Wolff Now JCH&L Gardenside Administrator

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Holly Wolff, MHA, LNHA, FACHE, is now JCH&L Gardenside Administrator, in addition to serving as chief executive officer for Jefferson Community Health & Life. Deb Sutton, RN, BSN, NHA, has served as an interim nursing home administrator since August.

Wolff earned her Nursing Home Administrator license in North Dakota and Montana.  Since joining JCH&L as CEO in January she has been working with the states of North Dakota and Montana to transfer her licensure to Nebraska. She was recently notified that her Nebraska Nursing Home Administrators license was approved.

“I would like to thank Deb Sutton for serving as interim nursing home administrator. It is important to have someone with the training, skills and licensure needed to keep Gardenside compliant with regulations and running smoothly,” Wolff said. “We have a wonderful, caring staff at Gardenside, and we are proud to offer long-term and skilled nursing care to our community.”

Jefferson Community Health & Life began serving residents of Jefferson County and the surrounding area in September 1963 as the first facility in the state built to be a combination hospital and nursing home. Gardenside provides long-term care as well as skilled nursing care.

Caregivers Support Group to Meet May 8

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The Caregivers Support Group offered by the Alzheimer’s Association will meet on Thursday, May 8, at 4:30 p.m. in the Jefferson Community Health & Life Clinic Conference Room. The program will be a video on “Making Visits Valuable – Part 11” by Teepa Snow.

Easiest access will be by parking in the H Street parking and entering through the JCH&L Main Entrance. Follow the signage to “Caregiver’s Support.”

The Caregiver’s Support Group is a program of the Alzheimer’s Association. The group meets on the second Thursday of each month in the JCH&L Clinic Conference Room.

The support group is designed for those who are caregivers and family members of those who have Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias.  The group provide an opportunity anyone interested to share their experiences with Alzheimer’s Disease and learn from other’s experiences. There is no cost, and no pre-registration required.

For more information, contact Lana Likens at Jefferson Community Health & Life at 402-729-6855.

Nebraska Community Bloodbank Visits April 7

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FAIRBURY –The next Nebraska Community Bloodbank blood drive will be held on Monday, April 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the mobile unit in the parking lot of JCH&L’s North Building, 825 22nd St.

Every person who shows up to donate at this drive will have their name entered in a drawing for a chance to win a $25 Ziggi’s gift card.

All types are needed. Giving blood is giving a gift of life. Nebraska Community Bloodbank is Jefferson Community Health & Life’s blood supplier, and the two organizations partner for blood drives in Fairbury to save lives.

Appointments are recommended. To make an appointment, call JCH&L Outpatient Services at 402-729-6851, or visit NCBB.org/searchdrives and use sponsor code JCHC.

With iDonate you can save time by completing your health history on line ahead of your bloodmobile visit. To get started, visit mbc.org/iDonate

Caregivers Support Group to Meet April 10, 2025

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The Caregivers Support Group offered by the Alzheimer’s Association will meet on Thursday, April 10, at 4:30 p.m. in the Jefferson Community Health & Life Clinic Conference Room. The program will be a video on “Making Visits Valuable – Part 8” by Teepa Snow.

Easiest access will be by parking in the H Street parking and entering through the JCH&L Main Entrance. Follow the signage to “Caregiver’s Support.”

The Caregiver’s Support Group is a program of the Alzheimer’s Association. The group meets on the second Thursday of each month in the JCH&L Clinic Conference Room.

The support group is designed for those who are caregivers and family members of those who have Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias.  The group provide an opportunity anyone interested to share their experiences with Alzheimer’s Disease and learn from other’s experiences. There is no cost, and no pre-registration required.

For more information, contact Lana Likens at Jefferson Community Health & Life at 402-729-6855.

Salad Festival Set for May 8

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Annual Fund-raiser for JCH&L Auxiliary

FAIRBURY — The Spring Salad Festival of the Jefferson Community Health & Life Auxiliary will be held on Thursday, May 8, at the Fairbury Elks Lodge. The Salad Festival is a fund-raiser for the JCH&L Auxiliary which has been a community event since 1965. Last year’s event raised more than $1,100 for the Auxiliary.

“The Salad Festival has a long history in our community and has been a wonderful fund-raiser for the JCH&L Auxiliary,” said Lana Likens, director of public relations at Jefferson Community Health & Life. “It is also something that has provided wonderful food and fellowship, and our community enjoys.”

The salad festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets will be $9 in advance, or $10 at the door.

The Spring Salad Festival is one of two fund-raising events of the auxiliary, with the other a car show in conjunction with Heritage, set for Sunday, May 18. The auxiliary provides scholarships to students entering medical fields, provides Christmas gifts for residents of the Gardenside long-term care at Jefferson Community Health & Life, and provides volunteer help at JCH&L in a variety of projects.

Anyone interested in more information about the auxiliary or the salad festival should contact Lana Likens at (402) 729-6855.

Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Set for July 29

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The Progressive Agriculture Safety Day will be held on Tuesday, July 29, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Fairbury. This year’s Safety Day is the 26th event for the local chapter of Jefferson County Farm Safety 4 Just Kids.

Safety Day is not just for “farm kids,” organizers said. Safety Day is designed to provide safety information that is agriculturally oriented as well as general safety information.

Through hands-on activities, participants learn to prevent incidents and reduce the extent of injuries if incidents do occur. Safety Day stresses the importance of children taking responsibility for their own safety, respecting parents’ safety rules, and sharing safety tips with their family and friends.

Progressive Agriculture Safety Day is organized by Jefferson County Farm Safety 4 Just Kids. It is made possible by The Progressive Agriculture Foundation. Area business sponsors are key to making Safety Day successful.

Please watch for details to come!

Anyone who needs more information on Safety Day should call the Nebraska Extension office in Jefferson County at (402) 729-3487, or Coordinator Lana Likens at JCH&L at (402) 729-6855.

Medicare Fraud Attempt Reported

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A Medicare fraud attempt using the phone number of Jefferson Community Health & Life has been reported by a Lincoln resident. JCH&L reminds patients to never give their Medicare number, social security number or other personal information over the phone.

The Lincoln resident reported that they had received a call which showed caller ID of JCH&L and was asked to update Medicare information. The call did not originate at JCH&L. Unfortunately, criminals often “spoof” numbers from trusted providers.

“JCH&L will never ask for your Medicare number over the phone,” said Kim Shadduck, business office manager. “If you are ever concerned with a phone call that appears to be from JCH&L, please hang up and call us back directly.”

JCH&L reminds Medicare recipients that if you receive such a call, don’t give your Medicare number. If you have given you Medicare number, call the number on your card and report possible Medicare fraud. If you have questions or concerns about calls which appeared to come from JCH&L, please call Shadduck at 402- 729-3351, extension 7124.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has this advice for Medicare recipients:

  • Medicare beneficiaries should be cautious of unsolicited requests for their Medicare numbers. If anyone other than your physician’s office requests your Medicare information, do not provide it.
  • If you suspect Medicare fraud, contact the HHS OIG Hotline.
  • If you get a call, text or email asking for your Medicare number, don’t respond. Don’t give your Medicare card or Medicare number to anyone except your doctor or people you know should have it. (JCH&L would not typically ask for your Medicare number over the phone.)
  • Check your Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) or claims statements carefully. If you see a charge for a service you didn’t get or a product you didn’t order, it may be fraud. If you suspect fraud, report it at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227.)
  • Guard your Medicare card like it’s a credit card.

Please visit Medicare.gov, the official source of Medicare information, to learn more about preventing Medicare fraud and medical identity theft. Here’s a link to a booklet  about protecting yourself and Medicare from fraud. See more information at:

https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/10111-Protecting-Yourself-and-Medicare.pdf

More contact information if you have a concern:

    • HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) Hotline:
      • Phone: 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477).
      • TTY: 1-800-377-4950.
    • Medicare:
      • Phone: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
    • Other Resources:
      • Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP): 1-877-808-2468.
      • Nebraska SHIP: 1-800-234-7119.

Fairbury Rural Fire Department Earns Hometown Heroes Donation

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The Fairbury Rural Fire Department was presented with a check for $500 from Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB) on Feb. 25, 2025, because of the community’s successful participation in the NCBB Hometown Heroes campaign.

The NCBB Hometown Heroes program takes place each year from Memorial Day to Labor Day and is an opportunity for community members to join forces, help save lives, and enrich their community. Money is allocated from NCBB to blood drive partners when they reach their blood drive collections goals.

The Jefferson Community Health & Life qualifying blood drives took place on June 10 and Aug. 5, 2024, and collected a total of 60 units of blood and welcomed 4 new blood donors.

The hometown hero program will continue in 2025 as Jefferson Community Health & Life will be hosting blood drives during the summer qualifying period on June 2 and July 28. To make an appointment please visit us at www.ncbb.org and use the sponsor code JCHC or call NCBB at 402-486-9414.

Every two seconds, someone needs blood. Because blood cannot be synthetically made, only volunteer blood donors can help save lives. If you are interested in being a hero in your community, visit NCBB.ORG/heroes or email blooddrives@NCBB.org

The NCBB bloodmobile visits JCH&L six times each year. The next drive date will be April 7.

Check presentation from Nebraska Community Bloodbank to Fairbury Rural Fire District

Fairbury Rural Fire District accepts a donation from Nebraska Community Bloodbank for the 2024 Hometown Heroes program. From left, Brett Rogers, assistant chief; Judd Stewart, fire chief; Jami Kassebaum, Nebraska Community Bloodbank; and Barry Schwab, assistant chief.

New Lab Tests Now Available in HealthyLife Testing

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Additional Discounted lab tests are now available at the patient’s request at Jefferson Community Health and Life. The additional tests include testing for hormone levels, vitamins and minerals, and titers for immunity.

Since 2021 JCH&L has offered an opportunity for patients to schedule certain lab tests without a physician’s order for a variety of commonly requested lab screenings. These screenings are private pay only, and insurance will not be billed.  The list of tests available has recently expanded.

This service is available on Wednesdays, and alternates between mornings (6 a.m. to 8 a.m.) and afternoons (4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

Area residents may be interested in this service if they wish to have more frequent testing than their health plan covers; to access and manage their health on a regular basis; are uninsured; or have a high deductible and want to take advantage of lower out-of-pocket expenses.

Results will be available on the JCH&L Patient Portal, and will not be shared with providers.

To make an appointment, call 402-587-5193 and leave a message. Appointments are required at least 24 hours before testing. Payment at the time of testing can be made by cash or check. If you would like to use a credit card, please ask for arrangements when scheduling.

JCH&L Joins #DressInBlueNE to Raise Awareness of Colorectal Cancer

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Fairbury, Neb. (Feb. 24, 2025) – Jefferson Community Health and Life is proud to participate in the Nebraska Cancer Coalition’s annual #DressInBlueNE campaign to raise awareness of colorectal cancer and the importance of lifesaving screening. This statewide effort coincides with Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March and culminates in Dress in Blue Day on Friday, March 7.

JCH&L staff will be invited to wear denim on Thursday, March 6, for a donation to the Nebraska Cancer Coalition, which strives to raise awareness for various types of cancer throughout the year, including colorectal cancer in March. Staff are also encouraged to wear blue that day.

Colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Nebraska, with incidence and mortality rates in the state exceeding national averages. Many are unaware that the recommended age for colorectal cancer screening has been lowered from 50 to 45.

  • In 2025, the American Cancer Society estimates there will be 940 new cases and 360 deaths from colorectal cancer in Nebraska.
  • Screening rates remain a challenge, with only 64% of Nebraskans aged 45-75 up-to-date on screenings as of 2022, and only 38% of those aged 45-54 current on their screenings.
  • By 2030, colorectal cancer is expected to become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among 20-49-year-olds. If you are within this age range and have symptoms, talk to a healthcare provider.

Colorectal cancer screening saves lives by detecting the disease early, when treatment is more effective, or can prevent it altogether. If you are ages 45 to 50 or have a family history of colorectal cancer, talk to your healthcare provider about getting screened today. Colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable—but you won’t know unless you go.

Taking ownership of your health by discussing your family history and screening options with a primary care provider is a vital step toward prevention. Multiple safe and affordable screening options are available, including at-home test kits. Additionally, the public can show support for colorectal cancer awareness by wearing blue on Friday, March 7, and sharing photos on social media using the hashtag #DressInBlueNE and #NC2.

For additional information on colorectal cancer screenings or local resources, please visit: https://www.necancer.org/Colorectal-Cancer

2200 H St., PO Box 277, Fairbury, NE