What does a church do with its access property? Find a worthwhile and much needed community program and provide a building. This is what Glen Abbey United Church plans to do. Because their new church buildâ€" Church proposes Alzheimer centre In 6 months, your child will learn computers! 1 and learn to love learning. In Oakville call us at 847â€"5437 Our handsâ€"on teaching techniques help kids from 5 to 13 years master computers At Futurekids, learning computers is an adventure in fun that will benefit your chilâ€" dren for the rest of their lives. _oaen a latlt reqular physical activi ; »%5 ap’/v%gcdfffer%’ [’5 ing, currently under construction, requires a little over half their propâ€" erty at Nottinghill Gate and Upper Middle Road, the church has decidâ€" ed to built an Alzheimer Respite Care Home on the remaining land "We have 2.5 acres available to build an Alzheimer Respite Care Home," says Glenys Reither, buildâ€" ing committee chair for Glen Abbey United Church. "The type and size of this building, separate from the church, will depending on funding. Nevertheless, the church for forging ahead with its proposed proâ€" ject, with the blessing of the Haltonâ€" Wentworth Chapter of Alzheimer Society. "We would like to start building as soon as possible, and we‘re investigating several different sources for funding," said Reither, adding, "this process of obtaining funding is taking longer than we had expected." Currently, says Reither, there is no facility offering respite care for St. John Ambulance Oakville Branch 466 Morden Road, Suite 201 Oakville, Ontario L6K 3W4 (905) 844â€"4844, Fax (905) 844â€"0780 SYMPOSIUM XSI Sm COST â€" $10.00 Preâ€"registration** $12.00 at the dOOF Fee Includes Lunch 8:30â€"9:00 9:00â€"10:50 11:00â€"11:50 12:00â€"12:30 12:30â€"1:00 Set up and registration Kendrick Extrication Device (KED) Stiff neck Collars Demonstration and Practice Facilitators â€" Bruce Hunter/Kris Ellis St. John Ambulance The Law and First Aid Facilitator The Home Emergency LifeLine Programme Facilétz;;or â€" Annette Arnold â€" Programme Coâ€"ordinator LUN AFTERNOON SESSIONS 1:00â€"1:50 2:00â€"2:50 Calling for Help â€" Ambulance Dispatch Facilitator Scott Robinson â€" Ministry of Health Centralized Ambulance Communications Centre (CACC) Mississauga Discussion on AIDS Facilitator â€" Dr. Moe Ali, Chief of Laboratory Services â€" St. Joseph Hospital Hamilton; Southern Area Medical Officer â€" St. John Ambulance Semiâ€"Automatic Early Defibrillation and Preâ€"Hospital Advance Cardiac Life Support Facilitator â€" Brent Browett â€" Chedokeâ€"MacMaster Hospitals Paramedic Services Alzheimer patients and their famiâ€" lies and caregivers in Halton, "despite the tremendous need." (However, there is day care availâ€" able for Alzheimer patients from the Halton Victorian of Nurses and SENACA Day Care Program for Seniors, both in Oakville.) _ * Glen Abbey United Church and the Alzheimer Society have formed a partnership to provide a facility offering an array of respite services from care of patients and relief for caregivers, plus rooms for shortâ€" term residential use. This will allow caregivers, usually family members, to enjoy a holiday knowing the patient is being care for in a familiar setting. The proposal calls for a centre which can handle up to 45 patients visiting daily, and 20 to 30 beds available for shortâ€"term care. The centre‘s services would be available to all of Halton. "About 1,700 people in Halton suffer from Alzheimer‘s disease," state the Alzheimer Society and Glen Abbey United Church. "About oneâ€"third, or 570 with moderate to severe dementia need respite care. "In Halton, only 750 beds in institutions are available for all forms of longâ€"term care, and the number is decreasing (due to fundâ€" ing cutbacks). On the waiting list for beds, there are 320 hold or deferred patients and 350 patients on the urgent list. The Ontario govâ€" ernment acknowledges that Halton has one of the lowest ratios of longâ€" term health care beds per capita in the province. The Glen Abbey proâ€" ject will only meet a small portion of the needs in Halton." The proposal was "put together by a team of visionaries," says Rev. Bill Brown, pastor of Glen Abbey United Church, "a small group of interested members of our church and the Haltonâ€"Wentworth Chapter of the Alzheimer Society. "In fact, two members of our congregation approached the Alzheimer Society, wanting to do something original using the extra land, and at the same time, fill a special need," said Brown. The church made its proposal to the society about a year ago, and monthly meetings have been held since aimed at bringing this proposâ€" al to fruition. "And, the society was thrilled to hear of our plans," added Reither. "The timing happened to be just right for them because they were looking for ways to fill this need." The society will be responsible for the dayâ€"toâ€"day operation and funcâ€" tion of the building, and the church will raise the funds and provide the building, as well as handling all public relations, promotion and fundraising. (See ‘Church .. .‘ page 5)