Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Henry County Public Health adds to services for seniors
A senior health fair and foot clinic come to Henry County
MT. PLEASANT — Along with the new leadership of Director Katie Reuter, Henry County Public Health begins debuting new events and services which will specifically assist the older population in the area.
Reuter hit the ground running after starting with Henry County Public Health June 6. According to a report Reuter gave the Henry County Board of Supervisors last week, her first two months following former Director Shelley Van Dorin’s retirement July 3, were busy ones. She informed the board that Public Health kept busy through July and August with 13 vaccination clinics in each month. Public Health staff immunized 86 children in July and 311 in August. Total vaccines given in July totaled 229 and 724 in August.
This increase in numbers is likely partially due to the return of the department’s Back-to-School Health Fair. After this success, Public Health will give special attention to the other end of the age spectrum in the area by offering their first ever Senior Health Fair Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 9:11:30 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church.
They will offer seniors flu and COVID vaccines along with free health screenings for hearing, blood pressure, falls, and depression and anxiety. Additionally, various community organizations will be set up to share resources and information about services in Henry County. There also will be free refreshments and door prizes.
“Older adult health came up as a priority in our last community health survey, so we thought this was a great way to provide preventive screenings and information about local resources to seniors, along with the convenience of getting their flu and COVID vaccines,” Public Health Nurse Amy Martin states. “Preventive screenings are important as they can help detect signs of health problems early.”
Calvary Baptist Church is located at 803 E. Maple Leaf Dr. in Mt. Pleasant. Public Health will have some wheelchairs available for use. For more information and updates visit HealthyHenryCounty.org/senior-health, Facebook.com/HealthyHenryCounty or call Public Health at 319-385-0779. This senior health fair is sponsored in part by the Enhance Henry County Community Foundation and Hy-Vee.
In the meantime, Henry County Public Health will offer another form of preventive care for the older population with their new program “Happy Feet” which launched Monday, Sept. 9. This program offers foot care including assessing feet, trimming nails, moisturizing skin, along with referrals to podiatry if needed and blood pressure checks. A Registered Nurse will be available to assist diabetic patients during this time. These services will be provided for $10 per visit. Staff are not able to fix corns, calluses, or ingrown nails at this program.
The Happy Feet Program will be offered by appointment from 1-4 on Mondays at the Public Health building on North Jackson Street. Call (319) 385-0779 for an appointment.
Later this fall Henry County Public Health also looks forward to releasing a new fall prevention program, “Stepping On.”
Some contributions to this article come from Henry County Public Health’s news release regarding the new Senior Health Fair.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
