Health

October is the month to start a Medicare Part D check-up for 2017. Those eligible are reminded to watch their mailbox for news about Medicare drug plans and changes coming next year.     They will be able to enroll in or change their Part D plan for 2017 from October 15 through December 7, 2016.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon has Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselors available throughout the entire enrollment period.   SHIIP is a free, confidential service of the State of Iowa.  These SHIIP volunteers will be available to meet individually with anyone in the community who wishes to compare the Medicare Part D plans available for 2017.

Appointments are required. Call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411 to schedule an appointment. Those utilizing the service will need to bring their Medicare card, current Part D plan card and a list of their medications from their pharmacy.
 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Radiology Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon has extended hours into the evening to allow for more mammogram appointments to be scheduled after work, making mammography more accessible.

Mammography (an x-ray picture of the breast) is the single most effective method to detect breast changes that may be cancer, long before physical symptoms can be seen or felt. Early detection, followed by up-to-date treatment, provides women with better chances for long-term freedom from the disease. But mammography screening must be done routinely.

The staff at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon enjoyed helping Evelyn Folkers of Monona celebrate her 105th birthday while she was a patient in the hospital. Pictured, left to right, surrounding Evelyn are Dietsy Weymiller, RN; Ruth Hageman, RN; Corinne Cook, RN; Karen Regan, Ward Clerk; and Callie Thorson, C.N.A. presenting Evelyn with a birthday bouquet. Submitted photo.
 

You have until December 7, 2016 to enroll in or change Medicare drug plans for 2017. Do not wait until the last minute. Remember, if you are on Medicare and don’t have drug coverage, or the coverage you have is not as good as Medicare’s, you will face a penalty for each month you delay enrolling.

If you have questions about Medicare drug coverage, call your local SHIIP counselor at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411. SHIIP volunteers are available to meet individually with anyone in the community who wishes to compare the Medicare Part D plans available for 2017. Appointments are required. Call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411 to schedule your appointment. You will need to bring your Medicare card, current Part D plan card and a list of your medications from your pharmacy. SHIIP is a free, confidential service of the State of Iowa.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital and Elliott Jewelers of Waukon hosted another record crowd for their 12th Annual Women’s Health Day Luncheon Tuesday, September 27 at the Waukon Banquet Center. Over 225 ladies attended the salad luncheon hosted by the Auxiliary members, plus many free health and wellness tests were available.

The theme for this year’s event was “Treasure Your Health.” Featured speakers included Janet Palmer of the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital, who explained her own experience as a cancer survivor. Dr. Dave Schwartz of the Mayo Health System delivered advice in his presentation “The B.E.S.T. Workout for Life.”

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon Wednesday, October 12 at 2 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room of the hospital, which is located on the lower level.

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 group meets the second Wednesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, October 20 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 Teresa Myers, RN, C.D.E., Diabetes Educator, or Angie Mettille, RN, at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care will be offering their first flu clinic Wednesday, October 5 from 1-6 p.m. in the Community and Home Care Immunization Clinic located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.

The next flu shot clinics will be held Wednesday, October 12 from 1-4 p.m. and again Wednesday, October 19 from 1-6 p.m.  The Community and Home Care Immunization Clinic is located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.  Flu clinics will then continue each week Wednesday afternoons.

Immunization clinics are held from 1-6 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month, and from 1-6 p.m. all other Wednesdays. Flu vaccine, pneumonia vaccine, and a combination of flu and pneumonia vaccine will all be available. Tetanus shots will be offered as well.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its annual Pillow Perk Monday, October 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 3  p.m. in the Lower Level of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Kraft Pillow Service will be on site to make old pillows look like new.

Everyone is encouraged to bring in their feather pillows to the Pillow Perk to be cleaned, sanitized and given new ticking. Foam and Dacron pillows may also be renovated by this process. People are also encouraged to bring in their feather beds and have them made into new pillows.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, October 20.  Men and women are welcome to attend, even if they are 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 for those who choose to eat. Those choosing to stay for the meal should call Northland Agency on Aging at 877-838-8077.  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.