The Iowa Veterans Home provides professional care for veterans and/or their spouses in an environment of friendliness and warmth with understanding and caring staff. Take a look at the wide variety of services we offer in order to provide the best care for Iowa Veterans.
Doctors at IVH
The Iowa Veterans Home employs full-time staff primary care physicians. Each resident has a Doctor who is responsible for medical care. The Doctors have assistants called Physician Assistants (or PAs), and Nurse Practitioners who carry out many routine medical duties. Patients' Doctors order the necessary medications, order diets, and special services such as Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, etc. The Doctor will send patients to a hospital (for example, VA or University Hospitals) for more difficult problems that need more study or if the patient needs surgery or hospital care. Additional Doctors are discussed below.
Nurses at IVH
There is a nurse responsible to each resident to assist in providing for meeting their daily and basic needs. A resident's nurse works with them and/or their family in developing a 24-hour plan of care by which all nursing staff can assist them in meeting their needs. This plan covers activities of daily living, including eating, dressing, bathing, ambulating, and ways to maintain or gain independence and improve health and comfort. This plan will guide staff in caring for residents and will assist residents in reaching their goals. To achieve a high level of independence, nurses teach residents self-care methods, including rehab techniques and good health practices. Nurses monitor a resident's medication, communicates any problems identified to the team, and listen to their daily concerns. Open communication between a resident and their nurse will ensure that the plan of care is as the resident wants it to be.
Nursing care is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to all residents at the Home. For Heinz Hall residents, nursing services are provided in a way which is similar to community public health. Regular clinics are provided during daytime hours to provide needed nursing and medical services. Nurses from other buildings will respond to any needs all other hours.
Dentist
A dentist from the Marshalltown community comes to the Home on a regular basis. Services include tooth repair and extraction, total denture care, and regular checkups of residents' teeth. For more extensive dental care, residents may be sent to facilities outside the Home. Appointments are made through the unit nursing staff or the Nursing Unit Coordinator. The dentist's office is located in the Medical Clinic.
Optometrist
An optometrist from the Marshalltown community comes to the Home on a regular basis. Services include routine eye exams and purchase and repair of eyeglasses. He sees residents on admittance to the Home and on as-needed basis. Appointments with the eye doctor can be obtained through the nursing staff or Nursing Unit Coordinator. The optometrist's office is located in the Medical Clinic.
Dermatologist
A dermatologist from the Marshalltown community comes to the Home on a regular basis. Services include treatment of skin disorders. The dermatologist's office is located in the Medical Clinic.
Respiratory Care
Respiratory Care staff work with residents who have breathing problems, administrating various breathing treatments and tests, as well as providing oxygen to those residents who have this need. A physician's order is necessary to receive services from this department. Respiratory Care is located in the Medical Clinic.
Foot Clinic
Nurses Foot Clinic is held on a weekly basis. Services include special foot care for conditions such as ingrown toenails, calluses, etc. Appointments are made through the unit staff or Nursing Unit Coordinator. Nurses Foot Clinic is located n the Medical Clinic.
Lab/X-Ray
These services are provided on admission, annually, and on an as-needed basis when ordered by the physician. They include blood tests, urine and sputum specimens, electrocardiograms (EKG), and X-rays. The Lab/X-ray department is located on the main floor of the Sheeler Building by the Switchboard. Residents are notified of appointments for these services by unit nursing staff. Exam results are sent to the units and placed on the resident/patient charts.
Although psychological support is available through many different avenues, the Mental Health Team (MHT) provides formal Mental Health Services at the Iowa Veteran’s Home (IVH). This team utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach to psychological wellness by providing a range of services including education, support, assessment and treatment. The MHT meets weekly to fully coordinate mental health care and they also communicate frequently with your medical care provider and the members of your IRCC team. These services can be offered either individually or in group settings. The following types of professions are included in the MHT:
Mental Health Nurses: They work closely with the nurses and other staff to develop more effective methods of providing support to residents who are experiencing psychological difficulties or confusion. In some cases, they may meet individually with residents to provide direct emotional support. They will help coordinate services for in-house mental health services and also help coordinate outside mental health care treatment.
Drug-Alcohol Counselors: They provide counseling and support to residents who are struggling with drug and alcohol issues. This support may come in the form of individual counseling, family assistance, group therapy, education, relapse prevention activities, or staff assistance. They may also help to coordinate services at outside agencies or facilities that are providing inpatient or outpatient substance abuse treatment to IVH residents. They can also help residents connect with on-sight or community AA & NA meetings to further enhance the recovery process.
Psychologists: They provide support to residents who may be experiencing emotional difficulties or confusion. This support may come in the form of individual psychotherapy (talk therapy), family assistance, group therapy, or staff assistance. They also administer tests to help the treatment team determine whether or not a resident is capable of making personal or financial decisions.
Psychiatrist/Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner: They are primarily responsible for monitoring psychiatric medication use and may also provide support and education to residents, families and staff.
If you would like to arrange mental health services for you or your family, ask your medical care provider, nurse or social worker for assistance in making contact with the appropriate Mental Health Team member.
Upon receipt of a doctor's order, the nursing staff obtains needed medications from the Pharmacy and distributes them from the nurses' desk. A resident's doctor determines if they can be on "self meds." If on "self meds," patients are allowed to keep a limited supply of medicine in a locked drawer in their room. Residents on "self meds" who do not keep their medications locked up will lose this privilege as this is a potential safety hazard for some other residents.
There is no charge for formulary approved medication ordered and obtained through the Home's Pharmacy. Residents are discouraged from buying medications from outside the Home, but if they do, they should let the nursing staff know.
Nutrition counseling is an important component of the treatment plan for a number of diseases and conditions. Individualization is the key to dietary alterations for any person.
At any age, and regardless of your physical condition, nutrition is a vital key for maintaining your health. Whether you are balancing the increased nutrition demands of the aging process, or coping with cancer or diabetes, IVH Food and Nutrition Services' network of registered dietitians can guide you toward enhanced well-being.
Physical Therapy
Residents with pain or diseases that hinder movement or the use of arms or legs often benefit from Physical Therapy. A physician's order is necessary to receive Physical Therapy treatments. The Physical Therapy Program is intended to be a short-term, rehab-oriented treatment that will help the residents become as independent as possible or knowledgeable about how to help oneself relieve discomfort and pain. Other levels of therapy include Restorative Nursing and Open Gym which may be appropriate for residents needing maintenance therapy. The Therapy Clinic and Open Gym are located in the Loftus Building basement.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy works with residents to attain their highest level of function in Activities of Daily Living skills, despite their disability or illness. Exercise, adaptive equipment, counseling, special clothing, etc., are examples of modalities that are used to meet resident needs. Referrals can be made by the residents and/or other clinical staff, but a physician's order is required for diagnostic evaluation and ongoing therapy. The Occupational Therapy Clinic is located in the Loftus Building basement.
Incentive Therapy Program
Residents are encouraged to remain active beyond retirement. The Iowa Veterans Home coordinates a program that identifies a number of "work situations" which a resident could be assigned to, provided the resident is interested and capable of performing the job tasks. This program allows the resident to earn money and be involved in meaningful work activity. If there are no openings at the time a desire for involvement is expressed, a resident's name will be placed on a prospective waiting list for openings that become available. Anyone interested in this program should contact the unit Social Worker or the Rehabilitation Services Office.
Music Therapy
Application for Internship
The music therapy program at IVH involves a variety of individual and group activities that use music to benefit each and every resident involved. There are groups that use music to work on tough issues such as relationships, grief, addictions, loneliness and self-esteem. There are groups that involve music making activities to improve leisure skills such as guitar classes and the tone chime choir. Individual sessions involve such things as music listening, songwriting, music lessons, guided imagery and singing to promote the needs of the residents, i.e. decreasing anxiety and depression, improving communication skills, providing opportunities for emotional expression, and increasing self-esteem.
Speech Therapy
Speech Therapy is designed to help residents who can no longer communicate or swallow effectively, generally as a result of acute or progressive neurological event but not excluding organic or developmental disorders. Evaluation and treatment are provided by a licensed speech pathologist as prescribed by a physician in a cooperative effort with other disciplines in order to facilitate the optimal quality of life for our residents.
Every new resident receives an initial hearing evaluation followed by annual screenings. If medical intervention is warranted, the resident will be referred to the appropriate hospital/clinic. If the resident comes in with his/her own hearing aids, these will be evaluated by the licensed audiologist. For those residents who desire amplification, the audiologist will assist them in obtaining the appropriate hearing aids. Batteries are provided, as well as cleaning, maintenance, and repair.
The Iowa Veterans Home does provide special equipment to assist residents with their physical well-being. These may include aids for ambulating (wheelchairs, canes, walkers), aids that assist residents to feed themselves (special drinking cups, silverware, dentures, etc.), and sensory aids (glasses, hearing aids). The Iowa Veterans Home reserves the right to explore the funding streams available for special purchase items. If residents feel they have a need for these services, they need to contact their doctor or nurse.
Providing quality, compassionate end of life care at the Iowa Veterans Home has long been a priority. An internal interdisciplinary Palliative and Hospice Care Committee strives to provide education to unit teams. Unit teams promote excellence in care giving and support to meet the unique physical, emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of residents and their families who face distressing symptoms and/or life threatening illnesses. Emphasis is placed on pain and symptom relief and on implementing measures that will enhance the resident’s quality of life.
Some of the services provided to our residents and their families include:
- Educational materials that help families understand the resources available as well as information to assist them in understanding of the changing nutritional and emotional needs at the end of life and what to expect in the dying process.
- One to one care is the service of providing a continual caring presence in the last phases of life, promoting dignified care that focuses individual attention on meeting the resident’s physical, emotional, and comfort care needs.
- Complimentary housing and meals are provided to families in attendance with residents receiving one to one care.
- Comfort Haven--a comfortable room designated for families and friends that provides a quiet home-like atmosphere with many comforts, including a microwave, coffee pot, TV/VCR, kid’s toys, etc.
- Spiritual support - IVH Chaplains are attentive to the spiritual needs of our residents and their families, providing support, bereavement services, and memorial services when desired.