April 2022

Rock Creek of Ottawa receives donation of “Memory Babies” for dementia patients

While most people associate dolls with young children, they’re also capable of providing many therapeutic benefits to seniors, especially those dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. Knowing this, Katie Aguirre of Rock Creek Nursing Home decided to submit an application for a donation from Pearl’s Memory Babies, a Kentucky-based nonprofit that creates lifelike baby dolls and stuffed dogs for seniors with memory loss.

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Shirley Jean Gilroy

Shirley Jean Gilroy, 78, of Ottawa, Kansas, passed away Sunday, April 17, 2022, at Rock Creek of Ottawa. Family will meet with friends from 4:30 to 7:00 P.M., Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa.

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Susan E. Petersen

Susan Elaine Petersen, 74, of Lawrence, KS, the daughter of Richard and Dorothy (Bowman) Peterson was born January 15, 1948, at Clarinda, Iowa. She passed away on Friday, April 1, 2022, at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, at the age of 74 years.

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Jane Shields

Melva Jane Shields, 88, of Ottawa, Kansas passed away peacefully on February 28th, 2022 at Community Hospice in Jacksonville, Florida. The Celebration of Life will be held on April 23rd, 2022 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 401 W 13th Street, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Visitation starting at 10:00am, followed by the Service at 11:00am.

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Kansas’ shortage of behavioral health experts exacerbates community treatment challenges

Psychologist Shawna Wright said only four of the state’s 105 counties have enough behavioral health professionals to meet demands of the population, and that shortage contributes to looping of mentally ill people in and out of the criminal justice system. “We need quality behavioral health care in Kansas regardless of geography,” she said. “We’re still very underserved.”

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