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Features

ALMH opens renovated
outpatient surgery area

[NOV. 9, 2001]  As part of the ongoing renovations at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, the hospital has opened a new area for patients receiving care on an outpatient or "same day care" basis. The new same day care area, which is located on the second level next to the surgery department, features private patient rooms in a newly refurbished area.

The previous outpatient area did not allow any separation between patients. "The new area provides privacy for our patients and helps maintain patient confidentiality," states Judy Bandy, director of nursing at ALMH. "It also separates outpatients from inpatients, which makes it easier for our staff," adds Bandy.

The new rooms are equipped with beds on wheels for easy transport of the patient from the surgery area to the patient room. The private rooms, which accommodate both patients and their family members, also have televisions and restrooms. The entire department has been remodeled with new tile, paint and wallpaper border to give it a brighter, softer decor.

"ALMH has experienced a growth in the number of outpatient surgeries in the past few years, increasing the need for this expansion," states Woody Hester, president and chief executive officer.

The old outpatient department, which had not been updated since 1985, will be dismantled and remodeled into two new inpatient rooms. This will help eliminate holding patients until a bed becomes available.

This most recent development is the latest in a series of building improvements the hospital has made in order to better serve the community.

[News release]


Coping with Alzheimer’s disease

[OCT. 23, 2001]  Susan, a 51-year-old area woman, used to look forward to her visits to Virginia Beach to see her mother, Lou. They would comb the sandy beaches, looking for additions to Lou’s shell collection and take road trips to Texas or Rhode Island.

"We did a lot of traveling. We would just get in the car and go. One year, we rented a motor home, which is something I always wanted to do, and we went to Florida. We had a blast just being together and enjoying each other’s company. I was looking forward to retiring — we had lots of plans to travel," she said.

In the past two years, both women’s lives have changed dramatically. There are no future travel plans, and even a trip to the grocery store or a simple conversation can be a difficult experience.

"Sometimes my mother doesn’t even know who I am, and it’s only going to get worse," Susan said.

Susan’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, which results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. The disease, which affects four million people nationwide, is the fourth leading cause of death in adults.

Although there were warning signs for the past decade, it was only a few years ago that the situation required prompt action. Susan, (who requested that her last name not be used), moved her mother back to central Illinois and became her primary caregiver while maintaining a full-time job. She is in the process of selling her own home so she can move into a house with her mother.

Although Susan has two married brothers who live out of state, she made the decision to take care of her mother.

"Fortunately for me, I’m the only daughter and don’t have a spouse and kids. But even if I had a family, I’m the one that’s closest to her, and I can relate to her," she said.

"My life has totally unraveled. But I’m willing to do this. She’s my mom, and you want to provide and protect (your mom)," she said.

Despite good intentions, the burdens of caring for a loved one with the disease can be overwhelming.

"You have to have a sense of humor or you’ll cry. I cry a lot and get angry a lot. I would recommend (to others) to find a support group and learn what you can and can’t do. My job is not to make her happy; my job is to protect and provide for her. At times I get angry at her and the disease. You need to get counseling and deal with feelings of anger and guilt and realize you can only do so much," she said.

"In the patient’s mind, the bad guy is the caregiver. My mom gets upset with me, because she thinks I’m the one who won’t let her go back home to Virginia or spend money. You have to accept that. I will look back on this and know I did the best I could."

Experts predict that by the year 2050, as many as14 million in the United Sates will have the disease. While people of all ages can suffer from the disease, research shows that the older a person gets, the higher the risk is of getting the disease.

When German physician Alois Alzheimer first described the disease in 1907, it was rare. Today, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting 10 percent of people over the age of 65 and nearly half of people aged 85 and older. However, because of improved testing and greater public awareness, physicians are seeing an increase in diagnosed patients in their 40s and 50s. Alzheimer’s disease strikes both men and women and all races and socioeconomic groups. In Illinois 540,000 people are affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

Before the disease, Susan’s 72-year-old mother was an immaculate housekeeper who loved to sew, crochet, travel, read and collect shells.

"She has four bookcases full of books. She loved to read. Now, she can read one newspaper all week long. Seeing her die emotionally and physically is sad. She writes me little notes, and her spelling is atrocious. She was always able to express herself well. Now, we have no meaningful conversations. We talk about things in the past. In five minutes, she can repeat the same story four times," she said.

Now, it’s the little things they have found they can do together that eases some of the pain of the situation, liking taking their dogs for a walk in the park or going out for a milkshake — two of her mother’s favorite things.

Susan said there are three things that are really difficult about her mother’s disease. "The dreams of the future are decimated. My mother says hurtful things because of paranoia. I have to step back and realize it’s the disease and not my mother talking, but it’s hard to not personalize it. Also, the randomness and unpredictability of the disease — one minute she’s there and the next she’s gone," she said. "Her reality and my reality are two different things. She can’t live in my reality, so I have to live in hers."

Through a support group, Susan is learning not only how to deal with her mother’s disease, but also recognizing how to take care of herself and what her limitations are.

"It’s surprising how comforting it is. You realize you’re not the only one, and you learn about ideas of how to handle situations. Just being able to talk about it helps. It’s a lifeline," she says of her support group.

James Dearing, program manager at the Great Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, said loss of memory is the most frustrating aspect of the disease, for both the person with the disease and their family.

"Forgetting names and memories they have shared is very troubling. It’s very frustrating for spouses and for the children when Mom and Dad forget who they are. And for the patient, forgetting and losing reality in their world is probably one of the most frustrating things," he said. "The disease disorients them to time and place. They may be living in 2001, but they feel like they are living in 1950 and looking for the house they grew up in, for example."

 

 

[to top of second column in this article]

 

Ten warning signs of
Alzheimer’s disease

(source: Alzheimer’s Association)

*Recent memory loss that affects job

*Difficulty performing familiar tasks

*Problems with language — forgetting simple words or substituting inappropriate words.

*Disorientation of time and place

*Poor or decreased judgment

*Problems with abstract

*Misplacing things

*Changes in mood or behavior

*Changes in personality

*Loss of initiative

The association is the only national voluntary organization dedicated to conquering Alzheimer’s disease through research and providing information and support to people with the disease, their families and caregivers. Founded in 1980 by family caregivers, the association has more than 200 chapters nationwide and is the leading funding source for Alzheimer research after the federal government.

The local chapter focuses on education programs, support groups and offering information to the public. Monthly meetings of a support group at the Oasis in Lincoln were canceled recently, but two support groups meet in Springfield:  at the Hope Presbyterian Church, 2211 Wabash Ave., and at Westminster Presbyterian Church, located at Walnut and Edwards. More information can be obtained by calling 1 (800) 823-1734 for meeting times and dates.

Workshops, seminars and conferences on Alzheimer's disease are also offered throughout the year. The programs, designed to increase knowledge of the disease, are appropriate for family and professional caregivers. Program topics include research developments, caring for the Alzheimer individual and coping strategies.

Dearing said that during his 10 years working in the long-term care health field, he developed a passion for working with Alzheimer’s patients and their families to ensure they received a good quality of life. He advises people who are diagnosed with the disease and their family members to prepare for the future as soon as possible.

"After the initial shock, people should find out as much as they can and know what to expect, including legal issues. They need to be proactive and need to be aware of their options later on in life. From diagnosis, this disease can last from two to 20 years," he said.

Matters that should be addressed in the early stages of the disease are legal issues, such as power of attorney, a will and health care proxy; health care insurance; financial affairs, such as bank accounts, stock certificates and mutual funds; and future housing options.

While it may seem premature to think about those issues in the early stages of the disease, Dearing said matters that require judgment and attention to detail is best done early, while the person with the disease is able to make decisions.

Even though Alzheimer’s is an incurable illness, there are important interventions, including medical and behavioral treatments, that can treat some of its symptoms. This is especially true if the disease is diagnosed early.

If a person suffers from several of the 10 warning signs, such as disorientation, poor judgment and changes in personality, they are advised to see a physician. Not everyone with Alzheimer’s disease has all of the warning signs, and not all signs have to occur for the disease to be present. Experts advise contacting a health care professional for an evaluation if you have concerns or show several of the warning signs.

Most people with Alzheimer’s live about eight to 10 years after symptoms appear, but life expectancy varies widely.

The three most common stages of the disease are mild, moderate and severe.

The first, or mild stage, usually lasts two to four years. People in this phase may say the same thing over and over, get lost easily and undergo personality changes, among other symptoms.

The moderate stage of the disease is often the one that last the longest, from two to 10 years. People in this phase may become more confused about recent events, believe things are real when they aren’t, require close supervision, pace, argue more often and have problems with simple daily activities.

The final stage of the disease, which lasts from one to three years, requires constant care, 24 hours a day. Those in the final stage may not use or understand words, recognize family members or care for themselves.

Additional information on the disease is available at the Greater Illinois Springfield office at (217) 726-5184 or this website:
www.alzheimers-illinois.org

[Penny Zimmerman-Wills]

 


Health Matters

A monthly feature from  Logan County Health Department

Safe turkey talk

(Safe for you, not the turkey)

Roasting instructions

Set the oven temperature no lower than 325 F. Preheating the oven is not necessary.

Place turkey on a rack in a roasting pan.

For safety and uniform doneness of the turkey, cook stuffing separately in a casserole. Use a food thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the stuffing has reached 165 F.

If you choose to stuff a turkey, you must use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of the turkey and the stuffing. The temperature of a whole turkey must reach 180 F in the innermost part of the thigh and the center of the stuffing must reach 165 F. If the stuffing has not reached 165 F, continue cooking the turkey until the stuffing reaches 165 F.

If the turkey has a "pop-up" temperature indicator, it is also recommended that a food thermometer be used to test in several places, including the innermost part of the thigh and the center of the stuffing.

When cooking only a turkey breast, the internal temperature should reach 170 F.

 

Many factors can affect the roasting time of a whole turkey:

•  A frozen or partially frozen turkey takes longer to cook than a completely thawed turkey.

•  A turkey will cook faster in a dark roasting pan.

•  The depth and size of the pan can affect heat circulation to all areas of the turkey.

•  The use of a foil tent for the entire cooking time can slow cooking.

•  Putting a lid on the roasting pan speeds up cooking.

•  An oven cooking bag will shorten cooking time.

•  A stuffed turkey will take longer to cook than an unstuffed turkey.

•  Ovens may heat unevenly.

•  The oven rack position can have an effect on even cooking and heat circulation.

Optional steps

•  Tuck wing tips back under shoulders of turkey.

•  Add 1/2 cup water to the bottom of the pan.

•  A tent of aluminum foil may be placed loosely over the turkey for the first 1 to 1½ hours, then removed for browning. Or, a tent of foil may be placed over the turkey after the turkey reaches the desired golden brown.

•  For quality, you may choose to let the turkey stand 20 minutes before removing the stuffing and carving.

 

 

[to top of second column in this article]

Approximate cooking times

Time charts are based on fresh or completely thawed turkeys at a refrigerator temperature of 40 F or below. Frozen or partially thawed turkeys will take longer to cook. The cooking time for a frozen turkey will take at least 50 percent longer than the time recommended for a fully thawed turkey. These cooking times are guidelines only. Use a food thermometer to determine safe doneness.

Unstuffed

4 to 6 pounds, breast

1½ to 2¼ hours

6 to 8 pounds, breast

2¼ to 3¼ hours

8 to 12 pounds

2¾ to 3 hours

12 to 14 pounds

3 to 3¾ hours

14 to 18 pounds

3¾ to 4¼ hours

18 to 20 pounds

4¼ to 4½ hours

20 to 24 pounds

4½ to 5 hours

Stuffed

8 to 12 pounds

3 to 3½ hours

12 to 14 pounds

3½ to 4 hours

14 to 18 pounds

4 to 4¼ hours

18 to 20 pounds

4¼ to 4¾ hours

20 to 24 pounds

4¾ to 5¼ hours

Note: Turkeys purchased stuffed and frozen with the USDA or state mark of inspection on the packaging are safe because they have been processed under controlled conditions. These turkeys should not be thawed before cooking. Follow package directions for handling.

For further information

Meat and poultry hotline:

1 (800) 535-4555 (toll-free nationwide)

(202) 720-3333 (Washington, D.C. area)

1 (800) 256-7072 (TTY)

Food Safety and Inspection Service website: www.fsis.usda.gov.

 


Lincoln Park District

 

Red Cross

Red Cross blood drive scheduled

Lincoln Elementary School District 27 will sponsor a Red Cross blood drive at the Lincoln Sports Complex on Nov. 21. Hours will be from noon until 6 p.m. Donors are encouraged to call (800) 728-3543, Ext. 441, to make an appointment. However, walk-ins are always welcome.


Events

November 2001


Wednesday, Nov. 21
SPONSOR: Lincoln Elementary School District 27
WHO: Public
WHAT: Red Cross blood drive

WHERE: Lincoln Sports Complex
WHEN: noon - 6 pm

Thursday, Nov. 29
SPONSOR: OSF St. Joseph Medical Center
WHO: Public; preregistration required; call 1 (800) 407-4557
WHAT: Life Line Screening (stroke prevention and osteoporosis screening)

WHERE: Friendship Manor

 

 


Honors & Awards


Announcements

10 minutes that could save your life!

Community stroke prevention screening at Friendship Manor

[NOV. 2, 2001]  Life Line Screening will be available at Friendship Manor in Lincoln on Thursday, Nov. 29. Life Line Screening is a mobile health screening service that screens for stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease and osteoporosis (for women only).

With the use of ultrasound and Doppler equipment, Life Line Screening can view the arteries. The first test views the carotid arteries, looking for plaque buildup, where 75 percent of strokes originate. A second test checks the aortic vessel in the abdomen for a breakdown in the lining of the vessel. This is known as an abdominal aortic aneurysm. A third test, an A.B.I., is performed to screen the lower extremities for plaque buildup, known as peripheral arterial disease. This disease is directly linked to coronary heart disease. The fourth test, for osteoporosis, screens for abnormal bone mass density in women over age 45. This disease is painless and silent in its early stages. Results are read by a board-certified physician and mailed within 10 business days.

Screening fees are $40 for stroke-carotid, $40 for abdominal aortic aneurysm, $40 for peripheral vascular disease, or $99 for complete vascular screening, which includes the preceding three tests. Osteoporosis screening (for women only) is $35. The cost for all four tests is $125.

Preregistration is required; call 1 (800) 407-4557.

The screening is sponsored by OSF St. Joseph Medical Center.

[News release]

 


Mobile health unit schedule

The Rural Health Partnership has announced the schedule for its mobile health unit. Effective Feb. 1, 2001, the unit will run as follows:

 

Morning: 9-11 a.m.

 

 

Afternoon: 1-3:30 p.m.

Monday

1st and 3rd

Hartsburg

1st and 3rd

Emden

 

2nd and 4th

San Jose

2nd and 4th

Greenview

Tuesday

Weekly

Chestnut

Weekly

Mount Pulaski

Wednesday

Weekly

New Holland

Weekly

Middletown

Thursday

1st, 2nd, 3rd

Elkhart

Weekly

Atlanta

4th

Friendship Manor-Lincoln

Friday

1st, 2nd, 4th

Latham

1st

Beason

     

2nd and 4th

Broadwell

 

3rd

Maintenance/ special events

3rd

Maintenance/
special events

The mobile health unit does not operate on the following dates/holidays during 2001:  Feb. 19 (President’s Day), April 13 (Good Friday), May 28 (Memorial Day), July 4 (Independence Day), Sept. 3 (Labor Day), Oct. 8 (Columbus Day), Nov. 12 (Veterans Day), Nov. 22-23 (Thanksgiving break), and Dec. 24 - Jan. 1, 2002 (Christmas break).

For more information on the mobile health unit schedule and services, contact Dayle Eldredge at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 409.


This family resource list to save and use is provided by the Healthy Communities Partnership (732-2161, Ext. 409) and the Healthy Families Task Force.         

Resources for Logan County families

Agency

Phone number

Address

911

911 (Emergencies)
732-3911 (Office -- non-emergency)

911 Pekin St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital

732-2161

315 Eighth St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Aging (Department of)

785-3356

421 E. Capitol, #100
Springfield, IL 62701-1789

American Cancer Society

546-7586 (24 hour)

1305 Wabash, Ste. J
Springfield, IL 62704

American Red Cross

732-2134
1-800-412-0100

125 S. Kickapoo
Lincoln, IL 62656

Catholic Social Services

732-3771

310 S. Logan
Lincoln, IL 62656

Chamber of Commerce

735-2385

303 S. Kickapoo St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Community Action (CIEDC)

732-2159

1800 Fifth St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Community Child Care Connection

525-2805
1-800-676-2805

1004 N. Milton Ave.
Springfield, IL 62702-443

Crisis Pregnancy Center

735-4838

513 Pulaski St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

DCFS (Department of Children & Family Services)

735-4402
1-800-252-2873
(crisis hotline)

1100 Keokuk St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Heartland Community College GED Program

735-1731

620 Broadway St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Hospice Care of Illinois

1-800-342-4862
(24 hour)
732-2161, Ext. 444

720 N. Bond
Springfield, IL 62702

Housing Authority

732-7776
732-6312 (24 hour)

1028 N. College St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Illinois Breast & Cervical Cancer Program

735-2317
1-800-269-4019

LCHD - 109 Third St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Illinois Department of Public Health

782-4977

535 W. Jefferson
Springfield, IL 62761

Illinois Employment and Training Center (replaces JTPA office)

735-5441

120 S. McLean St., Suite B
Farm Bureau Building
Lincoln, IL 62656

Legal Assistance Foundation

(217) 753-3300
1-800-252-8629

730 E. Vine St., Ste. 214
Springfield, IL 62703

Library - Atlanta

(217) 648-2112

100 Race St.
Atlanta, IL 61723

Library - Elkhart

(217) 947-2313

121 E. Bohan
Elkhart, IL 62634

Library - Lincoln

732-8878

725 Pekin St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Library - Mount Pulaski

792-5919

320 N. Washington
Mount Pulaski, IL 62548

Lincoln Area YMCA

735-3915

319 W. Kickapoo St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Lincoln/Logan Food Pantry

732-2204

P.O. Box 773
Lincoln, IL 62656

Lincoln Parents’ Center

735-4192

100 S. Maple
Lincoln, IL 62656

Lincoln Park District

732-8770

1400 Primm Rd.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Logan County Department of Human Services (Public Aid)

735-2306

1550 Fourth St., P.O. Box 310
Lincoln, IL 62656

Logan County Health Department

735-2317

109 Third St., P.O. Box 508
Lincoln, IL 62656

Logan Mason Mental Health

735-2272
1-888-832-3600
(crisis line)

304 Eighth St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Logan-Mason Rehabilitation Center

735-1413

760 S. Postville Dr.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Oasis (Senior Citizens of Logan County)

732-6132

501 Pulaski St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Project READ

735-1731

620 Broadway St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Salvation Army

732-7890

1501 N. Kickapoo
Lincoln, IL 62656

Senior Services of Central Illinois

732-6213
1-800-252-8966
(crisis line)

109 Third St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

Sojourn Shelter & Service Inc.

732-8988
(217) 726-5200 (24-hour hotline)

1800 Westchester Blvd.
Springfield, IL 62704

U. of I. Division of Specialized Care for Children

524-2000

1-800-946-8468

421 S. Grand Ave. West, 2nd Floor
Springfield, IL 62704

U. of I. Extension Service

732-8289

122 S. McLean St.
Lincoln, IL 62656

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