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"A Family Tradition for 127 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, April 20, 1993 - 13 Palliative Care hopes to set up group in Scugog Editor's note: In order to protect the confidentiality of the client, the gentleman who was inter- viewed by the Port Perry Star will be referred to as "Roger" and his wife willbe "Mary." When a loved one is sick and needs constant care it is often difficult for the spouse or other family members to cope. It is even more difficult when an in- come must still be earned. As the illness becomes more advanced and the family mem- ber requires more and more care, it is demanding on the family members. There is often nowhere to turn for relief and daily life be- comes nothing more than a blur. This was the case with Roger and his wife Mary. Mary was suffering from can- cer and was bedridden with the illness. Roger was not only car- | ing for his wife, but was also try- ing to maintain regular hours at his job. It was becoming increas- ingly difficult to do both. Roger didn't know which way to turn, nor did he know how much longer he could handle the incredible amount of stress. He eventually took time off work, but his employer was re- quiring him back at work. "When something like this happens, you're in a total fog," Roger said. But help was just around the corner for Roger. Aware of Roger's plight, a doc- tor contacted Betty Bignell, ex- ecutive director of Uxbridge Palliative Care Services, to offer support. Uxbridge Palliative Care is a volunteer service providing comfort, relief and support to terminally ill people and their families in the home. A short time later, Mrs. Big- nell had met with Roger and Mary and a schedule had been established where volunteers would come to care for his wife. This would allow Roger to leave the house with a clear con- science knowing that his wife was in good hands. "When she was sick, I didn't even know these things existed. Youjust don't know," he said. For the next three months un- til Mary passed away, a number of careworkers visited her on a regular basis staying with her for three or more hours at a time. "They were great company and great assistance to her," Roger said. He noted all the little extras they did while in the home such as preparing meals. "The three ladies that helped me were just excellent," he said. Many more people sing the praises of the service as well, as one can see by thumbing through the collection of clip- pings Mrs. Bignell has concern- ing the program. xbridge Palliative Care was established in 1990 to provide support, companionship and friendship to ill patients. The goal of the service is to provide assistance and support so the individual may live at home as fully and comfortably as possible. It also helps fami- lies cope with the distress that accompanies disease, death and bereavement. A physician must recommend the patient to the service before the careworkers can begin ser- vicing the client. Perhaps the most important aspect of the service is that it supplies a caring person who is willing to spend time with the patient as a companion. Mrs. Bignell says people become scared and lonely when faced with death. "When people are dying they find their friends pulling away." Mrs. Bignell says they are there to provide emotional sup- port and practical assistance. One person who is all too fa- miliar with this is Anne Wan- ninkhof, who has experienced both personal losses as well as that of clients whom she has met since becoming a caregiver with the service. "I have gained a lot of strength by giving," Mrs. Wan- ninkhof said. "The more you give the stronger you become." Mrs. Wanninkhof says there is a certain satisfaction in help- ingothers. "I'm always the kind of person who likes to help and give the most of myself." Mrs. Wanninkhof, who has lost a number of family mem- bers including her husband, cannot say enough about the - program or the benefits it pro- vides to the community. In fact, the program has be- come so popular that it is out- growing itself and is in need of area. Mrs. Bignell is also planning to start up a Scugog Palliative Care Unit shortly, something many say is needed right away. "I feel we could very well ser- vice the people from here," Mrs. Wanninkhof said. "More people have expressed an interest if serving as a volunteer in they can stay in the (Scugog) area." At the present time there are only three volunteers for the Port Perry area, says Mrs. Big- nell who is hoping to increase the number to 10. "We need several more volun- teers to help service the commu- nity better," she said. An information session 'is : Rmnsd for the Scugog area on sday, April 27 at Communi- ty Memorial Hospital beginning at 7:30 p.m. in thelibrary. A course on palliative care is planned for the Uxbridge area in May, but may be offered in 'the Scugog area if the interest warrants it. For more infermation call S524)... more volunteers to service the Pontiac Performance Dealers Give You TAT REASONS TO BUY BUICK REGAL 1993 Buick Regal Custom Sedan : Jj (Not exactly as shown.) (Driv Regal Custom Sedan ® 9 Four more reasons comes equipped with: I AY REDI BLE Regal has it over Camry: i i * Regal has a longer +3 we verge LOW PRICE reins 4-speed automatic oy end transmission * Regal has more headroom ® dual zone air than Camry conditioning * Regal has more interior ® cruise control space than Camry ® power windows * Regal has more trunk * AM/FM stereo cassette space than Camry ® power door locks ® tilt steering ® 24 Hour Roadside Assistance** ® 3 year/60,000 km GM Total™ Warranty BUICK REGAL CUSTOM SEDAN SPECIAL ORDER ONE MORE REASON TO HURRY IN ~ OFFER ENDS MAY 31! 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