T-R FILE PHOTO A “No Smoking” sign directs Heinz Hall residents where smoking is allowed on the facility’s west side at the Iowa Veterans Home.

A number of smokers at the Iowa Veterans Home have “dug in their heels” and will continue to smoke until the facility’s no-smoking policy goes into effect Jan. 1, according to Commandant Timon Oujiri.

Regardless, Oujiri said he and senior management have been extremely pleased with residents and staff who have quit smoking or significantly reduced cigarette consumption in the last four and a half months.

Oujiri said there are an estimated 26 residents who smoke of the 500 residents.

“We started out with approximately 70 smokers four and a half months ago,” Oujiri said. If one would talk to them they would hear comments like:

• “I am down to two cigarettes.”

• “I am feeling better.”

• “The food tastes pretty good now.”

Oujiri said IVH’s social workers and mental health professionals reported those comments made by the smokers.

“Another plus is agitation is down,” Oujiri said. “When you sit in a smoking room with other smokers for four or five hours they can get testy with each other.”

Currently, smokers can use designated smoking rooms in certain campus buildings for one hour after breakfast, lunch and supper.

Executive Assistant to the Commandant Dex Walker said an IVH team charged with implementing the new policy and educating residents and staff on the dangers of smoking were effective.

“Our team did a great job leading with the support necessary to make changes,” Walker said. “Our mental health professionals on staff have been committed to our residents and staff who smoke and the American Lung Association came on campus twice and shared resources, did training and more.”

However, not all smokers have embraced the new policies.

Resident Richard Keilholtz 76, of Monticello and a Vietnam War veterans started a petition protesting the policy, claiming more than 100 residents signed it.

He told the Times-Republican he was disappointed he could not smoke at Meskwaki Casino (smoking not allowed on recreation trips) or outside certain resident halls (only residents of Heinz Hall can smoke outside).

“I have to go to a smoking room in this (Malloy residence) building,” he said. “A maximum of 12 people are allowed. That is not a good environment … you should be able to get outside and smoke.”

The no-smoking policy began to gain serious momentum after a mid-July inspection of IVH by Veterans Administration officials.

They told Oujiri to immediately implement a new smoking policy which restricted areas where residents could smoke.

The V.A. requested Oujiri and team draw up the policy for review before they left the facility

Oujiri and team did, and it was approved by the V.A.

The new procedures were put in place to ensure safety of residents who smoked, as well as the safety of other residents and staff.

Designated smoking rooms were set up in several residence halls with limited hours.

The VA allocates a substantial amount of federal funds to IVH annually for facility construction and maintenance, resident care and a host of other initiatives. VA guidelines indicated IVH and resident smokers were not singled out by the VA, rather, the new policy applies to all VA facilities nationwide.

As part of the new policy, residents and staff who smoked were given assistance in managing smoking cessation programs and more.

Oujiri said IVH is part of a national trend of health care facilities banning smoking.

“We are a long term health care facility,” Oujiri said.

—

Contact Mike Donahey at 641-753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com