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C 4 - The O akville Beaver, W e d n e s d a y July 31, 2 0 0 2 VON Special Steps assists memory impaired By Lee Coles SPECIAL T O THE BEAVER W hat's in a name? More, some times, than meets the eye. Take the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON), for instance. The in-home community health care service provided by registered nurses for over a century is renowned and admired. But this prestigious organization has not remained Victorian in outlook and vision, nor has it confined its communi ty involvement to nursing, increasingly valued though they are. Even many of its most ardent sup porters are not aware of the multi faceted community services undertaken by VON's 15,000-plus volunteers across the country. One of VON Halton's newest volun teer opportunities is in the Special Steps program. This is a walking and visiting pro gram for seniors experiencing memory impairments. Volunteers seek to provide stimulat ing and supportive friendship, and to enhance the person's quality of life. Client confidentiality is carefully guarded by VON, but one such volun teer works with Ann (not her real name). Ann is in her early 50s, and has a professional background in health and social service programs and education. Ann's troubles began when she start ed to find it difficult to process work accurately, and this - originally misdi agnosed - was eventually traced to a bacterial infection picked up while on holiday in a jungle area of Central America two years earlier. At that time Ann had almost drowned in a tidal pool and, although rescued by two friends, had ingested water-borne bacteria. Ann became increasingly aware of a struggle for words. This had never been a problem before. There had never been any difficulty in expressing herself lucidly and comfortably. Now it required exhausting effort. "I had never realized the enormous mental activity it takes simply to count," she says. But Ann has strong determination and since 1994 has developed three pri mary support systems to help her over come short-term memory loss. First is a visual awareness environ ment that aids memory recall. Files and equipment are colour coded and this helps in keeping her life organized and coping with a mind reluctant to respond automatically to life's common demands. Another essential friend to Ann is her computer. This has a number of pro grams, as well as specially set up data and records, which can quickly bring back to mind information which other wise would exhaust her struggling brain to recall. One program even has a voice response system that can instruct or advise Ann in particular areas of need. And then, Ann has one more vital element in her support system - her VON Special Steps program volunteer, Diane. The VON volunteer is the special link who makes sure the visual and computer support elements are working well for current needs, and resolves day to day problems. Equally important, Diane helps Ann broaden the range of her activities and thus enhance the qual ity of life. For instance, Ann wants to renew her social life - an area she had always enjoyed. Diane picked up a variety of appropriate brochures and, after addi tional research and phone calls, Ann has now selected a social group she is keen to become involved with. Ann requires an inordinate effort to be vigilant, and when there are unexpected interrup tions, she can lose immediate memory. Ann must always pace herself. "When my brain is tired, then for no other reason it wants to cry - even on the street. I am now pretty well strug gling every day. "Strangely," she continues, "I have found that Gregorian Chants bring down the stress level. I also need the weekly chats with Diane - they are crit ical." And Diane, ideally matched to Ann by the VON Special Steps co-ordinator, finds tremendous satisfaction in her H alton VON Special Steps client A nn, left, plans her ou tin gs w ith Diane, her friend and volunteer. ME Association receives $32,500 Trillium grant The Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of Halton and Hamilton-Wentworth has received a grant of $32,500, over a two-year term, from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. "The funds will be used for a public awareness campaign and will enhance the activities currently carried out by our volunteers," said Sally Hansen, President of the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) Association o f Halton and Hamilton-Wentworth. "Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), commonly referred to as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is a serious, debilitating dis ease, affecting thousands in our community. "We hope that as more people become aware of our asso ciation, they will realize that they are not alone in their health challenges." The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, receives annu ally $ 100-million in government funds generated through Ontario's charity casino initiative. The foundation provides grants to eligible charitable and not-for-profit organizations in the arts, culture, sports, recre ation, environment and social service sectors. Founded in 1991, the ME Association provides: A resource centre, with telephone support, an extensive library, current research information and drop-in centre. Information packages and bi-annual newsletter to mem bers. Support groups. An information database of members and those ill with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. Community awareness activities including lectures, dis plays and fundraising activities. Educational material for physicians and other health professionals. Information on youth with M.E. and raising awareness in the educational system. The Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of Halton & Hamilton-Wentworth (www.hwcn.org/link/mehhw/), based in Burlington, provides support and information to empower persons with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and their families. The ME Association raises funds, fosters and supports research and educates government representatives, medical and educational professionals, and the public on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, it's debilitating effects, and on the social and economic consequences. For more information, call Sally Hansen or Barbara Taylor at the ME office, 905-319-7966 or visit the Web site at www.hwcn.org/link/mehhw/. The ME office is located at 2230 Mountainside Dr., Unit 5, Burlington. role. "I could not have been given a more fulfilling opportunity," she says. Co-ordinator Lilian Kee said, "The VON's Special Steps program has 40 volunteers matched on a one-to-one basis with individuals ranging in age from their late 30s to early 90s. There are 50 more on the waiting list. The pro gram is in urgent need of more volun teers like Diane who can offer helpful support to extraordinarily special peo ple like Ann." VON Halton, a registered charity, has been offering high quality client- focused community health and support services to Halton residents since 1930. As an accredited health care organiza tion, VON Halton is committed to meeting rapidly changing social and health care needs. Anyone interested in learning more about the Special Steps Program or other volunteer opportunities can con tact the VON at 905-827-8800, ext. 2310, or 1-800-387-7127. Training is provided to all new volunteers. Lee Coles is a VON Halton volun teer. Life skills speaker at HPBWN Awakening Your Life Skills, A light hearted, pragmatic and humourous approach to leading a less stressful life, will be the theme of the Tuesday, Aug. 13 dinner meeting of the Halton Professional Business Women's Network. Guest speaker will be Susan Stem, host and writer of the television series Healthy Alternatives, An Introduction to Alternative Practices and Lifestyle Choices. She is an educator, keynote speaker and media personality. Stem was bom in Hungary, and came to Canada in 1957. Since that time, she has lived in Israel, New York, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria. She has survived wars and revolutions, been kidnapped, had a gun held to her head and was hit by a truck. In spite of all this, she remains opti mistic and says, that for her, the glass is always half full. The meeting will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2774 South Sheridan Way, Oakville (905-8291145), beginning with networking at 5 p.m., followed by announcements and introductions at 6 p.m. Stem will speak at 7 p.m., and dinner is at 7:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required. The cost for members is $30 plus GST and for non-members, $40 plus GST. (Non members must prepay for this event.) For more info or to register, please call Laura or Chantal at 905-844-4410 or send e-mail to laura@macdonaldscott.com by Wednesday Aug. 7. A U G U ST 2002 C o m m u n it y IN V O LV EM EN T IS W H ER E W E'R E AT! In addition to providing com munity news, sports, entertainment and business 3 times a week, The Oakville Beaver newspaper takes pride in the fact that w e support the organizations that make Oakville the caring com munity it is. Our m onetary and in-kind donations exceed $250,000 annually to non-profit and community groups. S n m m o rtim e Oi l i \ i c i k o v i :ic 1. FAMILY MATTERS, by R ohinton Mistry I t« M > k .s Bookers Bookstore, 172 Lakeshore Rd. E , Oakville · 905 · 844-5501 · bookers@sympatico.ca HATESHIP, FRIENDSHIP, COURTSHIP, LOVESHIP, by Alice M unro THOUSAND COUNTRY ROADS, From Downtown Toronto to Downtown Oakville We're excited that Meka has joined our creative hair team. 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WE ARE PROUD TO GIVE BACK TO THESE CARING O R G AN IZATIO N S: · Rotary Club · Salvation Army · Community Foundation of Oakville · The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts · Ian Anderson House · M aycourt Club · Kinsman Club · Lions Foundation · Oakville Big Sisters · Fareshare Foodbank · Halton Lung Association · Minor Oaks Hockey · Halton Roller Hockey · Canadian Cancer society · Chamber of Commerce · Volunteer Week · VON Canada · Ontario Special Olympics · Halton Women's Place · Halton Adolescent Services · Big Brothers · Sheridan College · Crime Stoppers · Catholic Education Week · Oakville Express Girls' Soccer · Sick Kids Telethon · Muscular Dystrophy · M.A.D.D. · Oakville Beaver Literacy Fund · Terry Fox Run · Alzheimers Association · Oakville Arts Council · Oakville Choral Society · Ontario Heritage Foundation · Seniors lubilee · Canadian Tulip Festival · International Year of Older Persons · Hospital for Sick Kids · CNIB Walk Towards Independence · Multiple Sclerosis-Super CitiesWalk · Rose Cherry's Home · Animal Aid · St. John Ambulance · Breast Cancer Support Services · Miriam Group (Children with Aids) · Opera Hamilton · Numerous public, secondary and private school events and more. by Lori Lansens {Brunch Event, Nov. 3) 7. 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