Health

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Darrell Snitker by Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Harold and Shirley Marti, Gayle Larkin, Robert and Judy Iseli, Patsy Kerndt, Rosanne and Darrel Wicks, John and Sheryl Prestemon, and family and friends of Darrell Snitker.

Memorials were also received in memory of Arden Hanson by Ardys Kuhse, Randy and Lori Hesse, Al and Fern Rissman, Harold and Shirley Marti, Mary Fink, Mavis Berns, Marcella Selberg, Bob and Marilyn Bulman, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Bill and Karen Regan and Joyce Hanson.

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.
 

by Tami Gebel,
Occupational Therapist

Have you heard someone over the age of 60 years old say.... “In my day, we didn’t have computers to do all of these things for us.” When they were young, writer’s cramp was a pain in the hand caused by holding a pencil for too long while writing on paper. These days, writer’s cramp is rare because everything is typed, texted, emailed or faxed. Today the pain experienced from technology use is not limited to our hands; we have pains in our eyes, back, neck, wrists, elbows and shoulders.  There is even new terminology, such as ‘texting thumb,’ ‘text claw,’ and ‘text neck’ to describe the pains we are experiencing with use of cell phones, computers, tablets, laptops, and even video gaming systems.

It is the right of the patient to choose the medical care they wish in any situation, even when the patient is too sick or hurt to tell their family members or their physician. The way to ensure the correct healthcare wishes are carried out is to complete an Advanced Directive. Advanced Directives include: Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare and/or a Living will.

Immunizations; a word no parent or child wants to hear. Yet immunizations play an important role in keeping many spreadable harmful diseases away from children and infants alike. “In the United States, vaccine-preventable disease such as measles, mumps and whooping cough can happen and will happen,” says Steven Perkins, D.O., family physician at Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare in Waukon.

“If we stopped immunizing, even the minimal cases we have in this country could rapidly turn into tens or hundreds of thousands of cases,” says Dr. Perkins. Immunizations help to decrease the chance of infection by aligning with the body’s natural defenses to help it safely grow immunity to disease.

Although many children fear immunizations, Dr. Perkins offers these suggestions for parents to help make immunization visits easier for everyone.

Veterans Memorial Hospital’s Diabetes Self-Management Education Program will again be offering another free, educational program on “Diabetes Prevention” at Veterans Memorial Hospital. This event will be held Monday, April 24 in the ICN Conference Room, located on the lower level of  Veterans Memorial Hospital. Teresa Myers, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator, and Angie Mettille, RN will be teaching all those attending how to reduce the risk of getting Type 2 diabetes.

Pre-Diabetes is a condition that comes before Type 2 diabetes when the blood glucose (sugar) levels are higher than normal, but aren’t high enough to be called diabetes. It is a silent disease, meaning someone can have it without even knowing it. Cutting back on calories and fat, being physically active and losing weight can reverse pre-diabetes and therefore delay or prevent Type 2 diabetes.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, April 20. 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 desired. Call Northland Agency on Aging at 877-838-8077 if opting 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.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, April 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 Teresa Myers, RN, C.D.E., Diabetes Educator, or 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 Keith Fahey by Dan and Traci Byrnes, Dave and Rita Newton, Randy and Lori Hesse, Bob and Marilyn Bulman, Cyril and Shirley Larkin, John and Lorna Kerndt, Bernard Welsh, Jerry and Linda Siegrist and Bob and Kristi Campbell.

Memorials were also received in memory of Kurt Rathbun by Ernie and Donnalee Osland, in memory of Curtis “CD” Kruger by Pat and Kathy McMillan, in memory of Owen Myhle by Jane Dietrich, and in memory of Glen Thorson by Rodney and Evonne Bloxham and Jerry and Linda Siegrist.

Memorials and donations are 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.

Nine out of ten older Americans have high blood pressure. It’s so common, some people think it’s a normal part of aging. The problem - high blood pressure can contribute to conditions like strokes and heart attacks. The solution - simple lifestyle habits that can lower risk and keep blood pressure in check. The result – better energy and wellbeing.

Experts are finding that including more potassium-rich foods in one’s diet (like avocado, spinach, squash, apricots and more) can help lower blood pressure. In fact, combined with using the saltshaker and processed foods less often, potassium may be an overlooked nutrient. Eating more delicious, whole foods containing potassium might help protect against stroke and high blood pressure risks.

Caregivers for an older family member or friend may not consider what they do as caregiving. Those who help with their parents’ household chores and finances, mow their neighbor’s yard or drive an elderly friend to a doctor appointment are among approximately 34.2 million Americans who provide informal care each year. The care these individuals provide allows their friend or loved one to stay independent and in their home for as long as they desire.

Many caregivers are providing care for an older adult while also working and caring for their own families. While caregiving can be rewarding, it can also be stressful. Unfortunately, many caregivers will forego their own needs to care for others.