Health

by Tami Gebel, Occupational Therapist

Many times people in the general public are surprised to hear that occupational therapists work with children who are newborn up through school age. The role of occupational therapists working with children, either with or without special needs, is to assist with the development of skills.

Children will develop skills at their own rate; therapists do not make children develop skills. What therapists can do is provide education and instruction on activities and opportunities that will encourage the development of a skill that is delayed or absent. One of the biggest suggestions occupational therapists have for new parents is to provide “Tummy Time” to help develop the child’s skills and strength.

Perhaps it was fate that brought Raquel Ristau, PA-C, to Gundersen Waukon Clinic.

“I grew up in a small town, Cresco, and have a built-in gravitation to rural medicine,” says Ristau, Gundersen Waukon’s newest provider. “I had the opportunity to rotate through Gundersen in Waukon while I was still completing my education and just fell in love with the atmosphere, the people, and the experiences I had as a provider. The growth and opportunity I foresee myself achieving at Gundersen is far greater than any other place I had the opportunity to visit. I’m ready to enhance and enrich the lives of all the patients whom I have the opportunity to treat in the future.”

At Gundersen Waukon, Ristau will care for patients of all ages and health levels, from acute to chronic illnesses to preventative care, such as routine checkups, health risk assessments, immunizations, screenings, personal counseling and more.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon has announced they will again be awarding prizes to all those in Allamakee and northern Clayton counties that participated in the Live Healthy Iowa 10-week Wellness Challenge in 2018. That challenge has recently come to an end for this year. Prizes for all participants will be awarded during the hospital’s annual Family Wellness Fair, which will be held Wednesday, May 9 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the hospital.

Veterans Memorial Hospital supports and encourages the Live Healthy Iowa state-wide wellness program for all individuals in this area for wellness motivation and support. This web-based program offers all participants a personal tracking page that allows everyone to keep their own results right in front of them at all times. It also gives professional support including weekly motivational emails and unlimited access to recipes, workouts and other health information, all easily accessible on the Live Healthy Iowa website.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a “Re-energize with Reflexology!” class Thursday, April 19 from 6-8 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW.

Those participating in the “Re-energize with Reflexology!” class will receive an introduction to basic reflexology concepts and learn massage techniques for hands and feet that are intended to relieve pain, shorten duration of illness, reduce the negative effects of stress and promote relaxation and wellness.

To register online for “Re-energize with Reflexology!” (#59933) or for more information, visit www.nicc.edu/solutions or call NICC Business and Community Solutions at 800-728-2256, ext. 399 (Calmar campus) or the NICC Waukon Center at 563-568-3060.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering “Nutrition 101: Reading Food Labels” Thursday, April 26 from 6-8 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW.

Ever wondered what all that information on a nutrition label means? Understanding food labels can be a difficult task, but it doesn’t have to be. Reading and understanding food labels is very important for knowing the positives and negatives of the foods one consumes. Learn how to easily navigate a food label and how to pick out the best foods for overall health. This class will also incorporate grocery shopping tips and tricks to help one stay on track with their health goals.

A new, local Caregiver Support Group have begun meeting monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. The meetings will take place the third Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m. The next meeting will be held Monday, April 16 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

This informal meeting is open to anyone who provides care and support for a family member or friend. Feel free to attend and bring a friend.  This new Caregiver Support Group will continue to meet the third Monday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, April 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. The cost is $3 per person with all proceeds going 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.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, April 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 has a friend or loved one with diabetes. For more information on the group, call  Angie Mettille, RN, at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

Nearly 200 students from Postville, Kee, MFL/MarMac and Waukon high schools attended “Reality 101” held at the Waukon High School gymnasium Wednesday, March 28. Over 80 individuals and businesses volunteered their time to create a real life financial scenario for all of these students preparing for graduation.

By: Tami Gebel, OTR/L

Springtime has finally arrived, and many people are anxious to be out in the yard planting their gardens. Gardening can be a very rewarding hobby or past-time, even therapeutic to the mind and soul. However when the physical tasks become too painful or difficult, many people find that having a garden is more of a chore. 

Occupational therapists work daily with people to ensure that no matter the physical limitations, disabilities, disease, or injury that those people have, they can still participate in the activities that they love and enjoy. One of the roles of an occupational therapist is to develop strategies, compensations, or modifications so that people are not hindered by their aches, pains, or physical limitations in order to participate in their favorite activities. Here are some tips to help make gardening less of a chore: