the program. Participants are required to fill out a completed application and certification form and send a written prescription for the drug to Product Information Department. Patients must not exceed 125 percent of the federal poverty level. The patient cannot be enrolled or qualify to be enrolled in any form of medication reimbursement program, including city, county, state or federally-funded programs or any private insurance plans.
Searle, Patients in Need Foundation, 5200 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, Ill., 1-800-542-2526 — The Patients In Need program is designed to aid needy patients by providing cardiovascular and other products. These medications are made available through participating physicians and pharmacists. Patients are eligible if they suffer from conditions for which an eligible product may be appropriate, have an annual household income of $12,000 or less for one or two people, $16,000 or less for three to five people or $25,000 or less for six or more people and do not qualify for any private insurance, government assistance or other assistance which pays in whole or in part for prescription drug purchases.
Smithkline Beecham, 1 Franklin Plaza-FP1320, Philadelphia, Pa., 1-800-546-0420 (Access to Care Program), (215) 751-5722 (Physician requests) and 1-800-866-6273 (Compassionate Care Program).
Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, Indigent Patient Program, 555 E. Lancaster Ave., St. David’s, Pa., 1-800-568-9938 — The indigent patient must request a form to be completed. A copy will be held at the I&R desk. The doctor and patient must sign the request form. To be eligible, the patient must be financially indigent and not eligible for any third-party payment for medication. There is no fee for the service.
Emergency help
Caring Connection, 403 Scammel St., Room 200, Marietta, (740) 376-9903 — Assists with utility shut-offs, rent, court eviction and/or deposits, gas, food and emergency prescriptions.
Support groups
Alzheimer’s Disease Support Center, 508A Columbia Ave., THIS IS THE MOST RECENT ADDRESS....Williamstown, W.Va., 1-800-441-3322, or (304) 375-4700. — Voluntary organization that sponsors public education programs and offers supportive services to patient families who are coping with Alzheimer’s disease.
Marietta support group meets at Harmar Place, 401 Harmar St., call (740) 376-5600 for more information.
Marietta Memorial Hospital, 401 Matthew St., Marietta, (740) 374-1450 or (740) 374-1634 (55 Plus) — Offers information, workshops, activities and support groups to the community.
Wood County Senior Citizens Association Inc., 925 Market St., Parkersburg, (304) 488-1897 or 375-4700 (1 p.m. first Thursday of each month) — Offers mutual support groups for Alzheimer’s disease.
Adult Day Care
O’Neill Senior Center, 333 Fourth St., Marietta, (740) 373-3914 — O’Neill’s Adult Day Center is available for those age 60 and over. Services include assistance with personal care, educational activities, balanced noon meal, morning and afternoon snacks, psycho/social enrichment and supervised nursing care. Call (740) 373-3914 for application, referral procedures and various payment programs; One free day to all new participants.
Washington County Home, Marietta Route 6, County House Lane, (740) 373-2028 — For Washington County residents age 18 and over who are not eligible for nursing home care, Medicaid and ambulatory care; capacity 100; $55 per day.

Transportation
O’Neill Senior Center, 333 Fourth St., Marietta, (740) 373-3914 — O’Neill’s transportation program can provide transportation for senior citizens (age 60 and older) to local and out-of-town medical appointments. Call (740) 373-3914 between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to schedule your transportation driver. Please give as much notice as possible.
Wood County Senior Citizens Association Inc., 925 Market St., Parkersburg, (304) 488-1897 — Offers transportation to a medical facility for medical appointments only (doctor, lab, X-ray, hospital, therapy); $20 for first 30 miles, 75 cents for each mile thereafter.
Ohio Valley Cab Service, 2201"2 Putnam St., Marietta, (740) 374-8294.

Home-delivered meals
Franciscan Community Meals, 318 Front Street, Marietta, (740) 373-7998 — Lunch Monday through Friday; call for fees and information.
Washington/Morgan Counties Community Action, 218 Putnam St., Marietta, (740) 373-3745 or (740) 373-3455 in Washington County, 962-6696 in Morgan County, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Meals for people age 60 and over and those eligible for Title III.

Fitness
The Betsey Mills Club, 300 Fourth St., Marietta, (740) 373-4981 — Offers classes in warm water arthritis exercise, tai chi, and yoga.
O’Neill Senior Center, 333 Fourth St., Marietta, (740) 373-3914 — Multi-purpose senior center provides exercise programs, including Seniorcise and Stretch & Tone; and health screenings.
The Marietta Family YMCA, 300 Seventh St., Marietta, (740) 373-2250.
Volunteerism/employment
Green Thumb Inc., 9963 Chillicothe Pike, Jackson, 1-800-338-7032. Participants earn minimum wages for 20 hours per week during training and work experience. Participants perform a variety of community services. Offers assistance to people age 55 and over. Develops part-time work opportunities, job search assistance and on-the-job training.
The Senior Aide Program of Washington/Morgan Community Action pays minimum wage to people over the age of 55 who meet certain income requirements while they are getting experience and training while they find a better job.

Home maintenance
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. — Offers services to improve living conditions and assist very low-income applicants in rural areas. Loans are available to modernize the home or to remove health and safety hazards. Grants are available for repairs that remove health and safety hazards. Applications are available at local origination office.
USDA Rural Development, 618 Colegate Drive, Marietta, 472-0781 or (740) 373-0851 — Offers loans and grants for rural housing repair and ownership.
Washington/Morgan Counties Community Action, 218 Putnam St., Marietta, (740) 376-2796 — Offers funds for low-income homeowners (home must be current on taxes). The Housing Trust Fund is available for repairs not to exceed $5,000 for the installation of handicap ramps and equipment. Applications are available at 698 Wayne St., Marietta, (740) 373-7671.Social opportunities
O’Neill Senior Center, 333 Fourth St., Marietta, (740) 373-3914 — Multi-purpose senior center provides variety of special programs and activities; crafts, bridge, discussion and exercise groups; line dancing.
n Belpre Senior Citizens Center, 1614 Washington Blvd., Belpre, 423-6022 — Senior citizens center offers variety of special programs, events, speakers and activities; potluck lunches.

Homemaker services
O’Neill Senior Center, 333 Fourth St., Marietta, (740) 373-3914 — O’Neill’s Homemaker Service provides services to seniors who need assistance with light housekeeping, errands and meal preparation. Homemaker supervisor can make a home visit to determine individual needs. Call (740) 373-3914 for more information.
Legal services
O’Neill Senior Center, 333 Fourth St., Marietta, (740) 373-3914 — Legal services are available by appointment at the O’Neill Center by an attorney from Southeastern Ohio Legal Services. Call the center to receive an application for legal services.

Supportive services
Buckeye Card applications — Applications for Buckeye Card are taken at the O’Neill Senior Center, 333 Fourth St., Marietta. Seniors age 60 and over, and those with permanent and total disabilities, can receive a free senior discount card good all over Ohio. One of the state’s better Golden Buckeye bargains can be found at Ohio’s 73 state parks, where Golden Buckeye cardholders receive a 50 percent discount on campsites, Monday through Thursday, at all state parks throughout the year.
Ohio license applications — Applications for various Ohio licenses can be picked up at the O’Neill Senior Center, 333 Fourth St., Marietta. Ohioans age 66 and older are eligible for free hunting, fishing, fur taking permit, deer permit, turkey permit and wetlands habitat stamp.

Information compiled by the Area Agency on Aging at Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District. For more information on services for seniors, call them at (740) 373-6400.