Drive through health expo well received on Monday night

[November 11, 2020]  On Monday evening the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Community Health Collaborative hosted a drive through health expo in the parking lot of the Oasis Senior Center.

The event was well attended with lines of cars passing by more than 25 health oriented vendors. At the end of the line was an opportunity to get a flu shot via the Logan County Department of Public Health.

Also during the trip through the line, guests were given a paper copy of the Logan County Health Needs Assessment Survey. Guests were asked to pull into the parking area and take a moment to fill out the survey. Those who participated had the opportunity to be entered into a drawing for a $250 gift certificate to Lincoln IGA.
 

Those who took advantage of the expo were showered with gifts from participating vendors as well as information about health care programs that are available in the Lincoln and Logan County area.

Among the many gifts were candy, crackers, granola bars, fruit juice, vitamin water, cereal, fruit smoothies, and pre-measured ground coffee packaged by Starbucks and Gevalia. Other gifts included tooth brushes, a digital thermometer, stress balls, a large thermal go-cup, several ink pens and a nice notepad portfolio. Health care products were also given out including hand sanitizer, a facemask, and lip balms. Two different organizations including Lincoln D.A.RE. were giving out drug disposal kits for safe disposal of pills, liquids or patches.

Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital

ALMH gave out a folder filled with information including advice about smoking and vaping cessation, how to wash hands properly and proper application of hand sanitizer. The packet also included a pink heart poster for placing in a window, showing support for our local healthcare workers in these trying times of coronavirus.

ALMH Nutrition and Diabetes Services
Jennifer DiPasquale
Sarah Tierney

The ALMH Nutrition and Diabetes Services unit was on hand, represented by dietician Jennifer DiPasquale and Nurse/Diabetes Education Sarah Tierney. Information was being given out about the Diabetes Education Accreditation Program.

Senior Life Solutions
ALMH

A brochure was given out about the Senior Life Solutions program at ALMH. This is a program designed to address emotional distress such as depression, grief, loneliness and other emotional responses that impact seniors as they age, lose life partners, or become distanced from family and friends.

Logan County Department of Public Health

The LCDPH gave out important information in addition to administering flu shots and an invitation to take free and confidential testing for Hepatitis C. The department was also giving out a brochure about the Logan County Medical Reserve Corps – a volunteer based mission to “establish and maintain teams of active and retired medical and non-medical professions to serve the citizens of Logan County, augmenting LCDPH functions during times of local and countywide public health emergencies and contributing to educational and preventative services for improved community public health infrastructure throughout the year.”

Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois
Becky Leamon

The Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois handed out information on programs offered via the Illinois Department of Aging. There was also a small flier about the agency’s food pantry co-op program.

 

IDOA Illinois Long-term Care Ombudsman Program

The goal of the Illinois Home Care Ombudsman Program is to empower, advocate on behalf of, and protect the rights of individuals who live in the community and receive services to help them stay in their homes.
 

Lincoln Area YMCA

The Lincoln Area YMCA provided a flier about the local Y and the programs offered for youth.

Lincoln Park District

Staff from the Lincoln Park District provided information about the many health and fitness programs offered, as well as special activities in the months of November and December.

Reps Gym II
711 Hickox Drive
Lincoln

The new owners of Reps Gym II gave out a flyer “10 Steps to Better Health,” with a recipe for feeling better and living better that included drinking lots of water, eating healthy foods, getting plenty of rest, getting outside for fresh air and sunshine, exercising, and remembering to laugh.

Reps also offers the Silver Sneakers, a senior fitness program that includes free online classes for participants. Fees for this exercise program may be paid by “60+ Medicare Advantage” health plans. For more information, visit the Reps website at repsgym2.com.
 

Anytime Fitness
Lincoln

Staff from Anytime Fitness in Lincoln were handing out information about membership at the Lincoln fitness center as well as an opportunity to enter a drawing for some nice gifts courtesy of the local business.

Heartland Community College
Kristi Powell and Kelsi Edwards

The Heartland Community College Lincoln Campus representatives were handing out a jam-packed folder of information about continuing education programs offered at the college.

R. W. Garrett Agency
Lincoln

Representatives from R.W. Garrett Insurance Agency in Lincoln provided reminder cards that it is open enrollment time for the Insurance Marketplace as well as for Medicare.

Open enrollment for the Insurance Marketplace is November 1st through December 15th. This is a program that offers insurance coverage to individuals and families who are not offered health plans through their employers. Premium discounts are calculated based on income.

The Medicare Open Enrollment period runs from Mid-October to December 7th. Those who are eligible for Medicare should be sure to investigate their options for supplemental insurance and get signed up before the deadline.

Health Alliance
Timothy Morgan
Springfield

Timothy Morgan of Health Alliance insurance was handing out information about Medicare Supplement plans sold through his company. His packet also included a couple of recipe cards for easy to prepare healthy breakfast dishes.

Grace Point
Short term rehab

Grace Point Short Term Rehab is a rehab to home program offered by The Christian Village in Lincoln. It offers personal residential care and recovery without hospitalization. It can be the in between step when going from the hospital to home, and helps clients feel confident that they are ready to resume life at home safely when they leave the program. A brochure about the service was being distributed with other information, by Janell Woolard.

Generations at Lincoln

Generations at Lincoln, a long-term care facility in Lincoln was handing out information about its Pulmonary Care Services at the nursing home.

Illinois Helpline
833-2FINDHELP

Cards were provided about the Illinois Helpline, a state wide program that offers free confidential guidance for those who are struggling with substance abuse.

Human Papilloma Virus

HPV is a virus that can cause certain types of cancer. To avoid getting the virus, it is recommended that children have a vaccination in their early teen years. A flier explains the virus, its impact and who is at risk.

United Way of Logan County
Patti Becker

Patti Becker representing the United Way of Logan County handed out prescription savings cards, two per bag as well as information about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

The Imagination Library is a program Becker and the United Way are assisting with and promoting in Logan County as a resource for children’s books. The goal is to promote literacy through reading and also to encourage family reading time.

Lincoln D.A.R.E.
Christi Fruge

Lincoln Police, School Resource and D.A.R.E. Officer Christi Fruge was on hand. For this night she was handing out at home drug disposal kits. Fruge and one other group were handing out identical kits so every guest received two. These kits are a safe and easy way to put unused medications in the trash without risk that they will be taken and used by others. The kits are called Deterra Drug Deactivation Systems. With the kit, one dumps their unwanted medications inside a re-sealable pouch, add warm water, and allow it to sit for a few minutes then throw it in the trash.

Logan County Veterans Assistance Commission
Dan Benedict

Dan Benedict had a flier for all veterans. The Logan County VAC assists veterans in a variety of ways, from rental assistance, food, utilities and prescription co-pays to representation when vets are struggling to get their government benefits.

The local VAC also serves as a gateway to assisting discharged veterans in re-acclimating to civilian life. Some are not aware that such changes are traumatic, and veterans may not be aware help is available. If you have a veteran in your family who is struggling to re-adjust, contact the Logan County VAC to see what can be done to help. The phone number is 217-732-8388.

Ep!c Host Homes
Hilary Charlet

Ep!c Host Homes is expanding its service area into Lincoln. The program pairs special needs individuals with host providers, allowing people to have a safe and stable home environment and an opportunity to live outside of an institutional setting.

Hilary Charlet had a packet of information about the program and how to become involved by being a host home. Information regarding this program is available at www.epicci.org.

National Cancer Institute
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

A large booklet was being given out by the National Cancer Institute. The booklet gives guidance to help patients and families through the process of discovery, battle, and recovery from cancer.

Epilepsy Foundation
Greater Chicago

Information was being handed out by the Epilepsy Foundation – Greater Chicago about the disease that impacts many Americans. It included a three step plan on what to do when someone near you goes into an epileptic seizure.

Fliers were also given out by Safe Haven Hospice, CareLink, and Chestnut Health Systems.

At the end of the motor tour past all the vendors, guests were encouraged to get their annual flu shot if they haven’t already. Kara Davis of the Logan County Department of Public Health along with two assistants was administering the 65+ as well as the regular flu shots.

Davis said that the tent had been busy in the first 90 minutes of the health expo. Several cars had come through with one or two passengers who were taking advantage of the outdoor event so as not to have to go into the doctor’s office or the health department offices.

Davis encourages everyone to get flu shots. With one virus raging throughout community that cannot yet be controlled vaccine, getting inoculated for the viruses that can be controlled is a wise decision.

Though the drive through health expo was another new approach to a traditional activity, it was well received. Due to the coronavirus all the vendors were instructed to wear face masks and guests were also advised to wear a mask.

[Nila Smith]