Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
Challenges, rewards for care givers
B y Terri H arber
Spilyay Tymoo
Community Health represen
tatives in Warm Springs assist
m ore than 300 tribal m em
bers— nearly all seniors—with
medical needs through home
visits.
“We can make a difference,”
said Lori Mitchell, one of the
reps. “We work with them to
help keep them healthy.”
Their primary duty is to en
sure these people are doing all
right—that their blood pressure,
weight and other statistics are as
they’re supposed to be.
They also ask questions about
such things as the person’s diet,
sleep, lifestyle and medication,
and report information gathered
to m edical personnel at the
tribes’ Health and Wellness Cen
ter.
The doctors, nurses, etc., in
turn, use the information the
reps brin g back to gauge
progress and even modify care,
if necessary.
“Several times they’ve picked
up on a serious condition,”
Elizabeth Johnson, the tribes’
community health supervisor,
said of the reps.
“They help the patients keep
in touch with the community
and they notice any cognitive
. W
CÂMECUAR0
Terri Harber/Spilyay
Warm Springs Community Health representatives pose for a
picture before starting another busy day (from left): Maria
Lopez, Emerson Squiemphen, Lori Mitchell and Sara Scott.
A. problem is that
the employees are
spending significant
amounts o f time these
days transporting
the people to health
care providers around
the region ...
changes the patient might have.”
They also can help families
decide if the person needs to
relocate to a place where they
can better access care, she said.
The goal is to see each pa
tient once a month— sometimes
more often if needed.
The problem is that the em
ployees are spending significant
am ounts o f tim e these days
transporting these people to
health care providers around the
region.
Does the person have family
or friends who can drive them
places? Does the person have
access to public transportation?
If so, their families and friends
are asked to help out because
the increased time spent shut
tling patients cuts deeply into the
time these workers can spend
on home visits each week.
Is cost of gasoline a prob
lem? Perhaps there is a way to
mitigate that, Johnson also said.
The transportation offered
through this program only
should be used if these other
potential ways of getting places
are unavailable.
For people who have no
other way to get to out-of-town
to obtain essential cancer treat
ments or dialysis hookups, the
overall help the reps provide
proves invaluable, Johnson said.
There are currently 333 tribal
members living on the Warm
Springs Reservation who are
older than age 60. The reps also
help younger tribal members
with major chronic illnesses,
such as cancer, HIV or heart
problems.
The reps are overseen by
Johnson, who is a registered
nurse.
“I like it. It’s different every
day,” Mitchell also said about her
job. “You get attached to the el
ders of the community.”
“We’re busy,” said Sara Scott,
another rep. “Many of our pa
tients live in the outlying areas.
We keep track of their prescrip
tions and deliver them.”
The reps also finds it helpful
to receive 48 hours notice from
patients who need transporta
tion, and can better arrange for
out-of-town trips on Tuesdays
and Thursdays than during the
rest of the week.
Call 541-553-1196 for details
and to arrange for care.
Warm Springs Community Calendar
FRIDAY, JANUARY 28
The Girls’ Advisory Board is
inviting all girls to it’s “chick
flick” at the Community Film
Center in Madras. Showing:
“Despicable Me" from 6-9 p.m,
It’s free movie, pizza, drinks and
dessert. Sign up at the Jefferson
County
Library,
Juvenile
Department or Kids Club in
Madras.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26
Water aerobics 10:15-11:15
a.m. at the Kahneeta pool.
The Museum at Warm
Springs will be holding Open
Crafts
times
4-7
p.m.
Wednesdays through Feb. 2, in
the Museum Education Room.
Please call ahead if you plan on
attending: 541-553-3331, ext.
407.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 29
Students
can
get
assistance 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at
Cascades Hall at Central
Oregon Community College in
Bend.
COCC
Enrollm ent
Services staff will be available
to help students and their
parents complete it online,
answer detailed financial aid
questions, and more. Be sure
to bring, recent completed
federal tax returns, social
security numbers, value of
assets, and driver’s license.
FYI:
Central
Oregon
Community College offers non
credit Community Learning
classes in Madras. “Photoshop
Elem ents” is a class that
teaches organizing, editing and
enhancing of photographs. It's
from 9 a.m. -4 p.m. Saturday at
Madras COIC. To register, call
541-383-7270.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 27
The Career and Internship
Fair at Portland State University’s
Native American Student and
Community Center will provide
information about summer jobs
and internships. It’s from 11
a.m.-2 p.m. at 710 SW Jackson
in Portland. There is a long list
of
businesses
and
organizations participating. For
more, contact Dean at 503-725-
5348.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 30
Tribal Social Services is
taking
applications
and
scheduling appointments for
those in need of and who qualify
for energy assistance. You will
need to bring with you proof of
income,
social
security
numbers and a list of all people
in your household. Call 541-
553-3491, Gayleen Adams, for
details.
Positive Indian Parenting
class at the Community
Counseling Center from 5:30-
7:30 p.m. This week’s topic is
“Harmony in Childrearing.”
MONDAY, JANUARY 31
FYI: A “ Bullying Solutions
Workshop” will be held Friday,
Feb. 4, from 8:30 a.m. -4 p.m. at
the Living Hope Christian Center
in Madras. It if free but you need
to register by Jan. 31 by calling
541-475-4884.
The Culture and Heritage
Committee meets. These
meetings are on the 2nd and 4th
Thursdays of each month. For
more, contact Paula Miller at the
council office, 541- 553-3257.
Victims of Crime Services will
hold its weekly Women's
Support Meeting from 6-8 p.m.
Call 541-553-2293 for details.
The Museum at Warm
Springs will have the opening of
its Tribal Member Youth Art
Exhibit from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Everyone
is invited for
refreshments, a performance
from the Wasco Dance Group
and great artwork. Contact the
museum, 541-553-3331 for
details.
There’s a glucometer class
from 2-3 p.m. at the Health and
W ellness Center kitchen
conference room.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 2
Monday of the month at
the Family Resources
C e n te r
in
W arm
Springs. Or call 385-
6944 Monday through
T h u rsd a y betw een 9
a .m . and 4 p.m . (at
lunch from noon-1 p.m.)
Legal Aid Services of
O regon provides free
a s s is ta n c e to lo w -
incom e O regonians in
m a n y c iv il c a s e s .
Speak with an attorney
during drop-in hours 1
to 4 p.m. on the first
y
Page 3
January 26, 2011
Water aerobics this morning
10:15-11:15 a.m. at the Kah-
Nee-Ta pool.
The Museum at Warm
Springs will be holding Open
Crafts times tonight for the last
time from 4-7 p.m. at the
Museum Education Room. Call
to reserve a space: 541-553-
3331, ext. 407.
THURSDAY, FEB. 3
Positive Indian Parenting
class at the Community
Counseling Center from 5:30-
7:30 p.m. This week’s topic:
“Traditional
Behavior
Management.”
FRIDAY, FEB. 4
No School today in the 509J
district. It’s the end of the 2nd
quarter for elementary schools
from 2-3 p.m. at the IHS kitchen
conference room.
FYI:
Central
Oregon
Community College offers non
credit Community Learning
classes in Madras. “Sharpen
Your Mind with Scrabble Skills”
is a class that enchances your
vocabulary and cognitive function
with the game. It’s on Feb. 8 and
15 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the
Madras Senior Center. To
register call 541-383-7270 or do
it online at “noncredit.cocc.edu”
- payment is due when you
register.
Victims of Crime Services will
hold its weekly Women's
Support Meeting from 6-8 p.m.
Call 541-553-2293 for details.
Living Hope Christian Center
in Madras is offering a Bullying
Solutions
Workshop.
Workshop is free and open to
the community. For more
information, call 541-475-4884
TUESDAY, FEB. 8
Healthy breakfast is this
morning from 9-9:45 a.m. in the
Health and Wellness Center
kitchen conference room. Pinky
Beymer and Arlene Graham will
make a presentation on Chronic
Condition classes.
MONDAY, FEB. 7
There is a Glucometer class
Lunch and Learn is at noon
in the IHS atrium.
r
Class on team building
Central Oregon Commu
nity College’s Continuing Edu
cation Department is offer
ing a class from 8:30 a.m. -
noon, Friday, Feb. 4 called
“Build a High Perform ing
Team.”
The class is designed to
help business managers de
velop a cohesive team work
ing toward a common goal.
Because, a “cohesive team
can consistently outperform
a collection of talented indi
viduals,” according to the
class description.
It is being offered at the
County Conference Room in
Madras, 66 SE D St.
P re-reg istratio n is re
quired. Call 541-383-7270 or
go to noncredit.cocc.edu to
register.
MHS ROTC fundraiser slated
Madras High School Junior
ROTC cadets will be compet
ing against other northw est
schools on Feb. 5.
And five cadets have quali
fied for a n atio n al C ivilian
Marksmanship Program event
in Ohio the second week of
February.
There will be a fundraiser
Spaghetti Feed, auction and
raffle at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan.
29 at the Madras Elks Lodge.
A second fundraiser selling
advertising space in the home
competition programming has a
deadline of Wednesday, Jan. 26.
Contact the Buffalo Battal
ion Supporters at 541-410-2087
to purchase an ad.
Healthy eating classes coming up
The Health and Wellness
Center is hosting healthy eat
ing classes in February and
M arch. The classes are as
follows:
Healthy Salad Dressings
Learn how to make your
own salad dressing. They taste
better and are more economi
cal. You’ll get to take some
home for the family to try.
Come to either class in the
kitchen conference room in
the Health aad Wellness build
ing: 3:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. on
T hursday, Feb. 3. L ight
snacks will be served.
Carbohydrate Counting
This is a series of three
classes. Gifts and low-carbo-
hydrate snacks w ill be
served.
Please plan on attending
all three o f the series to
tru ly u n d erstan d how to
m anage carb o h yd rate in
take.
This class is open to folks
with pre-diabetes, diabetes, or
just someone who wants the
knowledge.
Come to either class in the
kitchen conference room in
the Health and Wellness build
ing at 3:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.
Each session will be on
these Thursdays: Feb. 17, Feb.
24 and March 3.
C all n u tritio n ist Linda
Porter for details: 541-553-
1196.
Alcoholics
nonymous
Warm Springs Community Counseling
Wednesday - 12-Noon & 7:00 p.m.
Saturday-10 a.m.
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