The Brussels Post, 1978-01-04, Page 3LEARNING TO PAINT — Art teacher Holly Manske .of Brucefield looks on while
Pat Watson of Brussels tries her hand at painting, during a session at the Huron
Centre for the HomeSound. (Photo by Townshend)
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1 THE BRUSSELS POST, -,JANUARY 4, 1978 —3
0vtreack progrom works
By Elaine Townshend
A year ago the Huron Outreach
Program conceived the idea of a
count y-wide Day Care Centre for
the homebound; that is, persons
confined to the home because of
age or disability. Such projects
had been successful in several
cities, but Huron was the first
rural area to attempt it.
In April 1977, a steering
committee was formed, and
Chester Archibald, administrator
of Huronview, on behalf of its
Board of Directors, offered the
use of the Huronview facilities.
Funding was obtained through a
federal government grant and a
New Horizons grant. In October,
the Huron County Day Care
Centre opened under co-ordinator
Ann St. Jean of Auburn and her
assistants, Rosemary Armstrong,
and Karen Scruton, both 'of
Clinton.
In the intervening two months,
thirty volunteers have given 270
hours of their time and recently
the centre sponsored a volunteer
workshop to discuss their roles
and their rights. Jean, Baker of
Clinton and Winnie Mason of
Auburn come every day, and Jean
explains, "It gets me out of the
house and gives me other
thoughts. I feel that I get much
more out of it than what I give."
Twenty-six homebound
persons have t aken part in the ,
Day Care Centre thus far. They
come from as far away as
Brussels, Walton and Ethel.
Some visit one day a week; others
two days a week, and a few three
days a' week. They were referred
to Ann' • St. '.1ean by agencies,
doctors, families and friends, and
she visited each applicant to
ensure his or her eligibility before
accepting them. Each participant
pays $2 a day, which includes
transportation, a hot meal and the
use of Huronview facilities, such
as the exercise room and craft
room, the auditorium, hairdres-
sing personnel and general health
care.
The centre has its own kitchen,
sitting room, den, office. and
bedroom for anyone requiring a
rest during the day. It is open
three days a week, but the staff •
hopes to expand to five days a
week in the spring. An average of
eight people attend each day, and
one volunteer is needed for two
participants.
"People come first," says
assistant co-ordinator Rosemary
Armstrong. "If someone needs
something, the paper work can
wait."
Activities include shuffleboard,
cards, crafts, exercises • and
discussion groups. On Tuesday
afternoon, Holly Manske, an art
instructor from Brucefield,
conduct 's a "painting for fun"
class, and on Thursdsay, John
Talbot, a Seaforth volunteer,
teaches woodworking. Huronview
residents and Day Care partici-
pants are welcome to take part in
each others' programs. For
example, many Day Care people
enjoy the Old Time music
provided by Huronview on
Monday, while several
Huronview residents join the
"painting for fun" class on
Tuesday.
The purpose of the-centre is to
give people more meaning to
their lives. It helps senior citizens
to stay in their own homes longer
by giving them something to do
and a chance to be with other
people. Thus it combats
loneliness and boredom which
can lead to illness. Similarly, it
helps stroke patients, who
previously lived very active lives,
to adjust and encourages them to
get back into the community.
The centre has already reached
many people-, but Ann St. Jean
knows there are many more to be
contacted. She has used the local
media to make people aware of
the centre, and she is willing to
speak to any organization wanting
to know more about it.
Rosemary Armstrong credits
Ann's enthusiasm' as one of the
reasons for the success of the Day
Care Centre, but Ann is quick to
point out that the centre-could not
serve the homebound in Huron
County without the dedication of
all the staff and volunteers.
Huron gets new family agency
. _
The new Family Care AGency
of Huron County, operating on a
Canada Works grant of $33,540
came into effect January 2, 1978.
Offices are located in Wingham in
co-operation with the Ministry of
Social Services.
John McKinnon, director of
social services for Huron County,
told county council Thursday in
Goderich that between 40 and 70
certified homemakers and others
are signed up with the agency to
prOvide service on a few basis to
privat individuals and agencies
iii.Huron.
Mr. McKinnon explained that
flonie Care with 'offices. in
Seaforth will be a major user of,
the new agency. When home-
makers are required by the Home
Care co-ordinator, Mrs. Betty
Cardrio. she will call the Family
Care AGency in Wingham where
it is expected homemakerS,
household cleaners and
companions will be available
immediately for service anywhere
in the co •''-`
Home C., is a provincially
funded service id for through
Ontario HOSpt, Insurance
(01-11P). This Occti:s when a
patient under the doctor's care in
hospital leaves hospital early and
goes home under continued
Medical surveillance there.
Always, Home Care includes the
services of a visiting nurse or a
physiothoapist or both, and
occasionally a homemaker and
companion.
It was clearly pointed out at
Thursday's council meeting that
to'qualify for Home Care which is
funded 100 per cent by 0111P, one
must be under a doctor's carei be
in hospital and requite continued
medical assistance at 'hone after
leaving hospital early:
The Horne Care :program ;
McKinnon said, is designed to
alleviate the over-crowding in
hospitals.
The Family Care Agency will
also provide homemakers for the
Social Services Committee should
one be required, and for private
individuals. When homemakers
are.required by the social services
committee for Persons in need,
the cost is subsidized up to 80 per.
cent by the Ministry of Social
Services.
Individuals, Mr. McKinnon
pointed out, will pay for the
• service from their own pockets:
. Rates, for the homemakers
household cleaners and
companions were approved by
county council and are on 'a 'par
with Red Cross rates for such
services in the larger centres.
The hourly rate is $4.20 in town
and $4.60 out of town. The out of
town rate is in effect anytime a
homemaker has to travel more
than five miles from her home to
get to her work. Mr: McKinnon
pointed out the homemakers are
not paid mileage and the extra 40
cents per hour is in lieu of
mileage.
The daily rate is $33.60 in town,
$36.80 out of town for an
eight-hour day. The live in rate is
$50.40 inn town and out of town
per day.
HOME SUPPORT
The Home Support Program
has not been all that successful to
date in Huron County, but
according to J. R. Hunking,
chairman of the social services
committee, is it working well in
other areas and it is possible the
Ministry will approve funding
beyond March of 1978.
"The program, which provides
home support services to elderly
and handicapped adults and
includes heavy or seasonal
cleaning, gardening; repairs or
alterations to the home, transpor-
tation etc., is based on a flee for
service arrangement and is
provided to all persons regardless
of income," the chairman said.
"As a result, some receive the
service free while others pay on a
sliding scale based on income,
Mr. Hunking added, saying the
charges range from a few cents to
the actual cost of the service.
The committee feels that a
co-ordinator should be employed
to develop and establish guide-
lines for the program in. Huron.
This perSon would be hired on a
50-50 basis with the province for a
short term contract.
Mr. McKinnon has been given
authority to investigate the
possibility Of hiring a home
support program co-ordinator on
a contract basis. He will report
back to committee in the new
year.
Huronview
Enjoys duets
The residents appreciated two duet numbers by Cecil
Skinner and Nelson Lear and Luella Cox and Elsie Henderson
at the Sunday morning Chapel service.
The ladies of the Clinton Christian Reformed Church
congregation visited the residents in their rooms on Tuesday
afternoon and presented them with a lovely Christian
calendar.
On Family Night the Clinton Christian Refoirtned Church
Choir, led by Dick Roorda, entertained with a program of
Christmas music, Mrs:Van Dyke sang two solos and the Choir
sang four numbers. Mrs. Diane Bruinsma accompanied the
choir and soloist and Mrs. Elsie Henderson accompanied, for a
Sing-a-long of Christmas carols. Mrs. Valkeri'burg, a member
of the Church, expressed the appreciation of the residents.
Mr, Ed. Stiles of Goderich played an hour of organ Musk in
the Chapel on Thursday afternoon.