Page 6 – Here for Life

Grieving during the holidays – the 4 R’s

December 22, 2021

Adapted from National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization Bereavement Professionals Chat, Grief Support and the Holidays, Kara Thoma, LCSW, ACHP-SW, Joelle Osterhaus, LCSW, ACHP-SW, October 2021.

The holidays are an emotional and often stressful time for most of us, which are often further intensified for the bereaved. As the time approaches, dread, anxiety, and worry can wash over us, filling our heart and mind. We may feel isolated because during a time when others are “merry,” we may not feel merry at all to the point where it feels like no one understands. Others may want to keep things exactly as they used to be. It can feel like the progress we made with our grief takes ten steps back. How can the bereaved enjoy the holidays while also grieving? The four R’s can serve as a guide. (more…)

Healthcare that gives adolescents and young adults a voice

December 21, 2021

Adolescence is an important time of development. Young people are developing physically, emotionally, and socially. Their brains are developing rapidly. While early childhood involves rapid brain growth, adolescent brain development is focused on a process called “pruning,” in which the existing neural pathways are refined and trimmed over time, especially in the main decision-making areas of the brain. This process goes on well into a person’s twenties. As a result, in adolescence, many neurons, including those in the reward pathways, are firing rapidly. This creates an environment for rapid socioemotional development, learning and sometimes behaviors that involve risk-taking and high rewards. The adolescent years is a period of opportunity and vulnerability for health and development. (more…)

Voices of Hennepin Healthcare: Akhmiri Sekhr-Ra

December 3, 20211

The Chief Family Development Officer at the Cultural Wellness Center shares her harmonious vision for wellness – and why we need community to enjoy health.

“I can count on one hand how many jobs I’ve had,” says Akhmiri Sekhr-Ra with pride. “My mother worked at the same place until she retired. I’m doing the same at the Cultural Wellness Center. This is my retirement plan; I’m not going anywhere else.”

Akhmiri is now the Chief Family Development Officer at the Cultural Wellness Center in Minneapolis, an organization with strong, longstanding ties to Hennepin Healthcare. She became involved with the Center in 1996 as a community member, was asked to join the Board and then became a community partner. She came on staff 15 years ago. (more…)

Walk with a Doc

November 17, 2021

This fall the Integrative Health team at Hennepin Healthcare has joined with the international non-profit organization Walk with a Doc to promote healthy movement and community. Starting on Sat. Nov 20^th at 10am, Dr. Shawn Olson will lead a fun and relaxing walk through the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden . We will meet under the Cowles Pavilion (the big glass pavilion near the Walker Art Center) where Dr. Olson will give a brief wellness talk and then lead a stroll-at-your-own-pace-and-distance walk through the park. If the weather is bad, we’ll move the walk to the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Both spaces are free, open to the public, and offer the opportunity to explore the healing power of the intersection of art and movement. (more…)

Voices of Hennepin Healthcare: Semora Murrell

November 15, 20213

A Treasured Welcome Representative Shares Her Passion and Hope for Hennepin Healthcare

When you walk into Hennepin Healthcare, you may be lucky enough to meet Semora Murrell, a welcome services representative with a big, impossible-to-forget smile. “I’m the first face you see,” she says. “I can chat with everyone, I know some of everybody.”

“The role has a simple title, but many things come along with it,” says Semora, who is celebrating eight years of working at Hennepin Healthcare. “Most people believe it’s just greeting people and sending them on their way, but it’s much more than that. We are the face of Hennepin Healthcare.” (more…)

Exciting news and milestone: COVID vaccines available for children ages 5–11 years

November 10, 2021

Recently, the Federal Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control approved and recommended the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 5-11 years, taking us one step closer to controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Too many children have been infected with COVID-19 and serious cases can occur even in healthy children. Cases have increased dramatically since the arrival of the Delta variant. Nationally, over 1.9 million 5-11 year-olds have been infected and more than 8,300 hospitalized with COVID-19. Some children can also have long-term health effects, and COVID-19 is now a leading cause of death for this age group. (more…)

Voices of Hennepin Healthcare: Jennifer DeCubellis, CEO, introduces an exciting planning process to accelerate the organization’s run toward change

November 2, 20211

Hennepin Healthcare recently launched a planning process to advance health equity within its system to improve care for the community and entire region. This planning process aims to reimagine the health system entirely — by advancing equity — and helping all team members work more effectively to deliver what the community needs.

“Hennepin Healthcare is not just a safety net hospital,” asserts Jennifer DeCubellis, CEO. “It’s an incredible resource to the community, state and entire region. We are well positioned to create the future of what healthcare should be.” (more…)

East Lake Clinic opened October 4, joining many clinic October birthdays

October 25, 2021

After the devastating destruction of the original East Lake Clinic last summer, we welcome the new re-opened clinic located in the Hennepin County Service Center on East Lake Street. The new clinic is beautiful with stunning views of downtown Minneapolis and the East Lake neighborhood, lovely colors, and lots of natural light. Clinic staff are excited to re-welcome their patients to the new location, even though they were temporarily seeing them at the Whittier Clinic. (more…)

Welcome to Here for Life

The Chief Family Development Officer at the Cultural Wellness Center shares her harmonious vision for wellness – and why we need community to enjoy health.

A Treasured Welcome Representative Shares Her Passion and Hope for Hennepin Healthcare