Health

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.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital is devoted to providing the hospital and its patients and visitors with many services. The Auxiliary’s annual membership drive is on now. A Gift Case (pictured above) is located in the Main Lobby of the hospital and is filled with a variety of tasteful gifts for patients, friends and family.

The Gift Case is sponsored by the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital, members of which also make many of the handmade items that are located in the case. Also pictured is Janet Palmer of Waukon, who is the Auxiliary Gift Case Coordinator. Patients, visitors and the general public are all welcome to shop at the hospital’s gift case. Auxiliary registration forms are available at the front desk of Veterans Memorial Hospital. For more information, call Nona Sawyer at 563-568-3105. Submitted photo.
 

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, August 16. 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.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Robert Stock by Kent and Donna Schultz, Marv and Marge Strike, Michael and Jane Walker, Dave and Laurie Martin, Erik and Janelle Helgerson, Steve and Jana Scholl, Kaye Anderson, Dr. Bill and Libby Withers, George Pickett, Dean and Lynn Sorenson, Steve and Becky Welper, Ardie Kuhse, John and Sheryl Prestemon, Orrin and Nan Grangaard, Roger and Jeanette Ruegnitz, Ron and Nancy Brandt, Rick and  Cathy Larson, Marlys Leiran, Marcella Selberg, Joel and Teresa Sommer, Jane Dietrich, Eric and Stephanie Palmer, Dennis and Joan Behr, and Irene Stock.

Memorials were also received in memory of Claude Schafer by Dave and Laurie Martin, Patsy Kerndt and the family of Claude Schafer, in memory of Charles Hall by Eric and Stephanie Palmer, and in memory of Tennis and Diane Foels by family and friends of Tennis and Diane Foels.

The local Caregiver Support Group meets monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital. The meetings will take place the third Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m. The next meeting will be held Monday, August 20 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 local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon Tuesday, August 14 at 5 p.m. in the Education Conference Room. 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 now meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, August 16 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 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.
 

Summer can be the perfect time for a family road trip - no school, nice weather and plenty of places to visit. But what if your child is prone to car sickness, a common type of motion sickness? Does this mean you have to stay home?

“Car sickness occurs when the brain receives mismatching information from the ears, eyes and nerves in the extremities,” says Sara Winters, physician assistant at Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Healthcare in Waukon. “The results of this sensation are upset stomach, fatigue, and of course, vomiting.” In children ages two to 12, this experience is fairly common.

Although the reasons for why children are so prone are still unexplained, Winters offers some suggestions that may help you keep your child from getting car sick on your next trip:

Exercise lowers blood sugar. That’s the topic theme for this month’s local Fresh Conversations health and wellness program.

From dancing to housework to an evening stroll, activity helps keep people healthy. This is especially true for persons with diabetes. Exercise helps sugars (or carbohydrates) move more easily in and out of blood vessels and muscles. This keeps blood sugar levels from getting too high and makes one feel more vibrant and energetic.

Activities of all types can keep us fit and well. For example, dancing has been shown to improve endurance, balance and memory as well as heart health. So, turn on some favorite tunes and dance like no one is watching.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be sponsoring its 26th annual 5K Cardiac Classic Run/Walk Saturday, August 4, in conjunction with the Waukon Corn Days celebration. This year, the event again welcomes a shorter 1.5-mile walking route with an optional 5K (3.1-mile route) to offer distances that will please everyone of any age or ability that wishes to participate.

The event will begin and end at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon at 8 a.m., with registration beginning at 7 a.m.