Managing Concerns About Falls

Have you turned down a chance to go out with family or friends because you were concerned about falling?  Have you cut down on a favorite activity because you might fall?  If so, A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls is a program for you.

Fear of falling can be just as dangerous as falling itself.  People who develop this fear often limit their activities, which can result in severe physical weakness, making the risk of falling even greater.  Many older adults also experience increased isolation and depression when they limit their interactions with family and friends.  A Matter of Balance can help people improve their quality of life and remain independent. 

A Matter of Balance is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults. Participants learn to set realistic goals to increase activity, change their environment to reduce fall risk factors, and learn simple exercises to increase strength and balance.

Horn Memorial Public Health is offering A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls on Mondays & Thursdays, September 6^tH through October 1st, from 2 – 4 p.m. at Horn Memorial Hospital Conference Room 3.    The Program is free will donation to help pay for materials.  A workbook is provided and refreshments are served.

Please call Erin Dausel at 712-364-7311 to register.

Childhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity

By: Angie Frank, BSN, RN

Education Nurse

Obesity is a major concern in the United States. - we are one of the most obese countries in the world.  Sadly childhood obesity is also prominent in the United States.  September is childhood obesity awareness month, so what better time to discuss this subject.

            Did you know that 1 in 5 children in the United States are obese?  This puts our kids at a higher risk for diseases more commonly found in adults such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. The good news is that we as parents, healthcare workers, and educators CAN help prevent this.

            Some factors that contribute to this growing problem are our genetics, metabolism, how much sleep we get, stress on the body, and eating/physical behaviors.  Note that some factors are not preventable.

            Some little changes that we can make to help our young ones with this problem are to:  keep fruits/veggies on hand and easily accessible, limit cookies, candies, chips, sugary drinks, etc.  Limit fast food intake.  Take a family walk after your evening meal and plan fun, active family activities.  Encourage your child to participate in sports.  Limit screen time whether it be the television, gaming systems, computers or notebooks.

Levels of physical activity have reduced over the past three decades. The CDC stated “last year, only 29% of high school students participated in the recommended 60 minutes of exercise a day.”  A statement provided by Medical News Today said “health care experts believe it is primarily unhealthy diets and lack of exercise that have caused rates of childhood obesity to soar. Although heredity may explain some of the obesity epidemic, it does not justify the explosion we've had over the last 30 years.”

            We all love our young ones and want to give them what is best.  Let’s set a healthy solid foundation for them now so they can be the best they can be.

Save the Date: Auxiliary Bazaar is October 13th

Meningitis Vaccinations