Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital will again be offering a pain control presentation for the public April 24 and 25.   Dr. Dave Schwartz will again be hosting these informative pain control presentations which will both detail the two new pain control options he offers at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Both presentations will include the same information, but they are being offered on two different days at different times to try to suit more schedules.

The Wednesday, April 24 presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital. The Thursday, April 25 presentation will begin at 10 a.m. and will also be held in the hospital’s Large Conference Room.

Jill Fleming, RD/LD, Dietitian at Veterans Memorial Hospital, will present a two-part series entitled, “The Simple Way to Clean-Up Your Diet” April 16 and 23.  The presentation will be held at 5:30 p.m. both days in the Large Conference Room at the hospital.

The focus of this class is to help attendees lose weight as well as improve energy and health. Objectives include the following:

· Learn how to lose weight without dieting.
· Lower blood sugar readings.
· Improve cholesterol level and lower blood pressure.
· Discover super foods which decrease appetite and can make those who eat them feel amazing.
· Learn how to eliminate food addictions permanently.

This class will be held free of charge, but anyone interested is asked to call Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon to pre-register at 563-568-3411.
 

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, April 18 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 who 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.
 

“Welcome to Medicare” is a free, two-hour seminar offered by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselors.  This program will be held Monday, April 22 from 5-7 p.m. in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

“We’re excited to be offering another free seminar to the community,” says Russ Hagen, SHIIP volunteer.  “Medicare is such an important program and understanding what it offers helps assure that anyone eligible gets the health benefits they deserve.”

“Welcome to Medicare” will cover Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, the prescription drug benefit (Part D), Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement insurance.

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.

Recent studies have estimated that the stress caused just by becoming the caregiver of an adult with a chronic illness or disability will take seven years off of a persons’ life. With more and more Iowans aging, this is a real concern in the local community.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering the next course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for health care providers (those working in health-related fields such as physicians, nurses, EMTs, etc.) Wednesday, April 17, 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.

The cost of the class, for certification or recertification, is the same and all registrants should bring along their own pocket mask. The online certificate received certifies attendants in CPR for two years.

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

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, April 18. 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 own table of four players, however.

by Tami Gebel, Occupational Therapist at Veterans Memorial Hospital

Living life to its fullest potential, that is what most people desire. How each person lives their life to the fullest is different. For some people, their job or profession brings confidence and self-reliance. For other people, leisure activities, such as golfing, painting or gardening, provide hours of enjoyment. Still others find spending time with family brings the greatest joy. However a person defines “living life to its fullest,” most people worry that after a family member experiences a stroke the “living life to its fullest” no longer exists.

Veterans Memorial Hospital is joining with Iowa Donor Network to Inspire Iowa to Donate Life during National Donate Life Month this April. Throughout Donate Life Month, we celebrate transplant recipients who have been given a new life, we shine light on the many more who are still waiting, and we honor donors and their families.

Every year since 2002, April has been filled with stories to spread the lifesaving message of donation in order to inspire people to register as organ, eye and tissue donors. You can become a donor by registering at www.iowadonornetwork.org.

Veterans Memorial Hospital encourages community members to register on the Iowa Donor Network to become organ and tissue donors. Last September, the Hospital’s Auxiliary Salad Luncheon featured many local speakers who had been personally touched by organ donation and its importance.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, April 18 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 at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.