Health expo shared important information with community
COSHOCTON – Almost 30 vendors were set up at Kids America on Saturday, Jan. 18, for the annual Health, Safety & Wellness Expo, sponsored by the Coshocton County Chamber of Commerce. A large crowd braved the bad weather to gather free items and learn about services in our community to help them stay healthy.
Mary Mitchell is the volunteer coordinator for Community Hospice. She was at the expo to share what hospice has to offer and also to find new volunteers for the program. “We are always looking for people to sit with our patients – to be company for someone whose family may not be in the area or are unable to visit for other reasons.” Hospice is also looking for volunteers in the office and to help with projects. “We also have groups that crochet or knit small blankets for our patients or who gather items for gifts at Christmas.”
Another item they need are “activity blankets” for people affected with dementia. “Sometimes, their hands twitch and they can’t control it. Seeing this movement bothers the family. These blankets offer them something to do with their hands.” The blankets are small, with items, such as bolts or ribbons, sewn on for the person to “play” with. Mitchell urges anyone who would be interested in volunteering with Hospice to contact her at 740-622-7311.
Community Hospice’s motto is “To Honor Life by Providing Peace, Hope and Compassion to Those We Serve.” Services they offer include social workers, therapies, hospice aide, nurse, bereavement counseling and doctors who will work with your personal doctor for the best care for you. Hospice is available to everyone who needs help in the final stages of their life, regardless of their ability to pay.
Susan Conkle, with Altercare, shared that the center is available for rehab services, including in and out-patient therapy. “Sometimes, people who leave the facility need a little more therapy. They can come back to us to get that.” Anyone can receive therapy services at the facility, with a doctor’s order and approval from their insurance company.
“We also have a secure unit for those with Alzheimer’s or dementia. We always welcome tours of the facility,” said Conkle.
Genesis Health Care System had several tables at the expo. Heather Robison, registered nurse with the group, shared that cardiologists from Zanesville would be traveling to their office in the Downtowner Plaza to see heart patients. They do accept new patients and a nurse practitioner is available Monday through Friday.
“Men and women have different symptoms when having a heart attack,” said Robison. “Men tend to have chest pain, numbness or tingling down their right arm and shortness of breath. Women can have the chest pain, but they can also experience pain in the neck, jaw or back. They can also have pain that feels like heartburn.” She urges anyone who has any of these symptoms that don’t go away with rest to contact their doctor. “Follow your gut. If you feel you need to go to the emergency room, go! It’s always better to be safe than sorry.”
To keep your heart healthy, she advises to take all medication your doctor orders, exercise, check your blood pressure, and limit sodium and fast foods.
Coshocton County Mobility Management’s Tracy Haines was available for questions pertaining to any mobility issue a resident may be having. Her service is not just for people in wheelchairs, as many believe, but is for anyone. She said that many people with medical mobility need services, but that there are many people with non-medical needs that aren’t being met. This is where she comes in.
“I work with several agencies, such as CCBDD (Coshocton County Board of Developmental Disabilities) and Job and Family Services, to create plans to accommodate needs. I also work with employers. We have several people with developmental disabilities that are able to work, but who need transportation to their job.”
“We have a solid base for medical transportation needs, but we need transportation for social needs, too.” Mobility Management and Coshocton County Coordinated Transit are asking people in the community to complete a short survey about their needs. “We want people to do this, even if they don’t use our services now. We need to know what the community sees as our greatest need and work toward that.”
Surveys are available online at www.coshoctoncounty.net/mobility or Haines would be happy to send one. You can call her at 740-623-2564.
Category: Business
