Even though I may not be Irish, this time of year brings out my Irish spirit as I celebrate St. Patrick's Day by wearing green and cooking corned beef and cabbage. Immersing into a culture can be a little daunting, but in the end it is worth it. As residents and tenants share tidbits about their heritage, talk about those celebrations or traditions and see if the activities director could incorporate a mentioned tradition or celebration into a facility-wide activity.
Spring fever is here! Does your facility offer garden planning? My grandfather would plan his garden row by row to ensure every ounce of space was packed with rich fruits and vegetables. Offering to plan/map out a garden now and then perhaps putting together a life-sized garden on paper further down the road would be an option for the activity director.
Van Buren County Hospital (a critical access hospital) has implemented a telehealth system used by 190 sites and in 13 other states. See the article for more information on Avera E-Care.
Getting through winter can be rough for anyone; however, one Iowa nursing facility found a way to make the best of it. La Porte City Specialty Care enjoyed a "Winter Blues Luau" in February overcoming the cold by wearing festive floral leis and enjoying a Hawaiian themed soiree.
Residents at Mill Valley Care Center enjoy tasty treats with fondue. Chef Chad Meyers organizes events with the activities director to bring delectable bites to residents click for more information.
Influenza outbreaks are climbing and precautions need to be taken to help prevent further issues this season. See the Iowa Department of Public Health website and the following article for more information.
The following websites contain the Managed Care Organization contact information for providers and members.
 We are your Voice for Choice - Iowa Volunteer Ombudsman
New Volunteer Ombudsmen
We would like to announce Mark Olson (Polk County) and Jim Gifford (Polk County) are now certified Volunteer Ombudsmen. Welcome!
VOP Statewide Conference Call
This month's statewide call will be held on Wednesday, March 11 at 10:00 am. Notes from the past calls may also be found on the website. If you do view a recording of a previously recorded statewide conference call be sure to email volunteervop@iowa.gov to receive one hour of continuing education credit.
VOP CEUs
The featured webinar/video this time is Biomedical vs. Experienced View of Dementia. Be sure to fill out the CEU form if you do attend.
Out and About
VOP Coordinator Lisa Van Klavern will be at the following locations this month for recruiting events. She looks forward to meeting those who are interested in the program. Current Volunteer Ombudsman are welcome to drop by to say hello especially if you have not had the opportunity to meet her in person.
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March 21 Milestones Caregiver Conference at Golden Leaf Banquet Center in Davenport 8 am to 1 pm
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April 4 Benton County Community Health & Wellness Fair at Vinton-Shellsburg High School in Vinton 8 am to noon
Long-Term Care Equality Index (LEI): Introducing Best Practices that Strengthen LGBTQ Inclusive Communities
VOP CEU eligible
Apr 23 (1 pm)
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