Health

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital, together with Elliott Jewelers of Waukon, will be hosting their 15th annual Women’s Health Day wellness event and luncheon Tuesday, September 24 at the Waukon Banquet Center.  All ages are invited to attend any part of this educational event, beginning at 11 a.m. with a wellness fair offering a variety of free health tests and information, and a salad luncheon and program held from Noon to 1 p.m.

“Welcome to Medicare” is a free, two-hour seminar offered by Veterans Memorial Hospital Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselors.  Due to popular demand, this program will again be held Monday, September 23 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 and happy they are so well attended,” 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.

The next Caregiver Support Group meeting will be held Monday, September 16 at 1:30 p.m. in the Meditation Room in the front entrance of Veterans Memorial Hospital.  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, September 19.  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.

How many know that one in seven people entering the hospital will need blood?

Attend the next LifeServe Blood Center Blood Drive held Thursday, September 5 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held once per month in Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

The LifeServe Blood Center is seeking donors to ensure a safe and plentiful blood supply in Iowa. Because there is no substitute for human blood, the need for donors is continuous.

Over half of the United States population is eligible to donate blood, yet less than four percent donate on a regular basis. A single donation of blood can be used to save up to three lives and help in treatment of cancer patients, accident victims, hemophiliacs and surgery patients.  The LifeServe Blood Center is committed to serving the needs of Iowans by saving lives through volunteer blood donation.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will begin the next Prepared Childbirth Education classes (formerly called Lamaze) Monday, October 7, and will continue for two more consecutive Monday evenings beginning at 6 p.m. in the Large Conference Room.

The Prepared Childbirth Education classes at Veterans Memorial Hospital are offered in three sessions that allow the expectant parents to choose which topics they wish to learn more on. They may choose to attend one, two or all three sessions. Session 1 covers labor, delivery and the postpartum period following delivery; Session 2 includes relaxation, breathing and pain management; and Session 3 covers infant care. Tours of the OB Department are available with each session as well.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, September 19 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 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 hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Tuesday, September 10 at 5 p.m. in the Education Conference Room. 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 meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

The 2019 Christmas Fantasy theme is “Through the Eyes of a Child” and the event will be held Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 15,16,17 and 18 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. Decorators are asked to begin thinking about this year’s event. Many decorators are needed to decorate full-size trees, miniature trees, doors, tables, centerpieces, gift baskets, as well as quilted and crafted items, at the Christmas Fantasy.

Christmas tree decorators decorate an artificial tree for display during the Fantasy and are able to take their items back home with them after the event. Many other decorated, crafted or quilted items are offered for silent auction and may also include gift baskets.

This event is planned and sponsored by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Health Care Foundation. Anyone interested in being a part of the 2019 Christmas Fantasy should call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

The “Get Your Walk On In Waukon” annual family fun walk and 5K was held Saturday, August 17 in conjunction with the Waukon Corn Days celebration. The event offered not only a 5K route but also a shorter walking route of 1.5 miles. The near 100 participants took advantage of both of these options.

This year the event sported a costume contest that was open to all adults and youth entering the event. Some of these creative costumes are pictured at right, including the prizewinning top two costumes/teams.

Logan Houg of Waukon was the first to cross the finish line. All those participating in Saturday’s event received complimentary hospital goodies bags. Free diabetes/blood sugar tests and massages were also offered to all participants.