Meeker county is currently updating its Trails Plan and would like your input! Please answer the questions regarding trails in Meeker County via the link provided below. The survey should only take a few minutes and your answers will remain confidential. The survey will remain open until November 15th, 2018. Thank you for your participation.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MeekerTrailsSurvey
Minnesota alone in Midwest staying below 30 percent
Minnesota’s adult obesity rate rose to 28.4 percent in 2017 but continued to outperform neighboring states with a slower rate of increase.
CDC released 2017 state- and territory-specific data on adult obesity prevalence using self-reported information from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) uses these data to inform the public about the prevalence of obesity in the state, track changes over time and support planning of public health interventions to reduce obesity.
People who are obese face an increased risk for a range of serious diseases and health conditions, including high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease and cancer. Preventing obesity requires changes in the food and physical environments, personal behavior and social norms. Research estimates that obesity cost the state $2.8 billion in 2009 dollars.
SHIP, which is active in all 87 counties and 10 tribal nations, spends $17.5 million per year from Minnesota’s Health Care Access Fund to support grant funding for local efforts to create healthier communities. From August 2016 to September 2017, SHIP communities worked with more than 4,000 partner sites across Minnesota.
SHIP works across Minnesota to implement locally led strategies that expand access to healthy food and physical activity in neighborhoods, schools, worksites and health care settings. It also supports state initiatives to improve and expand bike and pedestrian infrastructure and national efforts to promote walking and walkable communities.
Throughout the Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Community Health Services area, SHIP has supported healthy changes in local schools, worksites, food shelves, farmer’s markets, health care organizations and communities and has been a vital component for giving residents the opportunity to be healthy.
The 2nd Annual We Walk 4 Life, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness Event will be Sunday, September 16th at the McLeod County Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. The event will take place from 12pm – 4pm with gates opening and activities starting at 11am. Activities include an opening program, lap walk/run (not timed) starting at 1pm, balloon release, music by Chopper The World’s Nuttiest DJ, kids activities, silent auction, reflection path, beverages, and food. Registration is $15 and all activities, food and beverages are free of charge with paid registration.
Pre-Registration is required. To register online visit Eventbrite.com or email WeWalk4Life@gmail.com
Register by August 13th to receive a free tote bag!
Families in every city, town, and rural area in Minnesota are feeling the effects of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Relatives, friends, colleagues, and neighbors are touched by the disease, and many want to help.
Litchfield is one of up to 43 action communities throughout the state taking steps to create a dementia friendly culture, which is informed, safe, and respectful of people living with dementia and their families, provides supportive features community-wide, and fosters quality of life for everyone. Every part of Litchfield can take steps to create a dementia friendly community, such as:
The Alzheimer’s Association estimates there are 91,000 Minnesotans age 65 and older with the disease and thousands more with other dementias. The disease also touches nearly 250,000 family members and friends who are caregivers. In Litchfield, an estimated 137 people over the age of 65 will have dementia, and in the Litchfield Area those numbers expand to 241 people. As a response to this reality, Litchfield is using an evidence-based community toolkit to assess current strengths and gaps in meeting needs related to Alzheimer’s, to identify community goals and ways to respond, and to determine action steps to achieve the goals.
In order to move towards a more dementia friendly community, the Litchfield ACT on Alzheimer’s team is building a team to assess the needs of the community. We are looking for people who would be willing to join the assessment team or people who would be willing to be a participant in our survey’s and interviews.
The Litchfield ACT on Alzheimer’s team will be hosting a community event to kick off the start of our project and community involvement. The event will be a showing of the film “Still Alice” with Sandy Oltz, Julianne Moore’s consultant, giving a short speech before. This event will be held on Friday, July 22 at 6 pm at the Little Theater at the Litchfield High School. This event is free to the community and everyone is welcome to learn more about dementia and Alzheimer’s and what our team is doing to make the Litchfield Area more dementia friendly. You can RSVP to the even by going online to www.meekermemorial.org/calendar/ or by calling (320)693-4590. On behalf of the Litchfield ACT on Alzheimer’s team and the Meeker Memorial Hospital, we invite you to come by.
To learn more about this important work and how to get involved, please contact Alexa Deal, MMH Communications Intern at adeal@meekermemorial.org.
Meeker Memorial Hospital (MMH) was smoke-free for more than 25 years. As a healthcare facility the sale of tobacco products or smoking has not been allowable in the building. As the number one cause of deaths in the United States, tobacco remains a priority health concern. As a healthcare leader, in May during National Hospital Week, May 10-16th, MMH will implement a Tobacco-Free Campus policy for all patients, visitors and staff. A Tobacco-
Free Campus means that tobacco use not only is not allowed in the buildings but now will no longer be allowed on the grounds or in vehicles parked on the grounds including the use of electronic cigarettes. This step as a healthcare leader will align with the hospital Mission.
Efforts are being led by the MMH Wellness Team and Tobacco Free Campus Taskforce. In 2010, MMH was a program recipient of start up grant funding to form a Worksite Wellness Team through the Meeker, McLeod and Sibley Healthy Communities Collaborative with funding from the MN Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP). Since that time, the MMH Wellness Team has implemented many worksite initiatives serving not only staff but the community.
Now, staff can engage in fitness breaks, access a Mother’s Room, to support mom’s returning to work who are breastfeeding, have a hospital Garden to Table program to provide fresh vegetables to staff and visitors in the Prairie Winds Cafe‘ or for patient meals. There is a new Fit Choices 4 Life menu offered by A’viands nutrition services and healthy catering offered for community groups and staff. Staff are encouraged to exercise using hospital equipment and grounds. More classes and community space is dedicated for Weight Watchers, TOPS and RSVP Bone Builders or other community health programs.
A tobacco-free campus was a long term goal for the Wellness Team to implement. It affects, staff, visitors, and patients. This commitment to healthy living continues to grow inside and outside the hospital; helping MMH fulfill part of its Mission to help make the Meeker County area a healthier place to live.
Across the state of MN, hospitals are working on community health initiatives, an important part of the Strengthening Healthy Communities campaign launched by the MN Hospital Association. Efforts happening at Meeker Memorial support this broad base effort. “As an anchor in our community, it is our social responsibility to not only provide the highest quality, state-of-the-art healthcare, but to engage with our area residents in optimizing the health and wellness of our entire community,” says Kyle Rasmussen, MMH’s CEO. For more information, support classes and materials to assist patients and visitors regarding the MMH Tobacco Free Campus go to: meekermemorial.org
