Health

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, July 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 toward the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Prizes will be awarded.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Lois Wiedenmann by Pat and Donna Bresnahan, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Jean Huffey, Wayne and Mary Lou Leidahl, Nyles and Ruby Herman, Dean “Beanzy” Schellhammer, Patsy Kerndt, Harold and Shirley Marti, Gayle Larkin, Lois Evans and Dave and Laurie Martin.

Memorials were also received in memory of Joel Kuhse by Delora and Monte Dundee and Dennis and Nancy Turner, and in memory of Daniel Donovan by Joe and Patti Wild Strobel.

Memorials are appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation. The Foundation is a 501C3 organization. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.
 

The local Caregiver Support Group meets monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. The meetings take place the third Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m. The next meeting will be held Monday, July 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 VMH.
 

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will not hold a regular meeting in July. The group will begin holding its regular monthly meetings again in August. For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call Angie Mettille, RN, Diabetes Educator at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

It’s summer and we’re in skin protection season. The vast majority of skin cancers are preventable by routinely shielding your skin from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays and Americans aren’t doing enough to protect themselves.

The American Cancer Society suggests we bring our sun-protection habits up to date. Dermatologists recommend doing a skin check monthly, so you’ll be more likely to notice small changes or even find a skin cancer when it’s still small. The best time to examine the skin is after a shower or bath and with good lighting. Look for changes in size, texture, shape and color of birthmarks, moles and blemishes.

“Slip! Slop! Slap! And Wrap!”  is a catch phrase for kids used by the American Cancer Society that works well for adults, too. It reminds people to slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat and wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and sensitive skin around them from ultraviolet light.

You can make a difference by making a life-saving blood donation at the next Waukon Community Blood Drive. The next blood drive will take place Thursday, July 5 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

Donating blood is safe, simple and it saves lives. Blood donors have a unique opportunity to contribute to their community by making a life-saving blood donation.  Everyone who registers to donate blood goes through four simple steps during the donation process: registration, donor history and mini-physical, blood donation and snacks.

New blood donors who are not familiar with the blood donation process are encouraged to ask questions before, during and after their blood donation. Below are a few tips for ensuring a successful donation:

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Milton Turner by Jim and Bev Larson-Needham, Delora and Monte Dundee, Darren and Rebecca West and Roger and Janet Kuhse.

Memorials were also received in memory John Herman by Steve and Maureen Thode, and in memory of Gene Knox by Robert J. and Irene Stock, Marilyn Bulman and family and friends of Gene Knox.

In addition, a memorial was given to the Foundation in memory of Dorthea Horsfall by Rodney and Evonne Bloxham.

Memorials and donations are appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation.  The Foundation is a 501C3 organization. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will again be holding its regular Weekend Walk-In Medical Services (formerly called Weekend Clinic) over the Fourth of July holiday. The special medical services will be held Wednesday, July 4 from 1-5 p.m. for all non-emergencies.

Weekend Walk-Ins are held every Saturday and Sunday at Veterans Memorial Hospital, all year-round, from 1-5 p.m. each day for non-emergencies. Anyone needing to utilize these weekend services is asked to enter the hospital through the main entrance and register with the receptionist.

Due to new regulatory standards, the hospital is no longer able to accept an insurance co-payment for these weekend walk-in services.  Any charges for these weekend services will now be applied to the patient’s insurance deductible or co-insurance. This change took place as of July 1 of this current year.

For more information, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Mental illness can affect persons of any age, race, religion or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character, or poor upbringing. When someone is struggling with a mental health condition, it affects the whole family, not just the person with the diagnosis. Family members and caregivers can often feel overwhelmed or powerless as they try to learn more about the illness, treatment options, and how to help.

If these feelings sound familiar to anyone looking for some extra support, NAMI Northeast Iowa’s Family Support Group might be the place to find it. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses and their families.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will begin the next Prepared Childbirth Education classes (formerly called Lamaze) Monday, July 9, and the class will continue for two more 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.