Callaway District Hospital hosted their annual National Hospital Week Community Appreciation barbecue on Friday, May 13. Pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, salads and chips were served to a line of community members that at times stretched across the street.

This year’s event included a special highlight following the barbecue, as the official ribbon cutting hosted by the Callaway Chamber was held for the new hospital addition and Senior Life Solutions. The timing could not have been more appropriate, with May being Mental Health Awareness Month.

Senior Life Solutions is a program designed to meet the unique needs of individuals typically 65 and older, experiencing depression or anxiety related to life changes that are often associated with aging. The addition of this program, with its own designated staff and space at Callaway District Hospital, allows the team to meet all aspects of individual healthcare needs in the community.

Whether you realize it or not, mental health plays a big role in your overall well-being. When you’re mentally healthy, you are able to enjoy your life and the people in it, feel good about yourself, keep up good relationships, and deal with stress. It’s normal for your mental health to shift over time – we all face difficult situations in our lives. Creating positive habits is a great way to support your mental health when you’re doing well and helps you build skills to use if you do face symptoms of a mental health condition.

Making wise food and nutrition choices, getting proper exercise and adequate sleep, managing stress, and having a strong support system are all important factors for maintaining good mental health. Senior Life Solutions staff are trained to assist adults over the age of 65 remain healthy in all those areas. Kelly Herbig serves as Callaway Senior Life Solutions RN/Program Director.

If you want more information, education, or to discuss support, please call 308-836-2153 or visit www.callawayhospital.org.