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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, Ja nu ar y 23 ,2 02 0 | 24 205-16Mountainview Rd S. GeorgetownON L7G 4K1 905-702-2597 866- 878 5556 |michael.chong@parl.gc.ca www.michaelchong.ca Michael Chong Member of Parliament, Wellington - Halton Hills Alzheimer's disease affects over half a million Canadians, and in less than 15 years, that number is expected to double. In honour of Alzheimer's Awareness Month, here's what you should know about this fatal disease and how it progresses. EARLY STAGE Initially, the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are mild and may include forgetfulness, trouble communicating and changes in behaviour and temperament. At this stage, afflicted individuals only require minimal help and are often capable of providing insight into their condition, thereby allowing them to plan their future care. MIDDLE STAGE People at this stage may still be aware of their condition, but the impairments to their memory, cognition and ability to communicate and function are significant. These individuals usually require help with daily tasks such as meal preparation, shopping, housekeeping, bathing and getting dressed. At this point, caregivers should consider seeking support for themselves, as the emotional and physical toll can become difficult to bear. LATE STAGE Also called "severe" or "advanced," this stage of the Alzheimer's disease comes with a complete inability to communicate and a need for 24-hour care. Efforts are focused on keeping the person comfortable and maintaining as high a quality of life as possible. END OF LIFE STAGE Alzheimer's disease will eventually lead to death. ln the final months of life, care for Alzheimer's patients is the same as for those with any terminal illness. The focus is on physical, emotional and spiritual comfort. For more information about Alzheimer's disease including warning signs, fact sheets about the various stages of the disease and resources for caregivers and patients, visit the Alzheimer Society of Canada's website at alzheimer.ca. The stages of Alzheimer's disease Member of OLTCA Ontario Long Term Care Facilities Accredited by: R.R. 2, Guelph 519-856-4622 www.edenhousecarehome.ca Please call for a tour 9:00 am - 4:00 pm 905-873-6642 99 Sinclair Avenue, Suite 210 Serving the community of Halton Hills since 1992 The GEORGETOWN HEARING CLINIC Advertising Section Oakville DentalArts 2001100 GGoollddd Awwaardww rrWWinneerr OaOaaakvkvillee eaverBeBeaver 1 7 • Th u rsd ay, O cto b er 20, 2011 O A K V ILLE B E A V E R • w w w .in sid e H A LTO N .co m The workers of the world are working more. So says an annual study of employee benefit trends from MetLife. In 2010, 40 percent of employees admitted their workload had increased compared with the previous year. While there are many reasons that can account for a heavier workload at the office, heavy layoffs in countries across the globe has, in many instances, left those who wweren't laid off with extra work. And companies might be surprised to know just how much this approach isn't work- ing. TheMetLife study also found that 68 percent of employ- ees surveyed reported that the quality of their work had suffered and that fear of losing their jobs played a significant role in how well they did their jobs. Good stress and bad stress While employees might not be able to quell their fears of one day being laid off, there are things they can do to reduce the stress that often accompanies such fears. Stress is a part of most professions and can even be a good motivator. However, when stress is prolonged or excessive, the results can be very unhealthy. Men and women with high stress levels are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and cardiovascular disease. When faced with prolonged or exces- sive stress at the office, men and women can take the follow- ing approaches to avoid succumbing to stress. * Determine what is causing the stress. Stress triggers vvary depending on the individual, so men and women who are coping with excessive stress should write down anything that causes them a negative response, whether that response is physical, emotional or mental. After a week, sit down and look at the various things that triggered these negative responses. Choose one and work to resolve it. Determine if there is a way this trigger can be avoided. Do this with each trigger one by one. It might not be possible to successfully address each trigger, but it's worth the try and it is likely that certain triggers can be successfully avoided. • Manage time effectively. One of the problems with an increased workload is the time in the day to complete that work does not simultaneously increase. This reality makes it easy to become overwhelmed with stress. But a few time management techniques can help. Prioritize certain tasks, fensuring projects that are time-sensitive get done ahead of those that aren't. When setting a schedule for work, be real- istic. If a schedule isn't realistic, that will only cause more stress. • Maintain a personal life. Effectively managing stress at work involves having a personal life away from the office. All work and no play is a recipe for stress. No matter how big a workload awaits you at the office, be sure to make time for enjoyable activities away from work. Spend time with friends and family, plan a weekend getaway or simply relax at home. Such time, even if it's not as often as you might like, makes dealing with stress at the office that much easier to handle. • Remain physically active. Exercise is a great remedy for stress. In fact, the American Psychological Association notes that studies have suggested physically active people have lower rates of anxiety and depression than sedentary people. While research is ongoing, some researchers feel exercise enhances the body's ability to respond to stress. In addition, exercise seems to give the body practice at dealing with stress. While exercising, the body's physiological systems are forced to communicate with one another. These same sys- tems must also communicate with one another when responding to stress. Regular exercise helps the body com- municate more efficiently, something that helps when the time comes to respond to stress. Stress at the office is likely always going to be a concern for working men and women. However, there are ways to effectively cope with stress no matter how daunting a work- load might be. (MNS) Tips to help you cope with stress at work k l d k ll h l h l h f lExtra work load takes its toll on the mental health of employees Heavier workloads have left many workers dealing with elevated Heavier workloads have left many workers dealing with elevated levels of stress. By Meagan Ruffing February is National Dental Hygiene month which means it's a great time to get your kids on board with learning how to brush their teeth and actually enjoying it. No more bat- tling your kids to take responsibility for cleaning their teeth or going back and "doing it again." These insider tips from a mom who has been there and done that will have you feeling prepared to tackle the tricky life-lesson of teaching your children how to take care of their teeth. Ages 0-2 It's never too early to start cleaning the inside of your child's mouth. For this age, when your child has not yet sprouted his first tooth use a damp washcloth to wipe his gums down after nursing or bottle-feeding. If your child has a few teeth, use a finger brush with a tiny amount (the size of the tip of a pencil) of fluoride-free toothpaste and do it yourself. Getting your children in the habit of cleaning their mouths is a great way to get them prepared for their very first visit to the dentist. Around age two is when your dentist will recommend do- ing a "Lap" exam for their first dental visit. This just means the child sits in your lap (facing you) and lays back with her head on your knees. The dentist goes knee-to-knee with the parent while looking at the inside of your daughter's mouth. The exam is usually just a few minutes long and the dentist is checking for any signs of decay. Ages 3+ By now, your child should be seeing a dentist and brush- ing his own teeth with adult supervision. Buying a tooth- brush with a smaller, softer head will ensure your child has the best toothbrush for his mouth. For the younger ages (3-5), using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste with fluoride in it will ensure your child is getting the protec- tion he needs to keep his tooth enamel strong. To make the actual process of tooth brushing more fun, humming the "Happy Birthday" song is a great way to get your child involved in the process. Doing this serves two purposes: 1.) Making sure your son is brushing his teeth long enough and, 2.) Keeping him engaged long enough to keep the toothbrush in his mouth. No promises that he won't smile and laugh while doing this but that's part of the fun. Flossing & Brushing Your child should be seeing the dentist every six months for regular check-ups once they turn three. Flossing is en- couraged even at this young age especially when kids are learning to do some basic tasks for themselves. Buying the kid-friendly floss sticks is much easier than trying to use the floss adults use. You can get all sorts of fun floss sticks that are colored, flavored and even character- shaped to help encourage flossing. If you see that your child is having a hard time with want- ing to brush her teeth or brush them long enough to actual- ly make a difference, try brushing your teeth with her. Grab your toothbrush and do it together. Kids are more likely to try new things and be encouraged to brush their teeth when they see that mom and dad do it too. Have a brush- your-teeth-a-thon and see who can brush the longest. There will still be some children who just don't want to brush their teeth. Try taking them to the store and letting them pick out their own toothbrush. Sometimes taking Taking care of your child's teeth: An age-by-age guide Continued on page 25