St. Matthias Parish partners with Our Lady of Lourdes in Milwaukee, WI to provide health and wellness services. Our shared faith community nurse is Wanda Nye, RN. She is an Aurora faith community Nurse and has been in this position since September of 2008. Wanda also coordinates the Health and Wellness Ministry Committee, which has members from both parishes. This ministry provides and promotes health and wellness through education, health counseling, health referrals, and empowering the congregation to be better advocates for their own mental, physical, and spiritual wellness.
To get involved with or learn more about this ministry, please contact Wanda Nye, RN, at 414-982-2408.
Our Facebook page: @mkehealthcorner
What Is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)?
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a bulge (aneurysm) in a weak or damaged area of your aorta wall. AAA’s occur in the abdominal section of your aorta down near your stomach.
Your aorta is your body’s largest artery, one of the vessels that move blood from your heart to the rest of your body. It runs from your heart all the way down to the bottom of your abdomen.
AAA’s can be silent killers. You may not have any symptoms of this condition until your aneurysm bursts. A burst aneurysm would cause you to bleed internally and requires emergency surgery.
If you are in a high-risk category talk with your Health Care Provider see if you need to be screened.
Conditions or actions that weaken or damage your artery walls can lead to an aneurysm.
These risk factors include:
- smoking
- being male: men are more likely than women to have an aneurysm
- 65 or older
- involved in a major physical trauma like a car accident
- atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque that narrows your arteries)
- high blood pressure
- genetics can also play a role, with aneurysms running in some families. People with an inherited condition called Marfan syndrome, for example, face a higher risk of developing aneurysms.
The hepatitis C virus was discovered in 1989.
About 4 million people in the U.S. have hepatitis C, and 75% of them are baby boomers (born between 1945 and 1965). Most do not know they have it – or that they need to be screened for it.
“Open Door” Nurse Visits
This will be a free service open to members of St. Matthias Parish, as well as the greater community of Milwaukee and its’ neighbors. Our vision is to be able to welcome ALL of God’s people and share His love by caring for others.
“Open Door” Nurse Visits In partnership with Aurora Health Care
Free Service; open to the public [adults]
Appointments available, Call 414-982-2408 to schedule an appointment.
Normal Hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays, other days are available as needed.
Services provided include:
- Blood Pressure Checks
Drop in during the open door nurse visits 2nd and 3 rd Wednesday from 1 -2:30 come to the church office. - Pre-diabetes and Diabetes management counseling
- Health coaching – making lifestyle changes to improve your health
- Grief counseling
- Medicare questions
- General health questions
- Referral to primary care or specialty medical care
- Adult caregiver support and resource finding
- Completing and Advance Directive for health care decisions
Health Risk Screenings: Depression, Stroke and Diabetes
Here are a few of the classes and workshops offered in the community
Please call Wanda Nye for information 414-982-2408
All of these classes can help you manage your health and wellness.
Living Well with Chronic Conditions Workshop
Living Well with Chronic Conditions Workshop empowers those living with conditions like arthritis, heart problems, asthma, stroke, pain, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, emphysema and cancer and allows them to make the best of their situation.
Learn how to:
• Feel better about life
• Set personal goals and problem solve
• Improve nutrition and develop a suitable exercise program
• Manage your medications
• Manage your symptoms
• Manage stress
• Communicate with family, friends and health care professionals
This is a 6-week workshop.
The cost is $20, which includes the textbook. Your money will be refunded if you complete the workshop and return the textbook
Stepping on workshop
Don’t Fall
Falls are proven to be reduced by 30% after taking this workshop.
Identify and remove or avoid fall hazards.
Learn strength and balance exercises.
This is a 7- week workshop.
The class is free but you can make a $20 deposit to borrow weights during the workshop or $20 to purchase the weights.
If you have balance issues, had a fall or a near fall or tripped over something please take this Stepping on workshop.
Healthy Living with Diabetes Workshop
This is a proven workshop.
- Designed for adults with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes or their caregivers.
- Teaches skills to effectively manage diabetes, or delay the onset of diabetes.
- Can result in 25% improvement in your condition.
- Can help minimize the adverse effects of diabetes.
This is a 6-week workshop
The cost is $20, which includes the textbook. Your money will be refunded if you complete the workshop and return the textbook.
Do you have advanced directives?
If you are over 18 it is important to fill out [advanced directives] otherwise called Durable Power of Attorney for health care forms.
These forms direct a person of your choosing to make your health care decisions, if you are not able to speak for yourself.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has advanced directive forms available online. These forms are designed to be completed without the assistance of an attorney. Given your particular circumstances or concerns, however, you may want to seek legal advice from an attorney.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Wanda Nye RN,
your faith community nurse in Partnership with Aurora Health Care.
1-414-982-2408 or wanda.nye@aurora.org
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