U.S. Attorney Peter Deegan wants to ensure that everyone knows how to rid their homes of unused and unwanted medications.

Several cases of COVID-19, the illness resulting from the novel coronavirus, have been diagnosed in our nursing facility at the Vinton Lutheran Home. Those affected are receiving treatment in our facility and will remain in isolation for at least 10 days.

To all of our patients and staff, Starting Saturday, October 10th, 2020, for the safety of everyone, you will now need to ring a doorbell at the hospital's main entrance where you will be greeted and screened by our staff.

Iowans still are managing the uncertainly and anxiety produced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Drought related conditions have added another layer of stress for agriculture producers in many areas of the state.

Since it started six years ago, the Benton County Health and Wellness Fair has grown in popularity, and this year was to be no exception. The event is usually scheduled earlier in the spring, but this year organizers chose to postpone as they determined the best way to proceed in light of concerns over COVID-19.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) are updating guidance for long-term care facilities to comply with new  requirements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

You will find the October NEWS (Nutrition Education with Seniors) newsletter below.This edition features: ·     Do You Heart Chocolate? ·     Canned Kidney Beans ·     Budgeting Tip Jar ·     Holiday Plans ·     Recipe for Slow Cooker Pork Chili Have a great day!Kelsey Salow and Vera Stokes, Nutrition & Wellness Specialists October 2020Do you heart chocolate? Soon grocery aisles will be overflowing with Halloween candy.

Congratulations to Virginia Gay Hospital's Sam Jirak, ARNP for receiving a 2020 All Star Award! The All Star Award is in conjunction with the ICR Iowa Sector Board Partnerships and Kirkwood Community College working to raise awareness of career opportunities and workforce development in the ICR seven-county region (Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that taking higher than recommended doses of the common over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medicine diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can lead to serious heart problems, seizures, coma, or even death.

Attached you will find your edition of the October 2020 Words on Wellness newsletter.Click to View.This edition features: ·     Home Food Preservation: Apples and Tomatoes ·     Recipe for Apple Cinnamon Bread ·     Take a Hike ·     Lunch and Learn! Stay well,For resources to use during the COVID-19 outbreak, please visit our Finding Answers Now page.