Health

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, February 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 at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Jim Sweeney by Ed and Ann Roed, Ron and Nancy Brandt, Jerry and Theresa Ashby, Jr., Jim and Linda Ryan, Steve and Denise Duffy, Marv and Marge Strike, Carl and Betty Christianson, Les and Ada Marie Kerndt, Blair and Jess Everman, Dave and Laurie Martin, Dave and Rita Newton, Eide Bailly LLP, Boulevard Brewing Co., Mark and Julie Blake, Systems Equipment Corporation, Mike and Shawna Sweeney, Orrin and Nan Grangaard, Keith and Sandra Lazar, Carol Krumme, Tom and Lynn Thomson, Brad and Judy Herman, John Gasaway, OD, Don and DiAnne Haler, Bob and Cheryl Bjerke, Chuck and Marcy Fritz, Greg and Marlene Palmer, Dr.

The Safe Routes to School program offered through Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC) will be hosting its Beat the Blues Winter “Marathon” Challenge once again with the start of the new year. Starting January 1 in northeast Iowa, anyone can challenge friends, family and themselves to complete a full “marathon” worth of activities, or more, between January 1 and February 12 of this year.

Participants can run, walk, ski, snowshoe or bike 26 miles outdoors at their own pace when it works for them and their family during that timeframe, or play outside for 30 minutes in any activity to equal one mile. They can then record their mileage and submit it online after each “marathon” they complete for a chance to win a $50 gift card to Decorah Bicycles to rent skis, ice skates or bikes.

by Brianne Leikvold, RN, Maternity Services Supervisor, VMH

At Veterans Memorial Hospital Birthing Center, we offer a variety of services that can provide our patients with a more natural and enjoyable experience throughout their labor. Our patients are given options for the type of labor and delivery they would like; and our staff attempt to carry out our patients’ wishes in the safest way possible.

In recent years, water births have gained popularity amongst hospitals and mothers looking for a natural birthing option in a controlled environment. With water birth popularity growing the past three years throughout other facilities, we take pride in ourselves for having offered this service for over the past 17 years. For low-risk women seeking a more natural experience throughout the birthing process, water birth is a great option.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, February 3 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held every month in Waukon.   The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa is seeking donors to ensure a safe and plentiful blood supply in Iowa. Because there is no substitute for human blood, the need for donors is continuous.  Many Iowans are encouraged to make donating blood on a regular basis their New Year’s resolution this year.

Exercising is important to do all year-round. One should not feel that they need to stay indoors to exercise during cold weather. A good workout outdoors in the winter can be very exhilarating. Just follow the steps below for keeping it a safe outdoor winter workout:

- Warm up longer than usual before heading outdoors in cold weather.
- Keep skin dry. This in turn will keep the exerciser warmer.
- Dress accordingly using many layers. Be sure that the outer layer will break the wind. Add a fluffy layer, like fleece or wool, to trap heat in. Long underwear is good to keep the skin dry.
- Always wear a hat to prevent heat loss through the top of the head.
- Wear mittens instead of gloves to allow air to circulate better between the fingers, keeping the hands warmer.

Always be sure to exercise in a safe, well-lit area. Stay clear of any icy spots and proceed with care in snow. One never knows what may lie under those snow-covered spots.

Each year, older Iowans or individuals with disabilities may benefit from rent reimbursement. Those individuals can file for rent reimbursement if they met all the below requirements during 2019:

• Age 65 or older or disabled
• Income was less than $23,216
• Lived in Iowa and still live in Iowa now
• Paid rent in Iowa at a property that pays property tax.

Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) is providing older individuals assistance filling out the rent reimbursement application. Make an appointment for that assistance by calling 563-277-6021.

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Tanya Benda Schnuelle by Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Ken and Diane Butikofer, Leotia Flage, Elsie Sanderson, Walter and Sherry Halvorson, Jim and Ele Klenske, Dan and Traci Byrnes, Sheila Clair, Marlys Leiran, Norb and Nola Palmer, Russ and Mary Jo Meyer, Dave and Rita Newton, Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Brian and Denise Wullner, Dave and Laurie Martin, Fred and Geralyn Smith, Sharon Pratt, Dennis and Marlene Blocker, Jim and Jill Kiesau, and family and friends of Tanya Benda Schnuelle.

Memorials were also received in memory of Jerry Bollman by Larry and Nancy Straate, Dan and Sue Schlitter, Kay Carter, Patsy Kerndt and Brian and Denise Wullner. In addition, memorials were received in memory of Linda Lou Sorum by Walter and Sherry Halvorson, Bob and Judy Iseli, and family and friends of Linda Lou Sorum.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, February 3, from 12-5 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held every month in Waukon.   The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa is seeking donors to ensure a safe and plentiful blood supply in Iowa. Because there is no substitute for human blood, the need for donors is continuous.  Many Iowans are encouraged to make donating blood on a regular basis their New Year’s resolution this year.

The next Caregiver Support Group meeting will be held Monday, January 20 at 1:30 p.m. in the Meditation Room in the front entrance of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

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.

Recent studies have estimated that the stress caused just by becoming the caregiver of an adult with a chronic illness or disability will take seven years off of a person’s life. With more and more Iowans aging, this is a real concern in the local community.