Health

Nearly 200 students from Postville, Kee, MFL/MarMac and Waukon high schools attended “Reality 101” held at the Waukon High School gymnasium Wednesday, March 28. Over 80 individuals and businesses volunteered their time to create a real life financial scenario for all of these students preparing for graduation.

By: Tami Gebel, OTR/L

Springtime has finally arrived, and many people are anxious to be out in the yard planting their gardens. Gardening can be a very rewarding hobby or past-time, even therapeutic to the mind and soul. However when the physical tasks become too painful or difficult, many people find that having a garden is more of a chore. 

Occupational therapists work daily with people to ensure that no matter the physical limitations, disabilities, disease, or injury that those people have, they can still participate in the activities that they love and enjoy. One of the roles of an occupational therapist is to develop strategies, compensations, or modifications so that people are not hindered by their aches, pains, or physical limitations in order to participate in their favorite activities. Here are some tips to help make gardening less of a chore:

Veterans Memorial Hospital will sponsor a Babysitting Seminar Saturday, April 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.  The class will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital. 

Intended participants are individuals 10 years of age and older who are responsible for their own care after school until their parents come home from work, and individuals who care for other children in or outside of their own home. Girls are not the sole baby-sitters in this society. Boys are also welcome and encouraged to attend.

Topics to be covered include fire and personal safety, accident prevention and emergency actions, nutritious snacks and basic care of children.

Veterans Memorial Hospital, in cooperation with the American Heart Association, is offering a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for lay people (those not working in healthcare), which includes child care providers, Monday, April 9 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

The CPR class, which will cover adult, child and infant CPR, will be held in the ICN Room located on the lower level of the hospital. The cost of the class, for certification or recertification, is the same. The card received with the course does certify attendants in CPR for two years.

CPR is administered when someone’s breathing, pulse, or both, stop. When both of them stop, the victim has suffered sudden death, which can be caused by poisoning, drowning, choking, suffocation, electrocution, smoke inhalation, or the most common cause, heart attack.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, April 19. 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. The cost is $3 per person with all proceeds going 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 Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, April 19 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 Eleanor Thorstenson by Ann-Elise and DiAnn Bakkum, Jim and Linda Ryan, JoAnn Peake, Joe Strobel and Patti Wild, Roger and Jeanette Ruegnitz, Steve and Sheryl Evanson, Mike and Teresa Myers, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Carol Krumme, German Farmers Mutual Insurance, Rob and Becky Swella Smedsrud, Dave and Doris Anderson, Jamie and Krystal Cahalan, Richard and Joan Leiran, Rudy and Marian Hesla, Cook Insurance Agency, Stan and Mary Straate, Don and Donelle Sherman, Ben and Padrin Grimstad, Bill and Linda Halvorson, Mike and Sandi Harman, Arlene Martin, Jeremy and Heather Hogan, Phil and Wendy Norton, Darrel and Rosanne Wicks, Marlys Leiran, Russ and Mary Jo Meyer, Nona Hansmeier, Terry and Diane Oesterle, Tharin and Bailey Meyer-Benson, Fred and Amy Knoke, Gordon and Donna Gilbertson, Bob and Joyce Schorg, Brian and Denise Wullner, Jim and Patty Clarke, Carl and Joyce Thornton, Bob and Karen Foss

Veterans Memorial Hospital and the Veterans Memorial Hospital Nursing Council are welcoming Joan C. Becker at a public presentation at the Waukon High School auditorium Friday, April 6. Joan is the author of the book, “Sentenced to Life.” It was Joan’s son, Mark, who was responsible for the tragedy in Parkersburg, when Coach Ed Thomas was shot and killed. Joan’s presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:45 p.m., and is open to the entire community, free of charge.

In her book, “Sentenced to Life,” Joan explains how her personal family experience served as the catalyst for her to become an advocate and public speaker for individuals with mental illness. Her focus is to open the doors and promote change in the mental health system. Joan speaks regularly to colleges, churches, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) groups, high schools, communities and mental health service providers.

By Jill Fleming, MS, RD/LD, Veterans Memorial Hospital

Sure, you have heard that eating a lot of sugar and sweet treats is not good for your health, but does this mean you should stop eating fruit? Fruit contains “fruit sugar” or fructose. The answer is no. Do not be afraid to eat fruit. In fact, I recommend that you eat three (1/2 cup) servings of fruit every day. Here are some of the benefits of eating fruit daily:

“Welcome to Medicare” is a free, two-hour seminar offered by the Veterans Memorial Hospital Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) counselors. This program will be held Thursday, March 29 from 5-7 p.m. in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.

“We’re excited to offer this free seminar to the community,” says Russ Hagen, SHIIP volunteer. “Medicare is such an important program and understanding what it offers helps assure that anyone eligible gets the health benefits they deserve.”

“Welcome to Medicare” will cover Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, the prescription drug benefit (Part D), Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement insurance.