Health

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding a Pillow Perk Monday, October 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Lower Level of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Kraft Pillow Service will be on site to make old pillows look like new.

Everyone is encouraged to bring in their feather pillows to the Pillow Perk to be cleaned, sanitized and given new ticking. Foam and Dacron pillows may also be renovated by this process. People are also encouraged to bring in their feather beds and have them made into new pillows.

For more information, call Nona Sawyer, Auxiliary President at 563-568-3105, or 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 who are interested Thursday, October 17. 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.

Open enrollment is underway for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and the Iowa Insurance Division’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) is available to offer free, unbiased and confidential assistance to Iowans.

“Iowans have four new Part D drug plans available to them in 2020 and many new Medicare Advantage options,” Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen said. “Medicare can be very confusing, and I encourage any Iowans eligible for Medicare as well as caregivers to reach out to our SHIIP team for assistance before the open enrollment window closes on December 7.”

Iowans may make changes to their Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plan during open enrollment beginning October 15 through December 7. Iowans that miss the open enrollment deadline most likely would have to wait a full year before making changes to their plan.

The next Caregiver Support Group meeting will be held Monday, October 21 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.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, October 17 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 anyone who may have a friend or loved one with diabetes. For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call  Angie Mettille, RN at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon at 563-568-3411.
 

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Gene Shogren by Virgil and Debbie Thorstenson, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Carol Moe, Bob and Linda Thompson, Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Marlys Leiran, Jean Huffey and Dave and Laurie Martin.

Memorials were also received in memory of Norma Fruechte by Jean Huffey, in memory of Fred Broszeit by Tom and Karen Regan and in memory of Lorna Kolsrud by Greg and Jan Gordon and Dave and Laurie Martin.

Memorials and donations are appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, a 501C3 organization. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.
 

Pillow Perk Date Changed to October 21

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its sixth annual Masquerade jewelry and accessories sale Monday, October 14. Masquerade is a company that hosts these sales only at hospitals throughout the country. They will be visiting Veterans Memorial Hospital for extended hours this year, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, October 14. Numerous tables of jewelry, scarves, hair accessories, leggings, lunch bags and more will be on display throughout the Large Conference Room and lower level of the hospital.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will also be holding its annual Pillow Perk Monday, October 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Lower Level of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Note that this is a change of date. Kraft Pillow Service will be on site to make old pillows look like new.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care is offering flu shots every Wednesday afternoon during its regular immunization clinics. The next flu shot clinic will be held Wednesday, October 9 from 1-4 p.m. and again Wednesday, October 16 from 1-6 p.m. The Community and Home Care Immunization Clinic is located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.

Immunization clinics are held from 1-6 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month, and from 1-4 p.m. all other Wednesdays. Flu vaccine, pneumonia vaccines and tetanus vaccines will be available.

Medicare does cover the costs of a flu shot. Billing for vaccinations will be completed by the Community and Home Care staff, but participants will need to bring their physician’s name and their Medicare number or private insurance card with them. Those who do not have insurance that covers these vaccines can also pay for them.

by Amy Robinson, P.T., Director of Rehabilitation, Veterans Memorial Hospital

1. What is Physical Therapy Month?
The month of October is Physical therapy month, and it’s a time when physical therapists and physical therapist assistants educate communities about who we are and what we do.

2. What can physical therapists do to help with obesity?
Physical therapists play dual roles in our nation’s fight against overweight and obesity. Our first role is in the area of prevention. Therapists can help develop fitness plans and promote the ability for adults and kids to move, reduce pain, restore function and prevent disabilities that are a result of being overweight.

The next Caregiver Support Group meeting will be held Monday, October 21 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 our community.