Health briefs
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
Workplaces may be nominated
There's still time to nominate your office for the third annual Healthy Workplace Awards, sponsored by the Hawai'i Psychological Association in cooperation with the American Psychological Association.
Applications are available at www.hawaiipsych.org or by calling HPA at 521-8995. The deadline for nominations is Aug. 31.
The organizations say the statewide awards promote psychological health in the workplace and recognize excellence in five types of organizations: large business, small business, not-for-profit organization, government agency and military unit.
As part of the evaluation, a team of psychologists will conduct site visits to finalist companies. The awards will be presented Oct. 17.
Last year's winners were: Hawaiian Electric Co. (large business); Nordic Construction (small business); Casey Family Programs (not-for-profit organization); Honolulu Police Department (government agency); U.S. Coast Guard Group (military unit).
Older adults' fitness studied
Using behavior counseling to teach older adults to add physical activity to their lives gets better long-term results than a standard approach to exercise, said Wake Forest University researchers.
The university's Cardiovascular Health and Activity Maintenance Program studied standard exercise programs for older adults with cardiovascular disease and compared it to a new approach using group counseling to teach goal-setting and which showed participants how to use pedometers to chart their progress.
A year after the study began, researchers said participants in the group counseling were exercising more on a weekly basis and had better levels of fitness that those in the traditional therapy group.
Program marks fourth anniversary
St. Francis Hospice is marking the fourth anniversary of its Walk in the Mall program for people dealing with the loss of a loved one, from 8 to 9 a.m. Wednesday at Kahala Mall's center stage. The program is designed as a support activity for people who have lost friends and relatives.
For details, call Felicia Marquez-Wong, bereavement coordinator at St. Francis Hospice, at 595- 7566.
Center starts exercise class
All Star Sports and Therapy Center has started an Arthritis Foundation warm-water exercise class at 505 Ka'aahi St. in Iwilei.
The program is "designed especially for people with arthritis or for anyone who finds that traditional land-based exercise may be difficult," according to the foundation.
The public is invited to enroll by calling 537-4460. The class is offered weekdays and a fee is charged. For more information about classes statewide, call 596-2900 or visit www.arthritis.org.
