Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group to Meet Jan. 27

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The Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group will meet on Monday, Jan. 27, at 6:30 p.m. in Jefferson Community Health & Life’s Small Conference Room.

The program will be videos exploring “Feelings of People who Live with the Disease” and “Coping with the Disease,” from VideoCaregiving.

Easiest access will be by parking in the H Street parking and entering through the JCH&L Main Entrance. Follow the lobby signage to “Hospital.” The meeting rooms will be to the left. The Small Conference Room is the second door.

The Alzheimer’s Caregiver’s Support Group is a program of the Alzheimer’s Association which typically meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Jefferson Community Health & Life. It is designed for those who are caregivers and family members of those who have Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias.

The group is designed to provide an opportunity anyone interested to share their experiences with Alzheimer’s Disease. There is no cost, and no pre-registration.

For more information, contact Lana Likens at Jefferson Community Health & Life at 402-729-6855.

Parkinson’s Support Group to Meet Jan. 13

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The Parkinson’s Support Group will meet on Monday, Jan. 13, at 10 a.m. in Jefferson Community Health & Life’s Small Conference Room.

The program will be a video “The Parkinson’s You Don’t See: Cognitive and Motor Symptoms,” by Joanne Hamilton, PhD, ABPP-CN, Advanced Neurobehavior Health of Southern California, Poway, CA.

For easiest access, park in the H Street parking and entering through the JCH&L Main Entrance. Follow the lobby signage to “Hospital.” The meeting rooms will be to the left. The Small Conference Room is the second door.

The Parkinson’s Support Group generally meets on the second Monday of each month.

The group is designed to provide an opportunity for area residents to share their experiences with Parkinson’s disease. There is no cost. For more information, contact Lana Likens at Jefferson Community Health & Life at (402)-729-6855.

January Health Today: Starting Off the New Year Right

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The January Health Today Program will be “Starting Off the New Year Right” by Bekah Kimberlin, PharmD, Diabetes Educator, Lifestyle Change Coach. The session will be held at 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, in the Conference Rooms at Jefferson Community Health & Life.

There are changes we all know we SHOULD make in our lives. How do we motivate ourselves to make those changes and stick to them? How do we stop the “resolution” cycle and start a lifetime of positive change? Bekah will help us put together the right ingredients to set SMART goals that are maintainable – so we can be successful not only for 2020, but the rest of our lives.

Health Today is a free monthly health education session offered by Jefferson Community Health & Life in a lunch-time session. Participants are encouraged to bring their lunch, or are welcome to purchase lunch in the JCH&L cafeteria, which is located near the Conference Rooms.

JCH&L works with a wide variety of professionals who bring educational programs on health-related topics each month.

Reservations are not required. The program is FREE. The only cost for participants would be lunch, if they choose to purchase it. Participants are also welcome to carry in their lunch. Anyone who would like to be on a mailing list to directly receive notices about the monthly sessions or anyone with questions about the program should contact Likens at (402) 729-6855.

Additional Restriction Because of Influenza

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Jefferson Community Health & Life and Cedarwood have added a restriction of school-age children visiting because influenza rates are currently highest in our area in this age group. This is in addition to requiring visitors, volunteers and staff who have not been immunized to wear masks when in the facilities. JCH&L reminds the public that anyone who has been exposed to influenza or has symptoms should not visit. This includes the hospital, Gardenside and Cedarwood assisted living.

“The thing about influenza season is that it is very unpredictable from week to week. Because of this, precautions may change at any time,” said Amber Brunow, infection preventionist. “Our number one goal is to keep our residents, tenants and patients healthy. Influenza can be deadly; especially for those with weakened immune systems.”

Gardenside and Cedarwood do not have any active cases of influenza at this time. These precautions are being taken to keep residents and tenants healthy and prevent an outbreak.

Influenza Rates Mandate Caution, Masking

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Because of increased influenza activity in our area, Jefferson Community Health & Life and Cedarwood are requiring visitors, volunteers and staff who have not been immunized to wear masks when in the facilities. In addition, JCH&L reminds the public that anyone who has been exposed to influenza or has symptoms should not visit. This includes the hospital, Gardenside and Cedarwood assisted living, and includes all events, including holiday parties.

“We are taking this step in order to protect our patients and residents,” said Amber Brunow, infection preventionist.

Gardenside and Cedarwood do not have any active cases of influenza at this time. These precautions are being taken to keep residents and tenants healthy and prevent an outbreak.

Public health influenza surveillance systems are showing a marked increase in influenza activity throughout the state in the past week, including in and around Jefferson County.

Influenza symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that anyone with influenza symptoms stay home and avoid contact with others except to receive medical care. Check with your doctor promptly if you are at high risk of serious flu complications and you get flu symptoms.  People at high risk of flu complications include young children, adults 65 years of age and older, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease.

The CDC lists these steps to prevent influenza:
*Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
*While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

*Stay home at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (without medication).

*Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. After using a tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands.

*Wash your hands often with soap and water.

*Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

*Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs.

Another Session of Kids Cooking Set at JHC&L

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Children will have an opportunity to learn about healthy eating and the importance of working together to plan and prepare health meals during a Cooking Class for Kids to be offered Monday, Dec. 30, and Friday, Jan. 3, 2020, at Jefferson Community Health & Life. The program is open to kids in grades 3-6 and their adult partners. During each class, participants will prepare a simple healthy meal together and then enjoy the meal as a group. The class is sponsored by Jefferson Community Health & Life and Nebraska Extension – Jefferson County. This is the same class being offered on two dates.

The Monday, Dec. 30, class will be offered from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Friday, Jan. 3, class will be offered from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The registration fee is $15 per team. Pre-registration with payment is required by Monday, Dec. 23.

Aprons will be available for the children to wear during the class, and available for them to purchase after the class if they choose for an additional $5.

For more information or a registration form, call Lisa Edeal, RDN, LMNT, at 402-729-6846.

Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group Will Not Meet in December

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The Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group will not meet in December because of holiday schedules. Watch for details in early January about the January meeting!

The Alzheimer’s Caregiver’s Support Group typically meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Jefferson Community Health & Life.  It is designed for those who are caregivers and family members of those who have Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias.

The group is designed to provide an opportunity anyone interested to share their experiences with Alzheimer’s Disease. There is no cost, and no pre-registration.

For more information, contact Lana Likens at Jefferson Community Health & Life at 402-729-6855.

Parkinson’s Support Group will not meet in December

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The Parkinson’s Support Group will not meet in December.

The group will meet again in January 2020.

The Parkinson’s Support Group generally meets on the second Monday of each month.

The group is designed to provide an opportunity for area residents to share their experiences with Parkinson’s disease. There is no cost. For more information, contact Lana Likens at Jefferson Community Health & Life at (402)-729-6855.

Fall Prevention Camp Planned at JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center

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More than one in three people age 65 years or older falls each year—and those falls can bring serious injury. There are many ways you can learn to help reduce your risk of falling—and JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center’s Fall Prevention Camp is ready to teach you!

Fall Prevention Camp will be a 2-session class which will be held on Saturdays, Dec. 21 and Jan. 11 at JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center. Each class will meet from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The course will include exercises; information on exercise, balance and mobility; medications; posture; footwear; vision; sleep; and using walking sticks, canes and walkers; home hazards; and bone health. The course will be instructed by Charlie Partin, an experienced yoga and tai chi instructor.

The course is free to members of the Burkley Fitness Center. Non-members may participate by purchasing a guest pass (available at the fitness center main desk for $7 per visit) for each class.

Registration is needed by noon on Friday, Dec. 20.

For more information, contact the Burkley Fitness Center at 402-729-6139, or stop by at 2200 H St., Fairbury.

Jefferson Community Health & Life Receives National Recognition for Performance Leadership

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Honored for overall excellence in quality, outcomes and patient perspective

Jefferson Community Health & Life has been recognized by The Chartis Center for Rural Health/iVantage Health Analytics and the National Organization of State Office of Rural Health (NOSORH) for overall excellence in quality, outcomes and patient perspective, reflecting top quartile performance among all rural hospitals in the nation. This is the third consecutive year for JCH&L to receive the Performance Leadership award in all three categories which are currently recognized.

“This recognition affirms the work and care of JCH&L’s staff, physicians and board, and the support of the community,” said Victor Lee, MHA, LFACHE, interim CEO. “JCH&L’s mission is to inspire healthy living by providing exceptional health and life services for every person, every time. This recognition shows it.”

JCH&L was among 51 Nebraska hospitals recognized for quality; 25 Nebraska hospitals recognized for patient perspective; and 13 Nebraska hospitals recognized for outcomes.

The rankings are determined each year using iVantage Health Analytics’ Hospital Strength INDEX®, the industry’s most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. In partnership with NOSORH, iVantage Health Analytics has developed a data-driven program designed to identify excellence across a broad spectrum of indicators relevant to hospital performance and patient care. The Hospital Strength INDEX captures performance metrics for all rural and Critical Access Hospitals. Leveraging data from public data sources, INDEX aggregates data from more than 50 individual metrics into three major categories and eight pillars to derive a single strength overall rating for each facility.

“We are delighted to be recognizing these top quartile performers in partnership with NOSORH,” said Michael Topchik, National Leader of the Chartis Center for Rural Health.

Jefferson Community Health & Life has previously been recognized with the NOSORH/iVantage Performance Leadership award for financial strength and patient satisfaction in 2016; named as a Top 100 critical access hospital for 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019; named as a Top 20 critical access hospital in 2018; and named a HEALTHSTRONG hospital in 2015.

2200 H St., PO Box 277, Fairbury, NE