Health

The following information was received by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Department (formerly Allamakee County Public Health) February 4, 2020 from the Iowa Department of Public Health concerning the Coronavirus.

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a coronavirus identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon began its own Cardiac Rehabilitation unit over two decades ago to help fulfill a need in the local community - a need that has been and continues to be well utilized.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Half a million people die each year due to this disease. Many people develop symptoms of heart disease when they are in their 40s or 50s, interrupting a most productive time of life.

Cardiac Rehabilitation is an important tool in the fight against heart disease. Rehabilitation involves monitored exercise, nutritional counseling, emotional support and education about lifestyle changes to reduce risks of heart problems.

Over 950,000 Americans die each year from cardiovascular disease. Since February is National Heart Month, Veterans Memorial Hospital provides the following facts and tips on heart health:

“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, March 2 from 5-7 p.m. in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

“Due to the great turn-out we continually have for these meetings, we have decided to offer another free seminar to the community this spring,” says Russ Hagen, SHIIP volunteer. “I am happy they are so well attended. 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 Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, February 20, beginning at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, which is located on the lower level of the hospital in Waukon.

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.
 

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, February 20. 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.

The next Caregiver Support Group meeting will be held Monday, February 17 at 1:30 p.m. in the Meditation Room in the front entrance of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. 

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.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will not be offering a CPR course in February. The next class available will be offered Wednesday, March 18, and it will be offered for health care professionals.

The cost for all CPR classes, for certification or recertification, at Veterans Memorial Hospital is the same and all registrants should bring along their own pocket mask. The card received with the course does certify attendants in CPR for two years.

Pre-registration plus a minimum of four participants is required for the class to take place. For more information and to register for the next CPR Course, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Arlene Welch by Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Marv and Marge Strike, Mary and Tina Schulte, Sharon Pratt, Herb and Julie Snitker, Brian and Denise Wullner, Craig and Barb Lensing, Clint and Dacia Johnson, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Kirk and Lisa Snitker, Norb and Nola Palmer, Darrel and Rosanne Wicks, Gordy and Darlene Kaeser, Jr., Randy and Lori Hesse, Orrin and Nan Grangaard, Dave and Sandy Lyons, Kate Wooden, Bernard and Eileen Berns, Mary Fink, Joel and Teresa Sommer, Mary Ann Hager and friends and family of Arlene Welch.

Memorials were also received in memory of Emmet Jones by Patsy Kerndt, Sigurd and Barb Ness, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Ernie and Donnalee Osland, Julie Nordheim, JC and Natalie Kelly and Dorothy and Dave Sandry.

A memorial was also received by the Ralph and Wanda Anderson family in memory of Ralph and Wanda Anderson.

February is Heart Month.  Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon continues to encourage the public to learn the American Heart Association’s “Hands Only CPR.”  This simple way of performing CPR is very easy to do and effective for the victim.

According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death with nearly 400,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring annually in the United States.  An average of 89% of people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die because they don’t receive immediate CPR from someone on scene.

The American Heart Association has found Hands Only CPR to be as effective as conventional CPR for sudden cardiac arrest at home, at work, or in the public - doubling or even tripling a victim’s chance of survival.

Since 80% of cardiac arrests happen in private or residential settings, learn these simple steps for performing Hands Only CPR to help save the life of someone you love: