Health

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory Jane Butler by Beth and Bill Shafer and Linda Siegrist; in memory of Walter Kurth, JR, by an anonymous donation, Ronnie and Nancy Adam, Tom and Joan Fritz and Jim and Jill Kiesau; in memory of Dale Osterhaus by Arlyn and Lois Fossum and Frank and Jean Weymiller and in memory of Bill Moody by Ronnie and Nancy Adam, Dan and Traci Byrnes, Steve and Sheryl Evanson, Dave and Gail Prestemon, Diane Regan, Linda Siegrist, Frank and Jean Weymiller and Patricia Moody.

Memorials were also received in memory of Lorna Bjerke by the family of Lorna Bjerke; Ozzie Quandahl by Lyle and Mary Ellen and Steve Mohwinkle; in memory of Mary Reierson by Bob Reierson and Becky Meyer; in memory of Mary Severson by Brad and Erin Berns; in memory of Frank Sivesind by Bill and Linda Halvorson; and in memory of Alan West by Beth and Bill Shafer.

by Beth Shafer, Growth and Development Coordinator, Veterans Memorial Hospital

This is National Hospital Week. October 1, 1950, Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) opened its doors to fill a great need in the area communities, to finally have a local hospital. That great need is still being met today, 75 years later, thanks to the strong commitment of Veterans Memorial Hospital staff and the local community support.

In rural communities, local health care is more than convenience - it is a lifeline. For families in Waukon and across Allamakee County, Veterans Memorial Hospital represents access, stability, and peace of mind close to home.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Tara Fink, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, joined the Veterans Memorial Hospital Clinic staff nearly four years ago to offer behavioral health care to help meet the great need for mental health care in Northeast Iowa, which she has successfully done. Now with the addition of two more psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, Janet Hunter and Angela Tayer, Tara has been promoted to the Medical Director of Behavioral Health Services at Veterans Memorial Hospital and Clinics  in Waukon and Postville.

Stress and worry are common, especially when life changes start stacking up. Health concerns, caregiving, retirement, grief, financial pressure, or feeling isolated can all impact how we feel day to day. During Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to share a few practical tools to use in the moment when things feel heavy.

Try one of these quick resets: 
1. The 60-second breath: Inhale for 4, exhale for 6. Repeat 5 times. 
2. Name five things: Look around and name five things you see, four you feel, three you hear, two you smell, one you taste. 
3. “One thing I can do today”: Pick one manageable step, like making a call, taking a short walk, or starting a load of laundry. 
4. Worry time (yes, really): Set a 10-minute timer to write worries down, then stop when the timer ends. 

The Veterans Memorial Hospital’s (VMH) “Family Wellness Fair” welcomed a crowd of over 300 visitors this year during their 75th anniversary celebration of the hospital. Visitors toured the VMH Medical Clinic, Hospital and Emplify by Gundersen Clinic in their route to the record number of 52 exhibitor’s educational displays, demonstrations, activities, and give-aways provided by the numerous agencies who service Allamakee and northern Clayton counties.

Spring planting is underway.  Driving in rural Iowa comes with a few extra things to watch for - including Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) emblems. When there is a tractor or other farm equipment ahead with flashing lights and an orange triangular SMV symbol, it means the vehicle is traveling 25 mph or less. Slow down, increase the following distance and be prepared for limited visibility or sudden turns into fields or driveways.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, May 21 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of the hospital.

This month’s topic will focus on gardening. Sue Cahoon from the Master Gardeners will talk about some gardening basics and container gardens. She will highlight the money saving aspects of growing vegetables as well as some nutrition benefits of the produce. She will also discuss the Master Gardener group as an option for getting involved in the community.

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 Angie Mettille, RN, Diabetes Educator, at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.

The annual “Family Wellness Fair” will be held Wednesday, May 6 from 3:30-6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon. This year a free community ‘grab and go’ meal will be served celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the hospital and the 5th Anniversary of the hospital clinics. The numerous fair exhibits will host activities, giveaways, wellness testing and education for all ages. All visitors are again welcome to enter the fair through the Veterans Memorial Hospital main entrance, the hospital clinic entrance or the Emplify by Gundersen Clinic entrance allowing for more accessible parking options.

New this year, infant and child car seat checks will be available in the hospital clinic parking lot throughout the night. Also the hospital’s new Senior Life Solutions (SLS) department will be hosting an open house, inviting visitors to the fair to go up the upper level to see their office and conference area and explain their services.

The new Senior Life Solutions (SLS) department at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) will be hosting a Wellness Chat and Bingo Tuesday, May 12, in Lansing at the Meehan Memorial Library from 1:30-3:30 p.m.  Any seniors, age 65 and over, are invited to attend and enjoy playing bingo while sharing some social time together. Prizes will also be awarded. This bingo opportunity is made possible by Senior Life Solutions which is a new department of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Senior Life Solutions provides outpatient services designed to meet the unique needs of individuals age 65 and over who may be experiencing low mood, sadness, grief, excessive worry or anxiety related to life changes often associated with aging.  They provide group and individual therapy, medication management and after-care planning when needed.

This May, Veterans Memorial Hospital’s Senior Life Solutions (SLS) Program is proud to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month by embracing this year’s theme, “More Good Days, Together.” Mental health matters at every stage of life, and this team is committed to supporting older adults and caregivers in the rural communities with compassionate, meaningful care.