Health

There is still time to get vital immunizations before school starts. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), vaccines help the body learn how to defend itself from disease without the dangers of a full-blown infection. The immune response to a vaccine might cause tiredness and discomfort for a day or two, but the resulting protection from the vaccination can last a lifetime.

Infections are unpredictable and can have long-term consequences. Even mild or symptom-less infections can be deadly. For example, most people infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV) never show any sign of infection.

But for some, the sign appears years later as an aggressive, life-threatening cancer. By then, it’s too late to get vaccinated.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, August 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 Angie Mettille, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Become a Dementia Friend by attending a one-hour information session coordinated by Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) to learn about living with dementia and the simple things you can do to support someone living with dementia. These sessions are free and open to the public.

Learn some basics of dementia such as what dementia is, how it can affect a person, some tips for communicating with people who have dementia, and other ways to support people with dementia. No registration is required and feel free to bring a friend. 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory Kathryn “Kate” Urell by Chris and M’Liss Bulman, Mary Ann Burke, Mary Fink, Bob and Karen Fossum, Mary Ann Hager, David and Suzanne Hahn, Tammy Knudtson, Eunice Kolsrud, Ken and Gloria Krambeer, Ernie and Donnalee Osland, Meg Schaller, Danny and Sue Schlitter, Trish and Corey Shelton, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Jim and Dorothy Waters, Donna Wood and the Class of 1961.

Memorials were also received in memory of Brigitte Weymiller by Mary Ann Hager, Brad and Judy Herman, Gordon and Darlene Kaeser and Rita Mathis.

Additional memorials were also received in honor of Irv Fosaaen by Carl and Betty Christianson and Cathy Fischer; and in memory of Jane Butler by Karla and Dave Hammel.

A donation was also made in honor of Jane Fransen’s 100th birthday by Linda Siegrist.

People who live in rural communities live an average of three years fewer than urban counterparts and have a 40-percent higher likelihood of developing heart disease and face a 30-percent increased risk for stroke mortality, according to an American Heart Association’s presidential advisory on rural health. Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) is committed to changing that.

For its efforts to optimize stroke care and reduce gaps in rural health outcomes, Veterans Memorial Hospital has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke Rural Recognition award.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), vaccines help the body learn how to defend itself from disease without the dangers of a full-blown infection. The immune response to a vaccine might cause tiredness and discomfort for a day or two, but the resulting protection can last a lifetime.

Infections are unpredictable and can have long-term consequences. Even mild or symptom-less infections can be deadly. For example, most people infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV) never show any sign of infection. But for some, the sign appears years later as an aggressive, life-threatening cancer. By then, it’s too late to get vaccinated.

Vaccines work by imitating an infection - the presence of a disease-causing organism in the body - to engage the body’s natural defenses. The active ingredient in all vaccines is an antigen, the name for any substance that causes the immune system to begin producing antibodies.  

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital is devoted to providing the hospital and its patients and visitors with many services. Their annual membership drive is on now. A gift case is located in the hospital’s main lobby and is filled with a variety of useful gifts for patients, friends and family. The Gift Case is sponsored by the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital, who also make many of the handmade items that are located in the case. Pictured here, is Jim and Bev Larson-Needham who coordinate the items in the case. Patients, visitors and the general public are all welcome to shop at the hospital’s gift case anytime Monday-Friday until 7 p.m. Auxiliary membership registration forms are available at the front desk of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. For more information, call Bev Larson-Needham, Auxiliary President, at 563-568-8168. Submitted photo.
 

The staff at the Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) Postville Medical Clinic recently gifted a handmade quilt to their young patient, Brandon Benda. Brandon has been battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia cancer that was diagnosed by his provider, Alex Berns, NP at the Postville Clinic. The quilt was made by clinic nurse, Alisha Henderson, and given to Brandon from the entire staff. Alisha states, “Brandon is an extremely tough little boy and he is in our thoughts every day here at the clinic.” Pictured here, left to right, is Alisha Henderson, RN; Brandon and his mother, Courtney Benda; and medical assistants Selina Perez and Sandy Lopez. Submitted photo.
 

Caring for a loved one can be fulfilling, but it can also be emotionally and physically demanding.

Many caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and feelings of isolation over time. Taking care of your own mental health is just as important as caring for someone else. Finding support, sharing your experiences, and taking time to recharge can make a lasting difference.

Veterans Memorial Hospital’s (VMH) Senior Life Solutions (SLS) offers support not only for older adults, but also for those navigating the challenges that come with caregiving and life transitions. You are not alone in this journey.

Anyone can make a referral to the Senior Life Solutions program - primary care providers, specialists, family members, friends, community groups, nursing or residential facilities and anyone can also self-refer themselves.

Summer days are long, but before you know it, back-to-school season will be here. With a new school year just around the corner, Emplify Health is encouraging parents and caregivers to start preparing now so kids can step into the first day feeling confident, healthy and ready to learn.

Step 1: Shift sleep and wake times
One of the biggest adjustments for children returning to school is the sudden change in sleep and wake schedules. After weeks of staying up late and sleeping in, the shift to early-morning alarms can be jarring (and tantrum inducing). Emplify Health experts recommend gradually adjusting bedtime and wake-up times at least two to three weeks before the first day of school – moving schedules earlier by about 15-20 minutes every few days until they align with the school-year routine.