Just in time for Valentine's Day, Catalina Island Medical Center will be hosting a seminar that will help couples take better care of each other.

"Love Longer, Live Longer" will explore several health risks and the measures spouses or significant others can take to reduce them. It will be held at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13, at the Catalina Island Country Club.

"Married people live longer and are healthier than their single counterparts," said Dawn Sampson, CIMC's social worker. "One of the reasons for that is because spouses monitor each other's health and encourage each other toward a healthier future."

Love Longer, Live Longer will make it easier for partners to take care of each other by exploring health risks. Couples will separate during the first half of the hour-long seminar, with John Pabers, MD, addressing the men about women's health issues and Karla Parsons, NP, addressing the women about men's health issues. Topics that will be discussed include heart disease, cancer and diabetes as well as chronic health conditions that affect quality of life.

After the separate program, couples will reunite and Sampson will address communication for couples. "Communicating effectively allows us to show our concern for our spouse and encourage them to take better care of themselves," she said.

Bryan Ballard, Catalina Island Medical Center's CEO, said the seminar was part of CIMC's commitment to reach out to the community. "We're dedicated to being a health resource for Catalina Island," he said. "This seminar is part of our continuing series of community outreach events."

Reservations are not required for the seminar, which will start out in the Country Club's board room.

For more information visit www.CatalinaIslandMedicalCenter.org