Recent News

Congratulations to Lindsay A. for being December’s Appreciation Station Winner! Lindsey has always gone out of her way to help meet the needs of the facility and the patients. She has great rapport with the nursing staff and the other therapists. She often volunteers to float or change her schedule to adjust to the needs of Augustana as a whole. Lindsey always comes to work with a smile on her face, words of kindness, and a positive attitude that is infectious. She has grown into her role as a leader and someone who can be depended on. Thank you Lindsey! You are appreciated!

Congratulations to Theresa T. for being November’s Appreciation Station Winner! Our Appreciation Station award is given to employees who go above and beyond expectations at work. Theresa has been nominated for this award several times because of her hard work, dedication, and great patient care. In addition to floating to other Augustana sites when needed, she has also been covering needs at another site over this last year. The patients love her and she is always willing to go the extra mile. Thank you for all you do…you are appreciated!

Helping residents stay safe and upright during the winter months can be very challenging, especially here in Minnesota.  Slip and Fall risks escalate for seniors in winter, as sidewalks become coated with ice, melted snow turns floors slippery, and joints are stiffer and more painful.  There are many precautions that Augustana takes to increase the safety of residents, visitors and employees in the winter months. But there are also preventative strategies that each of us can take to avoid falls and mitigate the consequences of an accident.

• Dress appropriately- Rubber or neoprene soles provide more traction than leather or plastic. And bundling up minimizes the tendency to hurry, which can lead to a stumble.
• Determine routes in advance- Try to stay on cleared and level paths when headed outdoors.
• Focus and slow down- Be aware of possible slippery patches, take smaller steps, and avoid carrying heavy or bulky packages.
• Recognize high-risk situations- Exercise particular caution when getting into and out of cars or buses, climbing outdoor steps and walking after dark.
• Use a specially adapted cane- If a walking cane is used, it should be fitted with a wide, nonslip tip during the winter months.
• Wipe shoes upon entry- Wet soles may cause an indoor accident.
• Maintain balance and muscle strength- Find exercises that help increase body awareness and balance. Some suggestions are Tai chi, low-impact strength training, and water aerobics.

Winter slip and fall accidents are serious but largely preventable. For more information on how to prevent falls, visit these websites: Avoiding Winter Falls, Don’t Let Winter Weather Bring You Down, and Preventing Falls During the Winter Months.

During the holiday season everyone gets so busy.  There is shopping, gift wrapping, baking, cleaning, family gatherings, work parties and more.  If you are also caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, the holidays can bring about anxiety and stress. The Mayo Clinic offers some helpful tips on how to make the holidays more enjoyable for you and your loved ones.  Click here to find out more.

Our Accessible Warm Water pool at Apple Valley now offers a Certified Aquatic Program!  The program is designed specifically for people with arthritis and related diseases. Specially designed exercises help participants reduce pain and improve joint mobility while supported by the water’s buoyancy and resistance.

Class outcome:

The result of pilot test demonstrated that, as a result of its recreational and social aspects, participants in an AFAP class can experience:

• Reduced level of pain
• Improved ability to function independently in day-to-day life
• Decrease in feeling of isolation and depression

Currently Apple Valley has 8 professionally trained and certified therapists who lead individuals in this water-based exercise program.

Click here to learn more about the Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program:  http://www.arthritis.org/aquatic-program.php