Health

Caring for a loved one can be fulfilling, but it can also be emotionally and physically demanding.

Many caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and feelings of isolation over time. Taking care of your own mental health is just as important as caring for someone else. Finding support, sharing your experiences, and taking time to recharge can make a lasting difference.

Veterans Memorial Hospital’s (VMH) Senior Life Solutions (SLS) offers support not only for older adults, but also for those navigating the challenges that come with caregiving and life transitions. You are not alone in this journey.

Anyone can make a referral to the Senior Life Solutions program - primary care providers, specialists, family members, friends, community groups, nursing or residential facilities and anyone can also self-refer themselves.

Summer days are long, but before you know it, back-to-school season will be here. With a new school year just around the corner, Emplify Health is encouraging parents and caregivers to start preparing now so kids can step into the first day feeling confident, healthy and ready to learn.

Step 1: Shift sleep and wake times
One of the biggest adjustments for children returning to school is the sudden change in sleep and wake schedules. After weeks of staying up late and sleeping in, the shift to early-morning alarms can be jarring (and tantrum inducing). Emplify Health experts recommend gradually adjusting bedtime and wake-up times at least two to three weeks before the first day of school – moving schedules earlier by about 15-20 minutes every few days until they align with the school-year routine.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, August 20, at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or has a friend or loved one with diabetes.  For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call Angie Mettille, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

The local Grief Support Group will again be holding their monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Thursday, August 6, from 5-6 p.m. in the Meditation Healing Center, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital. Nancy Haberichter will be facilitating the meeting.

This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief. Feel free to attend and bring a friend.  This grief support will continue meeting the first Thursday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

The annual Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) membership drive is now on.  The members of the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital are actively recruiting new and returning members to join them during this annual membership drive.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital is devoted to providing the hospital and its patients and visitors with many services. In addition to their annual membership drive, they host several events each year including the Women’s Health Day which will be held the evening of September 1 this year; the feather pillow ‘Pillow Perk,’ as well as their spring garage sale, all in addition to the gift case items located just inside the main entrance to the hospital. 

Thanks to the generosity of donors supporting the Veterans Memorial Health Care  Foundation, the hospital’s Surgical Suite has purchased a new surgical tourniquet system for the operating room. This advanced technology is designed to enhance patient safety while providing surgeons with improved precision during upper and lower extremity procedures.

“Our commitment is to continually invest in technology that improves the surgical experience for both our patients and our healthcare team,” said Jessica Jones, OR Manager. “Adding this new tourniquet system is another step toward providing safe, high-quality surgical care close to home.”

The new tourniquet system offers enhanced pressure monitoring and individualized pressure settings, helping to minimize the amount of pressure applied while maintaining a bloodless surgical field. This allows surgeons to perform procedures with greater visibility and accuracy while supporting optimal patient care.

Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Community and Home Care/Allamakee Public Health and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) are reminding all parents to ensure their children are up to date on all immunizations. It is important to schedule an appointment with their healthcare provider or public health agency as soon as possible.

In the state of Iowa, all children in licensed childcare, elementary and secondary schools (including middle and high school), in the absence of a valid exemption, must be adequately immunized against:
• Measles and rubella (MMR)
• Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (DTaP/Tdap)
• Polio (IPV)
• Varicella (chicken pox)
• Hepatitis B

As people age, they often focus on what has changed rather than what still brings meaning and joy. Practicing self-kindness can make a big difference in emotional well-being.

Being kind to oneself might involve taking things one day at a time, giving grace during difficult moments, or staying connected with others who understand a similar experience.

Mental health support can provide a safe space to reflect, heal, and move forward with compassion for oneself.

Veterans Memorial Hospital’s (VMH) Senior Life Solutions (SLS) supports older adults experiencing depression, anxiety, grief, or loneliness, offering care and understanding at every stage of life. Call 563-568-5560  or visit Senior Life Solutions on the Veterans Memorial Hospital website at https://www.veteransmemorialhospital.com/services/senior_life_solutions/ to learn more.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, August 3, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. 

The local Grief Support Group will again be holding their monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Thursday, August 6, from 5-6 p.m. in the Meditation Healing Center, located just inside the main entrance of the hospital. Nancy Haberichter will be facilitating the meeting.

This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief. Feel free to attend and bring a friend.  This grief support will continue meeting the first Thursday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.