HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-08-29, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013.
Falls among seniors are by far a
leading cause for hospitalization for
people aged 66 and over. Almost
half of all visits to hospital
emergency rooms in Huron and
Stratford for that age group are as a
result of falls, according to the
Southwest Local Health Integration
Network (SW LHIN).
For seniors and frail elderly,
exercise and education programs
work to maintain their physical
health, balance and mobility and
reduce falls. To support this, ONE
CARE Home and Community
Support Services offers programs in
communities throughout Huron
County and in Stratford and
volunteers are urgently needed to
lead and assist in classes.
ONE CARE is a leader in exercise
and wellness programs for older
adults with more than 1,000 people
taking part in a variety of exercise
classes offered in communities
throughout Huron and Perth.
Programs, led by trained volunteers,
are geared to the activity level and
ability for all ages of older adults.
One participant notes, “I feel more
confident when I am out and about. I
am steadier on my feet and I can get
up from the table with greater ease.
This program has been a benefit to
me.”
ONE CARE’s exercise programs
are supported by volunteers who
receive training through the
Canadian Centre for Activity and
Aging in London. They also receive
First Aid and CPR training.
This fall the agency will be
starting several new programs and
volunteers are urgently needed to
support this important service.
“We need volunteers who will
embrace the importance of exercise
for older people and the importance
of falls prevention education. The
training is excellent and at no cost to
the volunteers. Through education
and mentorship, a volunteer can
make such a big difference in
helping an elderly person,” says
Trudy Jonkman, Wellness Co-
ordinator at ONE CARE.
Volunteers who offer their time to
support ONE CARE’s exercise
programs speak highly of the
experience. Volunteer exercise
leader Sibyl Tebbutt, notes, “I really
enjoy leading exercise classes,
helping people maintain strength,
flexibility and balance. I get far
more back from my participants
than they get from me. It is also a
great social experience.”
This fall new programs will be
offered in Clinton, Seaforth, Exeter,
Brussels, Hensall, Wingham and in
five locations in Stratford and
volunteers are needed to assist.
For more information call ONE
CARE Home and Community
Support Services and ask to speak to
Volunteer Co-ordinator Delia
Huitema at 519-482-1634 or toll-
free at 1-888-482-1634 extension
2226.
By Rev. Gary Clark
Blyth United Church
In these last few weeks of the
summer I reflect on two very
different sets of experiences. I was
the Christian education program
staff person for Camp Bimini last
week and the week before that I
helped with the day camp in
Monkton (co-hosted with Monkton
Presbyterian and United Churches)
and earlier I helped with the day
camp here in Blyth.
If you combine these camps
together then I have been privileged
to sing, play, laugh, befriend and
share my faith with well over 200
children. As young people used to
say, “It was awesome!” I hope it
was as meaningful to them as it was
to me.
The other experience was the
attending and conducting of a
number of decoration services. In
many ways, I had thought, the other
end of the spectrum of life. And yet
I cannot help but see them
connected. After all why do we
come to decoration services if not to
remember those who are in the
cemetery? The tombstones tell us
precious little of those who lie below
them. They speak only of their
names, dates of birth and death and
maybe if they were married and had
kids. Did they not live fuller lives
than that? Is there nothing more to
remember?
And as I have observed over the
last number of years with fewer and
fewer in attendance at decoration
services, did these people have
smaller families and fewer friends to
remember them? Maybe the
problem here is in the name?
Decoration services are not about
prettying up a cemetery with
streamers and displays. Decoration
services raise some funds through
the offering but are really about
coming together to celebrate the
lives of those who have decorated
our lives. To celebrate those who
now rest but in their lives were
tireless in making a difference in the
lives of others.
That leads me back to the youth
camps. At most camps you will find
adults who are volunteering a whole
week of their vacation to make
memories for young people and by
example impart some of their
faith.
As the Christian education person
I have to come up with creative ways
to tell the Christian story so that the
young might understand the power
of God in our lives. Nothing tells
this story better than the lived
example of the faithful right in the
children’s midst at camp. This is
exactly what Paul is talking about in
Galatians 5:22 “But the Spirit
produces love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
humility, and self control.” (By the
way there is a great camp song based
on this verse.)
The program staff and the many
young counsellors are sharing the
fruits of the spirit with these many
kids and what memories these gifts
produce for both kids and leaders.
The lives of all are decorated
because they have come together in
joy and in the hope of sharing the
gift of faith.
So here is the challenge, “What
have you as an adult done to
decorate the lives of others and how
have others decorated your life?”
The true answer might be seen in
numbers of those who show up for
Decoration Services in the future.
And just in case we think this is just
about the volunteers that this matters
I want to quote Todd Kestin a writer
who has reflected on the failure rates
of kids who have the smarts for
university but fail out just the same.
He writes, “There’s more to
preparing for adulthood than
academic education. I believe if kids
spent their summers in camp, they’d
be better prepared for later decisions
like whether to go to college, and
how to make the best life for who
they are. Kids, especially teens, need
mentors they trust, separate from
their parents. These role models
provide guidance and help them
prepare for their adult lives by
helping them lay the foundation
now.”
So decorate a life! It means much
more than you think both for you
and for the kids involved.
From the Minister’s StudyGet decorating your life says Blyth’s Clark
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS
MINISTER
Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224
Sept. 1 - Humbleberry Pie
Sunday School resumes Sept. 15
Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m.
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, September 1
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 11 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and
preschoolers during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743
www.blythcrc.ca
Minister: Pastor Gary Van Leeuwen
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-9017
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
www.huronchapel.com
Are you ready to
Like
CHURCH?
Huron Chapel 10:30am Sunday
BRUSSELS
Sandra Cable, Pastor
Church Office 519-887-6259
E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com
SUNDAY SERVICE 11:00 am
Sunday School
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
United Church
getlivingwater.org
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Sept. 1: Lk. 14:7-14
Evangelical Missionary Church
“Banquetiquette:
The Honour of Humility”
250 Princess St., Brussels
519-887-6388
www.bmfchurch.com
Pastor Jim Whitehead
Guests Welcome
Jesus Is Lord!
Brussels
Mennonite
Fellowship
Worship Service 10:00 am
Coffee & Fellowship
Volunteers needs to support
seniors’ exercise program