Health

by Teresa Myers, RN, CDE Diabetes Educator, Veterans Memorial Hospital

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Are you aware that the rate of diabetes has nearly doubled in the past ten years; that type 2 diabetes has even started showing up in teenagers; that 40% of those aged 40 to 70 have pre-diabetes; and most importantly, that diabetes and its complications can be almost totally avoidable?

A study released in September 2008 by the Center For Disease Control and the American Diabetes Association show that about 90% of the newly diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes are related to life style and eating habits.

“Weight is the strongest risk factor by far for diabetes,” says Walter Willett of the Harvard School of Public Health. “Given that most people are not going to get down to an optimal weight, diet quality is almost as important as weight control. Exercise plays a major role in reducing these risks even further.”

Don’t miss the Medicare annual open enrollment period for Part D drug plans which runs through December 7. Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon has SHIIP counselors Russ Hagen and Stan and Mary Straate available to discuss Medicare Part D plans available for 2017 and Medicare Advantage. Appointments are required.

Call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411 to schedule an appointment. Those with appointments will need to bring their Medicare card, current Part D plan card and a list of medications from their pharmacy which includes drug name, quantity and dosage.

These SHIIP volunteers are available throughout the year at Veterans Memorial Hospital. To make an appointment with a SHIIP volunteer, call the hospital at 563-568-3411.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, November 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. Those choosing to eat dinner should call Northland Agency on Aging at 877-838-8077. 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 Health Care Foundation’s Christmas Fantasy 2016 will be held Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 11, 12, 13 and 14 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. The theme will be “25 Years of Caring and Sharing” in honor of the 25th anniversary of the event.

In addition to the nearly 60 decorated Christmas trees on display, this year’s event will again offer many, many shopping opportunities on the silent auction.
Reservations are now being taken for the popular Saturday evening Wine, Cheese and Dessert Event, and the Noon luncheons. 

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, November 10 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 in Waukon at 563-568-3411.

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon Wednesday, November 9 at 2 p.m. in the Medication Room of the hospital, which is located on the main level. This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss, whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief. Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This grief support group meets the second Wednesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Reservations are being taken now for the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s 25th  Annual Christmas Fantasy held Friday through Monday, November 11-14 at the Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. The theme will be “25 Years of Caring and Sharing” in honor of the 25th anniversary of this community-wide event.

Reservations are now being taken for the Saturday and Monday Noon luncheons and the Saturday evening Wine, Cheese and Dessert Event. The luncheons are sponsored by the Allamakee County Cattlemen’s Association, and will be held Saturday, November 12 at Noon and again Monday, November 14 at Noon. A full meal will be served plus entertainment will be provided at both events. All guests will have ample time to view all of the displays. Reservations can be made by calling 563-568-6262.

Veterans Memorial Hospital, in cooperation with Northeast Iowa Community College Business and Community Solutions, will be offering an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course in Waukon through video conferencing being broadcast from Calmar. This 138-hour course will begin Monday, January 9, 2017, at the NICC Waukon Center.

Areas of study include an introduction to emergency medical services systems, roles and responsibilities of EMTs, anatomy and physiology, medical emergencies, trauma, special considerations for working in the pre-hospital setting, and providing patient transportation.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for health care providers (those working in health related fields such as physicians, nurses, EMTs, etc.) Monday, November 14, beginning at 5:30 p.m. (Note the change in date, moved from November 7.) 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. The card received with the course does certify attendants in CPR for two years.

Pre-registration and a minimum of three participants is required. For more information and to register for the “Health Care Provider” CPR Course, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411 by November 10.
 

It can cost you money not to review your Medicare Part D coverage. In one hour a SHIIP counselor can complete a review, let you know if you can save money and make sure you have access to the drugs you need in 2017.  SHIIP counselors in Iowa have been saving people money for 25 years. In fact, last year they helped Iowans on Medicare save close to $15 million on Part D drug costs.

Every year Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans announce their changes for the next year and Iowans on Medicare can decide if they want to change plans from October 15 to December 7.

Kris Gross from the state of Iowa’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) says, “We’re asking everyone to remind family, friends and neighbors about these important dates.

We don’t want anyone to miss the opportunity to make their choice of plans for 2017.”  Plans can change their coverage and costs from year to year, so comparing plans during the open enrollment is critical.