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12 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday January 23, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Pharmacy helping out Today, Medicine Shoppe Pharmacies across Canada including the one at 267 Lakeshore Rd. E., is hosting its Heads Up for Healthier Brains event to raise funds for and awareness of Alzheimer disease. Each store will donate $1 from every prescription filled at its pharmacy to the Alzheimer's Society, with the total matched by Medicine Shoppe Canada. The pharmacies will also collect donations for the Alzheimer's Society/ Contact 905842-2770 or www.medicineshoppe.ca. Alzheimer's changes life Continued from page 11 What's keeping you from having your dream kitchen? Consider these time, mess & cost saving options... a. Renew your cabinets with our unique "Tune-up". Our exclusive process restores and repairs the finish on wood cabinets (and any other woodwork in your home) to 90-95%. Time: 1 day Mess: almost none Cost: a fraction of replacement. b. Reface You may already own half of your new kitchen! If your cabinet boxes are in good shape, why pay to replace them? We can reface with Real Wood or RTF to match your choice of new doors. Choose from the largest selection of styles and finishes available anywhere. See our website for ideas. Time: typically 2-4 days Mess: we clean every day and you never lose use of your kitchen Cost: 40-60% less than the cost of a new kitchen Joe of his emotions. Joe admits the toughest part of dealing with Alzheimer disease is the emotional impact it has on both his life partner and himself. Joe said his wife becomes very agitated at times -- as she realizes the effect the disease is having on her and her inability to change it. "It does really upset me, but I never speak of it. I just keep it all to myself," said Georgina, when asked about it and at which point her husband gently chides her that she should talk to others. "I really like coming here, everybody seems friendly. It gives Joe time on his own and I look forward to coming," said Georgina of her weekly visits to SERC. The Thompsons lived in Toronto in their younger years. Both were employed with the Toronto board of education, he as a chief caretaker and Georgina as a matron. Upon retiring -- early because of health issues -- the Thompsons moved to Port McNichol, Ontario, located east of Midland, where they had had a trailer as a summer getaway and then bought a home. However, failing health and the onset of Alzheimer's with Georgina led the couple to Oakville about a year ago. They have a son who lives with his wife and two children in Bronte and another son in Kitchener. While the pair still manages independently in a Glen Abbey condo, Joe said it's nice to know their family is nearby -- both on the telephone and geographically. "It started to happen over a period of two years," said Joe, explaining how Alzheimer's began to rear its head in his wife's life. "I started to notice her starting to forget where she put stuff and forgetting about going to different places," said Joe, noting a year ago, she had a seizure and was rushed to hospital. The relocation to Oakville was smooth as Georgina was referred and her file transferred from where she was receiving treatment to Oakville and the SERC. While the couple still goes out -- Joe said they have always done things together, to the point where if one wasn't around, people would ask after the other -- Georgina becomes agitated in stores and overwhelmed by crowds. "I used to be able to leave her alone for a while, but not anymore," said Joe, adding, "We've both had to change our social life quite a bit." They did that over the course of their retirement so it hasn't been an abrupt change and Joe said they do okay together. At home, Joe has learned to be patient as Georgina forgets how to work the television controls and often abandons watching TV in frustration. Other times, she said she has seen this show or that, so Joe lets her have first pick. A house rule says she doesn't touch the stove, but Joe said she often asks to do it while he's watching -- and has a habit of turning it low if it's on high and turning it high if it's on low. Joe takes it all in stride. The couple recently travelled to Ireland and Joe said his wife was in charge of the packing. He said he set out what he wanted to take, and she put it in and out of suitcases until she had it right. Joe said they should travel or do what they want to do now, as there is no better time. For now, Joe said one visit to SERC a week is enough though it is available more often. The Acclaim Seniors Day Program is designed to maximize the independence of its clients who attend their "club" while caregivers receive a welcome break. Staff at SERC use creative therapeutic programs that can adapt to changing abilities and build on the strengths of the client. Acclaim Health Alzheimer Services also provides support and counselling services to caregivers. A Dementia Information series is offered twice a year for caregivers on legal and financial issues to behaviour management. Wander Alert Units are available; and a resource library is available to clients and caregivers. Acclaim also provides individualized/group support to family caregivers and persons with dementia on the telephone or in person support and counselling, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday at 905-847-9559. January is Alzheimer's month and it's said one in 13 Canadians over age 65 suffers from Alzheimer Disease or a related disorder. Acclaim Health is located at 2370 Speers Rd. Contact 905-8278800 or www.acclaimhealth.ca. c. Reface & Re-style Turn the kitchen you have into the one you want. If you choose to Reface, we can change many other things you don't like about your kitchen. Add an island, pantry, molding or even new cabinets to match the refaced cabinets. Time: usually 3-5 days Mess: low disruption, thoroughly cleaned daily, often no loss of use Cost: considerably less than replacement d. Replace Sometimes it's the only way to get what you need. Our Designers will help you create a new kitchen that perfectly reflects your personal taste, goals and budget. Find out how allergies affect weight gain, asthma, digestion, depression, diabetes. Eliminate all symptoms of allergies related to the environment, food, dust and chemicals. Take Care of Yourself Today So You Can Live a Better Tomorrow e. Don't forget the counter top There is nothing like a new countertop to dramatically complete your kitchen update. We supply and install all types of counter tops. ­ NOW OPEN ­ Contact: Ashna Starrett, RHA,RHN,RNCP Free In-home Estimate 905.637.3331 Showroom 3480 Fairview St., Burlington Eight "Trustpoints" set Kitchen Tune-Up apart. We guarantee our estimates - guarantee our work - arrive on time - clean work areas daily - return messages within 24 hours - strive for harmony with your daily routine - tell you what we're going to do before we do it - listen carefully, tell it straight and keep our promises. 905-842-4444 ashna@naturalallergysolutions.com kitchentuneup.com Kitchen Tune-Up, a division of KTU Worldwide, Inc. is a system of more than 300 independently owned and operated franchises www.naturalallergysolutions.com