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Al 6 - The Canadien Champion, Tuesday, June 20, 2006 /~ ~C~-S S at your library' LLe TEE BA Please Join Us ( i Al The Library COVisi OEE BAR ~F Snios llonh JNE 006 FRIDAY JUNE 30TH in the Newspaper a u Milton Public Library since it marks two im-por- tant Occasions: It is Seniors' Month (for wbicb we wili be hold- ing Our Seniors' Tea on Friday, June 30), and it is the month we, gear up for our Cbildren's Swnmer Programa. While elsewhere on the page, we niake reference to, some of the services available for Seniors, we know that being a Senior means being Part of an exceptionally diverse and busy group of people with nsany hobbies, interests and activities. If you are a gardenter, we have resources. If you are a traveller, we can belp you plan. If you are going to sail amcund the world, we can help you leamyour navigation and knots. If you want to explore your famuly bistory, become a scrapbooking expert, a dog owner, orsa poker ace, we can point you in the right direction, If you want to, reati tbe great authors of literasure, the latest bard-boiled detective story, listen to Beethoven s 9th Symphony or the Dixie Chickr, watch Monsoon wvecsung or Casablanca on DVD, Milton Library is the place for you. However, tbis year it is also a bit- tersweet month, since we wilI Say farewell to long-tume staff member Lee, Wood, wbo is retmrng afier working for 34 years wit us. Lee bas meant so much to the organi- zation and her absence wilI be keenly felt. Ini so many ways she bas been key to the ongoing suc- cess of the U.brasy. Wben site started working at the Library, it was witb the [long closed] Canipheilville Library, and since that time she has perfonned a number of different jobs. For tbe past twenty years, Lee bas been the Circulation Co-ordinator, a position sbte bas filled witb sill, tact and great abiity. She is an exceptional tr-aier and a wonder- fuI mentor. I often tbink of tie motto she has sbared witb aIl ber staff: "Wben in doubt, be kind", since it speaks to ber fundamental calîn, cheerful and positive atti- tude to life in general. Thank you, Lee. We %vilI miss you. Leslie Fitch Chief Librarian SENIOR'S SERVI< We have sever.il collecuit services of Ixirbicular interes iîîrs. Boosks in Large Prit wîîiiderlul iniveioni aiîds recently duîubled thc budget coîllection. lfyîîu dot ni ind yoti Want we wîll reserve bt or borrow it from another lih Audiobooks are also availat are currently moving from tý sette to CD so you will b widcst selection if you can pi The fiction audiobooks ha own section, but the non-fi housed upstairs witb ils cor ding subject area. Remer look there for biographies, humour and so on. Ask us fo you are uncertain where Io k Magazines such as Good "ES Elderhostel Catalogue, Roots to mns and L-earning Canada and Today s t tb sen- Senior (ncwspaper) are especially i arec for seniors, but dozens of our other ve have magazines will also lie of interest to for this >'oui the tille t'o)r yîw HOMEBOUND SERVICES îrary. The library bas a special service for le e its homnebound patrons. To register eca-you only need to fll out a special ape cas form. This telîs the librarian your ayabth. rite authors, genres and sub- ayt bote . je ts as well as what form ats you ve t er would like - large print, regular cto s print. audiobook, etc., how many Tepo books you would like, and how nbetryti often. Baseci on this information, we rhstorif w ill select and check out your books r hlp for you. You must make your own arrangements for pick up and dcliv- lrnies, ery but wc will have your materials -_Frr LILik~L FI 7 http://www.mpî.on ça waiting for your caregiver or volun- teer to pick up and deliver to, you. As part of our outreach programme we also have a rotating deposit in the Special Care Unit at the Milton District Hospital. VISUALLY IMPAIRED RESOURCES For the visually impaired we have bîooks in Large print and books in audio. We will also help you contact the CNIB for access to, their Talking Book library. Ask at the Information Desk if you are looking for somnething in particu- ar. If we don't bave it, we'll try to ,,et it from another lîbrary. When my elderly mother's sciatica began to limit her mobility in the mid- 1990's, we equipped her bathroom with a shower seat and hand grips, and installed hand rails around her house. Affer she was no longer able to drîve, we arranged for home care assistance and meal deliveries. Little did my brothers and 1 realize that we were embarking with Mom on a long journey of intertwined health, financial, housing and legal issues.I arn thankful that 1 joined the Eider Law section of the Canadian Bar Association along the way. When Mom decided 10 move to a seniors' residence, 1 negotiated changes to the housing contract, and made arrangements 10 maintain her home in case she decided 10 return (which she eventually did). When she later went through successful colon cancer surgery, 1 was able 10 secure government benefits for rehabilitative services that were initially denied. Before she suffered a stroke that leif her without the capacity 10 manage finances, 1 worked with her 10 structure a power of altorney for property, which ultimately allowed my brothers and me 10 preserve most of her assets on her behaîf. Unfortunately, Mom neyer signed a power of attorney for personal care, and affer the stroke il was 100 laIe to do so. The decision concerning nursing home care defaulted 10 my brother who lived in the same jurisdiction as her, not t0 her personally appointed decision-maker. Two years later, she had a second stroke that leif her unable 10 swallow food, and one 0f my brothers would not consent 10 the insertion of a feeding tube. The last thing Mom would have wanted was 10 conflict on this decision. We losI Mom 10 a third and final stroke before any legal action ensued, but soon thereaffer the Terri Schiavo case brought international prominence 10 the life-and-deaîh importance of appointing a substitute decision-maker. 1 made a promise 10 Mom (or aI least 10 her memory) the first lime 1 visited her grave: Ihat 1 would use my experiences as a son 10 bring compassion and competence la my praclice as a lawyer in helping others wilh some of these same "decisions Ihat malter." B.L. Marshall LL. B. Estate Planning & Eider Law 20 Ma tret Milton, Ontar T 2P9 Phone: (905) 8 00o Fax: (905) 875-2 email: off ice@marshallawfirmnca www.marshalI awfirm .ca Ben Marshall, B.A.(Hons.), LI.b., M.DUv. Barrister & Solicitor ASSISTING SENIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH A VARIETY OF LEGAL NEEDS: WilIs, Powers 0f Attorney For Property Or Personal Care, Trusts, Tax Planning, Notary Services, Guardianships, Housing And Service Contract Review, Insurance And Pension Matters, Family Mediations, Government Programs And More