The next Caregiver Support Group meeting will be held Monday, March 16,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 persons’ life. With more and more Iowans aging, this is a real concern in the local community.
The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Tuesday, March 10 at 5 p.m. in the Education Conference Room. This informal meeting, held the second Tuesday of each month, 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.
Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon 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, March 18, 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 and 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 Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
One in seven people entering the hospital will need blood. With the new local interest in donating blood, Veterans Memorial Hospital invites the community to attend the next LifeServe Blood Center Blood Drive to be held Thursday, March 5 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held once per month in Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.
The LifeServe Blood Center is seeking donors to ensure a safe and plentiful blood supply in Iowa. Because there is no substitute for human blood, the need for donors is continuous.
The blood that is collected is tested carefully. In fact, all blood that is collected by any blood collection center is tested the same, according to the federal regulations.
The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, March 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.
The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, March 19. Men and women are welcome to attend, even if they are 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.
Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Norma Barr by Betty White, Jean Huffey and Ruby Schoh.
Memorial donations were also made in memory of Tony Vick by Jim and Jill Kiesau, in memory of Lillian Winters by Nyles ad Ruby Herman, in memory of Lee White by Jim and Jill Kiesau and in memory of Dennis and Dorothy Mitchell by LaVonne Lodor.
In addition, memorials were received in memory of Paul Durhman by Dan and Traci Byrnes, Jim Byrnes and Loretta (Byrnes) Tressel.
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 Waukon High School Class of 1962 will be meeting at 11 a.m. at the Waukon City Club the first Thursday of each month due to the fire at Gus and Tony’s.
Heidi Whalen and Joe Weidenbach of Waukon announce the birth of their son, Chase Zebulin Weidenbach, born February 21, 2020 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 8 lbs. 12 ozs. and measured 21-1/4 inches in length at the time of his birth. He joins a sister, Amelia (2).
Grandparents are Pat and Karen Whalen of Lansing, Beth and Bob Saddler of Prairie du Chien, WI and Jay and Teresa Weidenbach of Marquette. Great-grandparents are Kathy Cauffman of Prairie du Chien and Bernie Whalen of Waukon.
