Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, together with the Alzheimer’s Association®, offered two education sessions earlier this summer concerning Alzheimer’s and Dementia for both the general public and for caregivers of anyone with these conditions. The third session of this three-part series, which was scheduled for August 7, has been canceled due to a shortage of staff at the Alzheimer’s Association.

The Alzheimer’s Association is always looking for more volunteers. If interested in volunteering, contact them through their website at www.alz.org. For more information, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will be sponsoring its 27th annual 5K Cardiac Classic Run/Walk Saturday, August 17, 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.  New this year, costumes are encouraged to be worn at this event by adults and youth with the top costume in both categories earning a prize.

The members of the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital are actively recruiting new and returning members to join them during their annual membership drive.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital is devoted to providing the hospital and its patients and visitors with many services. The Auxiliary also holds annual fundraisers, such as the Women’s Health Day Luncheon each fall, the Pillow-Perk in early November, the Masquerade sales and their annual membership drive each July. All the money the Auxiliary receives goes back to the hospital for equipment.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, August 5 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

Here are some interesting blood facts from the Blood Center of Iowa:

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering the next recertification course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for health care providers (those working in health related fields such as physicians, nurses, EMS, etc.) Wednesday, August 21 beginning at 5 p.m. This “Health Care Professional” CPR class will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of the hospital.

All registrants should bring along their own pocket mask, if they have one. Upon successful completion of the class, the participant will receive an electronic card certifying them as a BLS Healthcare Provider for a two-year period.

Pre-registration plus a minimum of three participants is required for the class to be held. For more information and to register for the “Health Care Provider” CPR Course, call the hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Gilbert Kurth by Dan and Traci Byrnes, Betty White, Cyril and Shirley Larkin, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, John and Lorna Kerndt, Marcie Hansmeier, Randy and Karen Loeb and Jean Gander.

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

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, August 15. 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 located 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 table of four players, however.

The next Caregiver Support Group meeting will be held Monday, August 19 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 from others 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.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, together with the Alzheimer’s Association®, offered two education sessions earlier this summer concerning Alzheimer’s and Dementia for both the general public and for caregivers of anyone with these conditions. The third session of this three-part series, which was scheduled for August 7, has been canceled due to a shortage of staff at the Alzheimer’s Association.

The Alzheimer’s Association is always looking for more volunteers. If interested in volunteering, contact them through their website at www.alz.org. For more information, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Morgan Van Ruler and Austin Troendle, both of Waukon, have each been awarded a $3,500 scholarship from the Iowa Hospital Association Education and Research Foundation (IHERF,) which is supported by the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA).

Van Ruler is currently studying nursing at Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI, and Troendle will soon be completing his doctorate degree in Physical Therapy at Clarke University in Dubuque.

IHA established the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program in 2004 to help address the ongoing shortage of health care professionals and encourage young Iowans to establish or continue their careers with Iowa hospitals. The first scholarships were awarded in 2005 and now more than 450 students have benefited from the program.