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The Acton Free Press Wednesday April 1978 VON care for sick in their own homes The steering com for Region by Thornton Now that the snow has almost disappeared It seems wrong time to write about winter but I should finish v hat started last week regarding my recent episodes on skh After buying them in February enough that my dally treks In our bush were something I looked forward to If I wasn working The temperature dropped alarmingly some days but if I could gasp my way cross he open spaces and make it to the Ireei they sheltered me from the wind The only sounds were that of bindings lit me out skis slithering on snow and dogs crashing around in the sit out up underbrush following interest the frozen snow covered scents It was all quite creek and I discovered more peaceful of crosscountry Because of my slow speed I skiing while neither invented noted many bird and animal new to get me out of tracks grouse rabbit deer drifts moose coyote mouse and The hardest things to navi hound Rips huge paw prints gate wore the dams toes spread wide to act as The ski instruction book things like climbing up There were wellused paths or down these four foot where animals had followed dies with skis on and old logging trails ana when a feci enough to it crust had formed on the snow tempt a leap turned off the snowmobile Also not mentioned was how paths and headed down the to under downed pines trails hoping to catch a lung across the creek with glimpse of wildlife only two feet of Or birds who perched on grassy what one yells when bearing stalks peeking at seeds But down on a snows hoe r who Is though e plodding along unaware of the other acres cleared there s skier speed behind still half or our quarter BO Words flashed through my acres in bush that animals mind Fore Timber can hide in probably Ski Skoal I could me from a distance have hollered Watch out The most interesting ski session was when son Jim girlfriend and I set out to sec how far we could get up the Buck Creek me on skis and she on That everything I didn t know about skiing was forcibly brought home to me in spite of my caution Where we started the road wound down a hill to the river and before kicking off I checked where I d land if I I the corner halfway down Then being of sound mind and tender body I removed my skis walked to the comer and started from there The exhilaration of flying down that bit of a slope and staying on my feet was so great that I tackled the next hill without proper thought It was a snowmobilepacked rollercoaster type series of hillocks that looked like great fun and I started down them with great flair However I didn take into account the abrupt turn at the bottom and in spite of efforts to stop I plowed straight into a deep drift And there I stayed The skis had sliced into the snow and were still flat on the ground side by side under a few feet of fluffy white stuff And I fallen backwards on top of them How get up If It been for Heather I might still be there for I reach my feet under the snow and lift them out at nee I was lying on Heather when she stopped laughing located my feet pulled the skis out and set them perpendicular to my body But the snow was so deep this was in February when the snow was fluffy drifting not and crust all could do was flounder until she undid the Later Heather got her re although I prefer to think of it as an iccidcnt She took a turn on the skis while I trotted behind shouting words of warning and encourage We came to a deep dip in the path where the momentum It up on the way down was almost enough to carry a person up thefarside Heather had previously helped me reach the top with push to the reir and I tried to do the same for her However she overbalanced swung her arms to right her self and gave me a good crack across the held with a I promptly let go and left her to slide down the hill backwards This time it was ME laughing so hard I for tears and I missed what ever graceful motions Heather went through on her way down All things considered this quite what I had in mind when 1 took up skiing but I surely am enjoying my self Mention the word nurse and a mental image of a woman in white from perky cap to soft soled shoes cornea to mind Sickness is often associated with hospitals But there are sick people on increasing number of them being cared for in their homes Dropping In as often as needed to assist in their care arc nurses garbed not In white but in smart raspberry red outfits The cheerful uniform consisting of dress and jacket or a pant suit identifies staff of the Vic torian Order of Nurses VON The VON provides nursing care to people in their homes on a visiting basis the VON nurse gives or assists with whatever personal care the patient needs Her tasks are similar to those a hospital nurse performs such as helping the patient to bathe or changing a dressing But she also teaches the patient to care for himself or a relative to care for him The aim is to help the patient to live with his disability and become as independent as he can within the limitations of his disability This approach involves not only teaching but also a lot of emotional support and en courogement In the face of constant Illness people need to be reminded they re doing a good Job said director of the Victorian Order of Nurses Branch The approach Is consistent with the character of people in the northern part of the region Rural people are used to doing things for themselves and want to be independent the director commented Then too weather and driving being unpredictable the nurse has to instruct the patient how to manage on his own in the event she can visit Its incredible the consistency with which the nurse does make It Mrs Macleod marvelled Many conditions con be kept under control at home and patients are more comfortable remaining in the midst of their families and maintaining their own routines having their meals when they want them for Instance Mrs Macleod explained In the last year in region there have been more really sick people cared for In their homes said Mrs She predicted this trend will continue In contrast to the Increase RACEWAY HARNESS RACING Post Time Thursday Evening Sunday Afternoons 2pm Trlactor Wsgmlng Air Conditioned Club GIGANTIC AUCTION SALE OF BRAND NEW FURNITURE APPLIANCES AND GIFT ITEMS THURS APR 6 730 PM SUN APR 9 200 PM GRUNDYS AUCTION CENTRE Junction 25 Hihwiys PARTIAL LISTING Large selection of chesterfield suites in and 4 piece sets chrome kitchen suites 9 piece dining room suites maple and pine bunk beds Captain s and Mate s beds stereo seta maple and pine and birch bedroom suites coffee and end table sets bed chesterfields wooden wall clocks table lamps cedar chests clock radios component seta socket seta Boston rockers Lincoln rockers oil paintings single double and queen size box spring and mattresses colour TV CB radios carving sets plus hundreds of gift Items AUCTIONEER ALEX PARR SALE CONDUCTED BY GRUNDYS AUCTION CENTRE in the number of patients being cared for at home In the region considered as a whole however the number of visits in Halton Hills and Milton was lower last year than the previous year In 1977 there were 1277 visits made In Milton and In Hills The population In the north is Increasing It strange the number of visits Is going down commented Mrs Macleod who speculated the population Increase was in young families who were not in need of nursing care at this stags of their lives Or there are people who need help but who are not aware of VON vices Staying home con be an alternative to hospitalization for example for the patient suffering from cancer More over patients who have had surgery are discharged much earlier than thoy used to be The nurse visits to change the dressing and check the heal Ing of the incision Some at home patients require the services of several health professionals Two who visit in the home are occupational therapists and physiotherapists Contrary to popular belief occupational therapists teach patients how to conserve their energy and how to make adjustments that will allow them to manage their homes despite their illnesses or dis abilities Physiotherapists can help the patient Improve his mobility and the use of his muscles and joints The work of these profes sionals is aimed at helping the patient regain or retain the ability to perform every day activities from getting dressed t doing household chores to coordinate their efforts for the patient benefit all the workers in with the patient and family are In contact with one We need to talk together so we don t under mine each other work commented Mrs Macleod She called it working in a team Who acts as leader of the team depends on which service Is the major one required she said When multiple services are needed the patient usually qualifies for the Home Care Program In an attempt to control health costs this pro gram was set up by the Min Istry of Health as an alter native hospitalization for selected patients The Home Care Program Is administered locally If patients on the program require nursing care the pro gram purchases nursing vices from the VON Supervision and ad ministration of medications is a big but Inconspicuous part Mrs Macleod went on It may simply In volve laying out the medico lions so the patient remembers to take them and to take them correctly Or the nurse may visit to give a patient injections if he is un able to give his own The nurse also makes sure the patient understands what he is taking why and what problems may arise Medications nowadays are powerful the director com men led adding the nurse has to be knowledgeable not only about Individual medications but about the effect of tried cations taken in combination The VON accepts patients referred by doctors or agencies such as the Cancer Society at the request of the patient himself or his rein lives or even sometimes the request of a neighbor When the VON receives a request for services a nurse goes out to make a visit The patient doctor is always made aware the VON Is visit Ing In eases where medical Involvement is needed the doctor Is notified before the first visit is made In other cases he may not be notified until after the visit Mrs Macleod said Be careful Be careful near swollen streams and melting ice these spring day The steering committee for the StopOver a proposed hostel for abused wives and dependent children some where In Halton has been given a Canada grant to hire three university students to do research work The students will gate the need for such a hostel explained Betty Hill Family counsellor with Region who a member of the steering com She explained the com mittee would also like volun leers to become interested In the project Gloria Is chairman of the committee and local members are McMillan Debbie Taylor and Tudor DOUBLE HAPPINESS RESTAURANT CANADIAN ariuii Si fltiVHr All Telephone 8532060 Oar DelldoaJ Fish Chips or oar Chinese Cuisine HOURS Mondayto Thursday 10a Friday Saturday a tolipm Sunday 12noonto8pm DRUG MART featuring highly qualified consultants to prepare your own personal beauty chart Date Thursday April 128 pm Friday April 7th 12 8 pm Saturday Apnl 8th 105 pm NO OBLIGATION TO BUY BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT EARL Y AND AVOID A LINEUP The following companies will have representatives demonstrating their products Revlon Bonne Bell Max Factor complete make up consultation individual hair olor analysis Bathurst Sales nail and eyelash care The following donated Flowers by Flowers Stools by Shopnte Stores CIGARETTES 29 Regular WERE CELEBRATING OUR SIXTH BIRTHDAY WITH THESE WEEKEND SPECIALS Assorted Flavours Each SEA SKI tf Jf DR WEST REGULAR TOOTHBRUSH 2 ORABRITE DENTURE TOOTHPASTE 50 NEOCITRAN FOR COLDS io OLD SPICE REGULAR OR AFTERSHAVE LOTION DRUG MART GEORGETOWN MARKET PLACE Pricesln effect until April 9 We reserve the right to limit