Health

The Allamakee County Relief Office will be hosting its “We Care” Christmas Tree, which will be located at Hartig Drug on Main Street in Waukon this year. The “We Care” tree will have tags to be selected from the tree with general information about Christmas gift ideas for children living in Allamakee County who are less fortunate.

Based on the information on the tag, those gifts can be purchased and returned to the Allamakee County Relief Office by December 10 for distribution to those children in time for Christmas. For more information about the “We Care” Christmas Tree, call the Allamakee County Relief Office at 563-568-3591.
 

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital has announced it is offering full scholarships for two individuals from the community to attend the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course held this winter in Waukon. The course will be co-sponsored by Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) and Veterans Memorial Hospital. The classes will begin January 7 at the NICC Waukon Center.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering the next recertification course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for health care providers (those working in health related fields such as physicians, nurses, EMS, etc.) Wednesday, December 18, beginning at 5 p.m. This “Health Care Professional” CPR class will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of the hospital.

All registrants should bring along their own pocket mask, if they have one. Upon successful completion of the class, the participant will receive an electronic card certifying them as a BLS Healthcare Provider for two years.

Pre-registration plus a minimum of three participants is required for class to be held. For more information and to register for the Health Care Provider CPR Course, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

The next Caregiver Support Group meeting will be held Monday, November 18 at 1:30 p.m. in the Meditation Room in the front entrance of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. When a person is diagnosed with a chronic illness, a lot of focus and attention is put on how to keep that person as independent and as healthy as possible.

When a person loses some of their abilities to care for themselves the burden of care is often assumed by the spouse, a child (or children), or sometimes friends and neighbors. While everyone who becomes a caregiver handles the added responsibility with different skill sets, attitudes and understanding levels, there is no question that there is a very real strain associated with care giving.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, November 21. Men and women are welcome to attend, even if not an Auxiliary member. The Euchre marathons are held the third Thursday of each month at the Senior Citizens Room at the Waukon Wellness Center.

The Auxiliary’s Euchre Marathons begin at 11:30 a.m. with dinner, if chosen. Call Northland Agency on Aging at 877-838-8077 if choosing to eat dinner. Card playing will follow at 12:30 p.m. until approximately 2:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to stay and play cards following the Senior Citizens meal is more than welcome to do so. All proceeds go towards the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Prizes will be awarded.

Anyone interested in attending, but preferring to play Bridge is also welcome to join in. It is asked that they come with their table of four players, however.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, November 21 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the hospital’s lower level.

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, at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

The local Grief Support Group will not be meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital until after the first of the year, 2020. When the January date is set, notice of the next meeting will be published.

The Grief Support Group is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss, whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief.

Watch for the announcement for the date of the next Grief Support Group or call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411 with questions.
 

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s Christmas Fantasy 2019 will be held Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 15, 16, 17 and 18, at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. The theme will be “Through the Eyes of a Child.” In addition to the over 50 decorated Christmas trees on display, this year’s event will again offer many shopping opportunities through the silent auction.

Reservations are now being taken for the popular Saturday evening Wine, Cheese and Dessert Event, and the Noon luncheons.

by Angie Mettille RN, Certified Diabetes Educator

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month.  Diabetes is a disease full of challenges. Every day presents decisions that need to be made and sometimes problems that need to be solved. What should I eat for breakfast? How many carbohydrates are in that bowl of soup? How will that banana affect my blood sugar? Did I take my insulin this morning?  My blood sugar is higher than normal, what do I do? I’m worried about my risk of heart disease and stroke because my A1c has been higher than my doctor likes, how can I decrease my chance of complications? How am I going to pay for my insulin this month?

Many days, all of this may seem overwhelming. Diabetes is a disease that can cause stress in your life, but having a diabetes educator on your team can help ease many of these common worries.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital has announced they are offering full scholarships for two individuals from the community to attend the Emergency Medical Technician (E.M.T.) course held this winter in Waukon. The course will be co-sponsored by Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) and Veterans Memorial Hospital. The classes will begin January 7 at the NICC Waukon Center.