The Center for Healthy Living at Sacred Heart Hospital hosts several health and wellness support networks, including:

A.L.P
Adults With Lung Problems Support Network provides information on topics that are important to people with lung disease or people who care for or know people with lung disease. Meetings include guest speakers, updates on medications, equipment and current treatment, open discussions and videos. The meetings, held in the hospital’s Conference Room 15, run the first Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. except for December, January, February and July. Anyone is welcome to attend. For more information, call (715) 717-4342.

ASPIRE
Asperger’s Syndrome: Parent Information and REsource Network

ASPIRE is for parents, educators, family and friends of individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome or related social pragmatic conditions associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Meetings are held monthly on the first Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Bishop Hall of Sacred Heart Hospital. Discussion topics focus on parent/family issues as they relate to the individual with Asperger’s Syndrome. Community professionals who work with these individuals are often invited to present on a specific topic and answer pertinent questions. For more information, call Sacred Heart Hospital’s Speech Therapy Department at (715) 717-4365.

A.W.A.K.E.
Chippewa Valley A.W.A.K.E. (Alert, Well And Keeping Energetic) is a mutual-help support network for people affected by sleep apnea. Meetings are held quarterly from 6:30 to 7 p.m. in the hospital's Rotunda. Home medical equipment companies and product companies are available to check CPAP machine pressures, answer questions and show new products. From 7 to 8 p.m., a presentation is given by a professional on how to deal with sleep disorders. Sleep specialists are also available for questions. For questions regarding this support network, call (715) 717-4933.

Brain Injury
The Wisconsin Brain Injury Association, Northwest Chapter, was formed to help brain injured individuals and their families to secure services and support. It meets the third Thursday of every month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Hospital’s Bishop Hall. Most meetings are informal discussion; at others there is a formal speaker. Members include survivors of a brain injury, families and friends of individuals who have been brain injured, health care professional who are working with this population and students.

Eau Claire Partner’s Breast Cancer Information & Support Group
Eau Claire Partner’s Breast Cancer Information and Support Group is a breast cancer support network developed in partnership with the Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization to help women in the Eau Claire area learn more about breast cancer and support each other through the experience. The group meets in Sacred Heart Hospital’s Bishop/Treacy Hall from 5 to 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month, except for some months with holidays that fall early in the month. A speaker is invited to speak on a subject regarding breast cancer for the first hour and then the group discussion is the last hour. Snacks are available. Sessions are open to anyone with an interest in breast cancer. No registration is necessary and drop-ins are welcome. Call (715) 717-4387 for a calendar of the year’s speakers and topics.

I Can Cope Online
The American Cancer Society’s free, interactive I Can Cope online classes are a quick way to get answers you need, when you need them. The classes are self-paced, so you control how quickly you move through them. They have video and audio as well as interactive quizzes. They have links to other related topics. To take the classes just go online to www.cancer.org/onlineclasses and select the classes you want to take and complete the short registration form. These are great classes for any one newly diagnosed with cancer and their families to learn more. If you don’t have a computer at home you may visit the hospital's Community Health Information Room located on the lower level across from the Community Auditorium.

Look Good Feel Better
Look Good Feel Better meets monthly at Sacred Heart Hospital. It is designed for women going through cancer treatments. Days of the week and times vary according to participants' and cosmetologists' times. In small groups, cosmetologists teach women how to enhance their appearances during cancer treatments using makeup techniques. Each woman learns how to do a makeover using complimentary cosmetics and skin care products donated by the cosmetic industry. Call (715) 717-4387 for meeting location and to register.

Multiple Sclerosis
The Multiple Sclerosis Self Help network meets at the L.E. Phillips Senior Center on the third Thursday of each month, except for July and December from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The group welcomes anyone with multiple sclerosis, and their families and friends. Issues of how to live with MS and its effects are discussed. During sessions, guest speakers present information on MS and on topics the group wants to learn more about. Call (715) 717-3921 for more information and to get on the mailing list.

Orientation to Tobacco Cessation
This 30-minute orientation is offered on an as needed basis and is designed for those looking for assistance to quit the use of tobacco products. We will help you determine a readiness to quit the use of tobacco, reduce anxiety and help create an individualized plan that is right for you. We will provide information about area resources, toll free hot lines and web sites which are available, as well as discuss nicotine replacement options.
Please call the Center for Healthy Living at (715) 717-1600 for times and dates.

Parkinson’s
The Parkinson’s support network endeavors to make information available on a variety of subjects related to the disease process and mechanisms to cope with the disease. This network is for people diagnosed with Parkinson’s as well as their caregivers. Many of the participants say “I learn something new every time I come.” Please join the group the third Tuesday of every month at 1 p.m. For more information, including meeting location, please call (715) 717-4334.

Spinal Cord Injury Information & Awareness Network
This group provides persons with spinal cord injuries, their families and friends support and encouragement through monthly meetings and peer visits. The focus of meetings is to present related educational information, new technology/products and health/wellness suggestions for persons with a spinal cord injury. The group provides an opportunity for discussion of common problems and solutions and to provide a network for resources for living with a spinal cord injury in western Wisconsin. The group generally meets the second Tuesday of the month from 7 to 9 p.m. at Sacred Heart Hospital’s Rotunda. The date, time and location may vary occasionally, so it is recommended that you call (715) 717-4343 before attending a meeting if you are not on the mailing list.

Stroke
The stroke support network is designed to give stroke patients and their families an opportunity to share their frustrations and successes. It allows new members to have hope and a place for sharing issues. The group offers education on various aspects of stroke issues, including home care issues, winter safety, occupational aspects and more. The network meets every third Thursday of the month at 2 p.m. In July, a picnic is held at Riverview park at noon, and in December, a noon potluck is held with a gift exchange. Call (715) 717-4315 for the next meeting location.

The Healing Place, the hospital’s grief support center located at 1010 Oakridge Drive, also offers support networks.  Please contact (715) 717-6028 for more information and to register for any of the following programs listed.

Time-limited support groups include:

• Adult Loss of a Parent, which meets for six consecutive Wednesdays for adults dealing with the loss of a parent.
• Children’s Grief Support Group, which meets for six consecutive Mondays for children ages 6-12 who have experienced the death of a special person in their lives.
• Adolescence Grief Support Group, which meets for four consecutive Wednesdays.
• Trust in Life Support Group, which meets for eight consecutive Tuesdays. The program is open to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one and provides information on caring for yourself while you grieve.
• Spouse Loss, which meet quarterly. One session meets for eight consecutive Tuesday mornings, and the other meets for eight consecutive Tuesday evenings.

Ongoing support groups include:

Parents’ Grief Support Group
This group is open to parents who have lost a child. It meets the first and third Mondays from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

SHARE/RTS Group
This group is offered for parents who have lost a child through miscarriage, stillbirth or early infant death. Meetings run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the second Thursdays of the month.

Suicide Survivors Group
Please call The Healing Place for dates and times, (715) 717-6028.

Spouse Loss Group
These groups are open to anyone who has lost a spouse but are most appropriate for those who have completed an eight-week group and/or those whose loss has been 15 months or longer. Sessions meet from 10:30 a.m. to noon the second and fourth Thursday of the month and 6:30 to 8 p.m. the first and third Thursday of the month.