OFFICIAL MEDIA SPON SOR O F TH E OAKVILLE WATERFRONT FESTIVAL Focus O ak*C U & W c r fe r fr c m t fe ittv a l FOURTH LINE AUTO For A ll Your Car's Needs Drive Clean Emission Testing Government Safety Inspection Tune-Ups · Brakes · Exhaust · Cooling Systems CAA Approved Shop 559 Speers Road 842-3001 In Business in Oakville Since 1979 Oakville Beaver Focus Editor: WILMA BLOKHUIS 845-3824 Ext: 250; Fax: 337-5567; Email: blokhuis@haltonsearch.com Respite for Alzheimer' s By Mary Collett SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER At age 56, A1 MacLellan is not your typical Alzheimer patient. Nor is his 30-year-old son, Jason, your typical caregiver. M ost Alzheimer victims are consid erably older - 65 at least; and their care givers are generally older, and predom inantly female. But then, very little about these two men and their shared personal history is in any way "typical." If not unique, their story is unusual ly poignant. In 1995, A1 was diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease, while his wife, Loretta, Jason's mother, was in the lat ter stage of a nine-year battle with can cer. Though she succumbed to her ill ness in February 1999, at just 56 years of age, Jason is "thankful" that A1 still had the mental capacity to comprehend her "passing" and accept its finality. "Dad did better than I thought he would" Jason says. "He remembers M om 's death and knows of her burial place." It was over the course of Loretta's brave struggle with cancer that the MacLellan family first accessed the services of the Victorian Order of Nurses - VON Halton. It would mark the beginning of a vir tually unbroken and mutually enriching relationship that endures to this day. The VON provides health care treat ment both within the community, and in the patient's home. In addition to nurs ing services for those afflicted, the VON has numerous programs in place for caregiver relief. These include the Alzheimer Services Support Groups, designed to assist the caregiver, and the Seniors' Day Program for persons with Alzheimer's and other related cognitive disorders. The support groups meet on regular dates, at designated times and locations, across Halton Region. The Seniors' Day Program operates Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for up to 24 clients, and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for a maxi Photo by Riziero Vertolli H alton's Alzheim er Services. increased visibility, while closets, cup boards and keyed exits blend in harmo niously to create less confusion for the clients. Romeo, the resident budgie, chirps cheerfully from his gilded cage, and an aquarium houses a variety of brightly coloured tropical fish. The clients eagerly look forward to scheduled vis its from friendly pets, brought in by the Oakville Humane Society. (See 'A lzheim er. . . ' page 2) Jason (left) and A1 MacLellan with Christine Fenn, program manager, VON mum of 12 clients. The program is held a trained volunteer. at VON Halton, 2370 Speers Rd., with There is a frilly equipped kitchen, bus transportation supplied if needed. stocked with a variety of beverages, The customized facilities feature nutritious snacks, and basic foodstuffs. bright, spacious common rooms where On this day, the enticing aroma of clients can gather to socialize or take homemade oatmeal cookies, baked by part in organized games and activities. supervised clients, wafts through an A cozy bedroom is available in the open doorway. Lunch is provided daily event of unexpected illness or fatigue. by Meals on Wheels. Walls are painted in soothing pastel Here too, in private surroundings, clients can receive foot care and once- shades, with entries to washrooms a-month reflexology ministrations from highlighted in darker tones for Dressing for work By Wilma Blokhuis BEAVER FOCUS EDITOR She's taken all of the training, and has previous work experi ence. However, she's just left an abusive relationship, and hopes to return to the workforce and regain her independence. But, she has nothing to wear to the interview, and she knows that first impressions go a long way in this situation. Enter ClothingWorks, a new program of the Women's Centre. "We help women with everything else," says Melvina Walter, acting executive director of the centre. "We train them for the return to work, supportthem, and givethem the information. Now, we can give them the clothes." In fact, says Walter, the Women's Information and Support Centre of Halton, had been considering such a project. "We talked about it (off and on) for five to seven years," she said. Recently, four women approached the centre with their ClothingWorks idea. They were immediately recruited as new vol unteers. A committee was established consisting of the four volun teers, Sue Logan, Joanne Farrow, Gay Drinkwalter and Helen Gareau, along with Walter and Anne Parry, vice-chair of the Women's Centre board of directors. (See ClothingWorks . . . ' page 3) Photo by Barrie Erskine Hoping to fill their empty hangers with business clothing for women re-entering the workforce, are from left, Anne Parry, W om en's Centre; Joanne Farrow, ClothingWorks; Melvina Walter, Women's Centre; Gay Drinkwalter, ClothingWorks; Helen Gareau, ClothingWorks; and Sue Logan, ClothingWorks. ClothingWorks is a new program o f the Women's Centre. D o n 't p ^ iy JK r Penny! &Piuq In A Beam! g P i e i A L © PPSH , MILLMNNiUM ID1TION1 Includes Millenium Edition Central Vacuum System, heavy duty 3 stage 5.7 motor, Butler Electric Powerhead, 30' reinforced hose with 2-way switch, (turns powerhead "on" or "off") with Lite Touch handle, plus deluxe attachment set. 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