PlaneTree Health Library

Previous Lectures

Saturday, July 26, 2008: Building Better Bones with Safe and Effective Exercise will focus on exercises to stop bone loss and prevent fractures, and even build bone. Sherri Betz, physical therapist and Pilates educator, will encourage participants to join in the fun, if only from one's chair. Betz will be available to sign her second edition of The Osteoporosis Exercise Book. Her four DVDs of exercises for gaining bone strength, reducing low back pain, and healthy pregnancy will also be available for purchase or checkout following her presentation.

Saturday, July 19, 2008: Writing through the Darkness: Easing Your Depression with Paper and Pen, a book by Elizabeth Maynard Schaefer, Ph.D., guides readers in using creative writing exercises to ease symptoms of depression. It is also the title of this practical, supportive talk by the author, a science writer and mental health advocate. Schaefer has led the creative writing program for people with mood disorders at Stanford University since developing the program in 1998.



Saturday, July 12, 2008: Finding Gems amid the Junk: Health Searches on the Internet, a workshop for computer-using seniors, kicks off our summer series. Do you spend hours surfing the web for medical information only to be frustrated with the quality of your search results? Learn about commercial-free, reliable sites, plus techniques for finding and identifying trustworthy health and medical information, with three of PlaneTree's experienced professional librarians. Scheduled for 10 - 12 noon, the class will be held in a computer lab near San José State University. Because participants will be working online, reservations will be limited to the number of available terminals. There will be a $12 fee. Participants should already have basic proficiency in navigating the web. For more information and to make a reservation, please call our co-sponsor, SJSU's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at (408) 924-2734.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008: Repeat performance of the excellent workshop on preparing / reviewing your advance directive. Co-sponsored by the h2u program at Good Samaritan Hospital. See below for more details. Please note: this presentation was recorded and the DVD is available to borrow from PlaneTree.

Saturday, February 9, 2008: Karen Storey, Executive Director of the Wellness Community Silicon Valley, will facilitate an interactive workshop to assist you in establashing your priorities and wishes for end-of-life care. Learn facts and fiction about Advance Directives, use the new "Go Wish"tool, and see if your existing Advanced Directive is accurate and up-to-date. This workshop will help you face issues and decisions in order to live well at the end of your life. Free Advance Directive forms will be available . Co-sponsored by h2u Program at Good Samaritan Hospital. Workshop will be held at Good Sam Auditorium, 2425 Samaritan Drive, San Jose, 95124.

Saturday, February 2, 2008: Explore ways of reducing stress and creating more focus on the things that really matter in our lives. The emphasis of this presentation will be on fun and simplicity. Our presenter will be Bruce Draper, R.N., counselor and author of Quality of Life: Workbook and Resource Guide.

Saturday, January 26, 2008: How does an Iowa girl, born in the 1920ʼs, survive flood, the Depression, World War II, marriage, family, divorce and widowhood, and still dance? Juliana Richmond, a Los Gatos resident and author of Dancing Mama, will talk about her eight decades of life with delightful intimacy, humor, and compassion.

Saturday, January 19, 2008: Rusty Hammer, cancer survivor and author of When Cancer Calls . . . Say Yes to Life, and his wife, Pamela, will share how they have advocated for the best care possible, maintained hope, and lived fully as they have fought his cancer since 2003. With others, the Hammers are founding the Silicon Valley Chapter of the Wellness Community Silicon Valley

Saturday, September 22, 2007: This is Not the Life I Ordered:50 ways to keep your head above water when life keeps dragging you down, by Jackie Speier and Jan Yanehiro.

Saturday, July 21, 2007: Beyond the Pet Food Scare: Feeding your Friend with Care and Confidence

Saturday, July 14, 2007: What to Eat When You Don't Feel Like Eating

Upcoming Lectures