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Belgrave, Ontario Fax:
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ALZHEIMER SOCIETY
OF HURON COUNTY
Cpett Maude
Thursday, January 25, 2001 10 am - 8 pm
317 Huron Road, Clinton
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available in Huron County.
Clinton 482-1482 1-800-561-5012
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THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2001. PAGE 7.
Seniors
Age helps put these winters into perspective
By Carol
McDonnell
(Conversation
about Christmas,
by Dylan Thomas)
Small Boy:
When you were a
boy, what was
Christmas like?
Self: It snowed.
Small Boy: It snowed last year,
too. I made a snowman and my
brother knocked it down and I
knocked my brother down and then
we had tea.
Self: But that was not the same
snow. Our snow was not only shaken -
in whitewash buckets down the sky, I
think it came shawling out of the
ground and swam and drifted out of
the arms and hands and bodies of the
trees; snow grew overnight and the
roofs of the houses like a pure and
grandfather moss, minutely ivied the
walls and settled on the postman,
opening the gate, like a dumb, numb
thunderstorm of white, torn
Christmas cards.
...they (the bells) rang their tid-
ings over the bandaged town, over
the frozen foam of the powder and
ice cream hills.
Like Dylan Thomas remembering
winter in Wales one might assume
that the winter we are now experi-
encing in Ontario will be the stuff of
which legends are made.
When one is "of a certain age"
however; it is easier to put all this
weather in perspective.
A senior elder from Perth County
vividly remembers the winter of
1946-47. Ploughs were not very
strong in those days and farm fami-
lies were marooned for weeks at a
time, that winter. Bread was dropped
from planes to small towns like
Rostock.
Finally 40 - 50 farmers shovelled
ahead of the ploughs in order to open
the roads.
After my own experience during
the winter of 1971, I have a new
respect for snowmobiles. Bus driv-
ers, teachers and several hundred
children were stuck in a school near
Poplar Hill.
Snowmobilers rounded up peanut
butter from neighbouring houses and
bread from an abandoned bread
truck.
Guess what was on the menu for
three days?
Broadcaster Bill Brady was our
line out to the world, as he stayed on
the air, day and night.
With an unprecedented six school
snow days ' before Christmas in
Huron County, the year 2000-01 has
been an old fashioned winter.
When daily squalls in the lee' of
Lake Huron are • making your
grumpy, remember the following:
1. Snow entertains children and
adults much more easily than rain.
Ever try to build a rainperson?
2. Electricity. is more reliable now
than in the past.
3. You will be able to "milk" this
winter for many years recalling it
as the winter it never stopped
snowing.
4. We are starting to have more
hours of daylight.
Never did get as bad as London,
England where the sun set at 3:30
in December.
5. You'll feel like a tough Canuck
for surviving this winger.
6. It is time to place your order with
the seed catalogues.
7. Spring will come at last. It
always has!
Good reads at the Huron Public
Library — Elder Wisdom: Crafting
Your Own Elderhood by Eugene
Bianchi; Such a Long Journey by
Rohinton Mistry, a great story which
takes place during Indira Gandhi's
reign in India.
Early evaluation of Alzheimer's very important
By Alexandra Beasse
Public Education Co-ordinator
Alzheimer Society of Huron
County
Since Alzheimer's disease was
first described in 1906, a diagnosis
takes time as there is no single labo-
ratory test capable of making a 100
per cent accurate diagnosis.
The truth is that only a brain biop-
sy conducted at an autopsy can 100
per cent accurately diagnose
Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, a
diagnosis has often been referred to
as a 'diagnosis by exclusion'.
The family physician needs to
make a comprehensive evaluation to
FROM AUBURN
As Rev. Paul Ross is away on hol-
idays Richard Bain of Stratford was
guest preacher at ,Knox United
Church on Sunday.
Mr. Bain drew attention to the
church announcements. Reports for
the yearly annual report are due by
Feb. 1 and congregational meeting
will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at
12:30 p.m. in the Sunday School
room.
The Community Care project is
underway and numerous articles are
needed. A list was given in the
notice.
The UCW will meet Tuesday,
Jan. 23 at 8 p.m.
The first hymn was New Every
Morning with Bernice Gross organ-
ist.
establish a proper diagnosis; this
should include, but is not limited to,
a personal and family health history,
physical and neuropsychological
exam, mental status exam, and other
tests.
Today, a diagnosis can be made
within an 80 - 90 per cent accuracy.
Early and careful evaluation is
important. Many conditions mimic
the symptoms of Alzheimer's dis-
ease (memory loss; personality
changes, and disorientation). Many
of these conditions are reversible
such as depression, adverse drug
reactions, metabolic changes, and/or
nutritional deficiencies.
Mr. Bain followed with prayer.
He then invited the children to the
front. He spoke to them about
starfish.
Scripture was read from Micah 6.
God has shown what is good. There
should be justice, mercy and people
should walk humbly with Him.
Then in Matthew 28, Jesus spoke
to the disciples and told them that
they should go and teach everyone
to follow his commandments and
baptize them in God's name.
Mr. Bain's sermon was on what
life is for. God made the world and
everything in it and gave it to peo-
ple to care for. Every person in this
world regardless of health, wealth,
illness or poverty has God's love, hi
said.
Offering was then received and
presented by the Sturzenegger
ilY.
Researcher Dr. Webster Ross esti-
mates that 60 per cent of Alzheimer
patients develop dementia long
before family or doctors notice.
Often families miss the early signs,
mistakenly attributing changes to the
normal aging process. Precious time
can• be lost resulting in lack of prior
planning for care and financial
issues.
One caregiver urges, "It can make
the difference between financial
hardships and wise decisions. for a
realistic future with your loved one."
A barrier to early diagnosis can
sometimes result from a physician's
hesitancy to have a 'process of elim-
Ball's Cemetery board met at the
home of Vera and Lloyd Penfound
this past Wednesday. The anniver-
sary this summer is a special date so
minister and music leaders are
required.
Ila Cunningham with her brother-
in-law Walter Cunningham and
family members went on a trip to
Hawaii.
Ethel Ball went on a trip to
Florida.
A number of Auburn people went
to the Seaforth funeral home to offer
their sympathy for the death of Mr.
Arthur Finlayson. He is the father of
Brenda, Mrs. Ken Empey, of
Auburn and also well known as an
excellent lawn bowler. He will be
ination' as their diagnostic conclu-
sion. A probable diagnosis can help
families in many ways.
One caregiver says, "Alzheimer
disease is an illness and nothing of
which to be ashamed. It makes it
easier when we get a diagnosis and
can simply share the facts of the dis-
ease with others. When they know
what the problem is, it reduces the
stress for all concerned."
Comprehensive support and coun-
selling programs have been shown
to increase the time spouse-care-
givers are able to care for
Alzheimer's disease affected per-
sons at home. Depression often
sadly missed by family and friends.
This snappy cold weather is
bringing more birds to the feeders.
There have been numerous finches
and Sunday a pair of hairy wood-
peckers came to call. Several red-
polls came for a meal. We have had
downy woodpeckers and a red-bel-
lied one.
accompanies a diagnosis, treatment
with anti-depressant medications
have proved to be beneficial.
Currently there are drug therapies
which, when begun early in the dis-
ease process, may delay the onset of
further stages of the disease process
for up to 24 months.
If you, or someone you know, has
been diagnosed with Alzheimer's
disease, the Alzheimer Society of
Huron County is here to help.
Information is available on the dis-
ease, the 10 warning signs, the diag-
nostic procedure, caregiving, and
more. The Society is located at 317
Huron Rd. in Clinton.
40; PaRTICIPaL71017
www.participaction.com
R. Bain, guest speaker
at Knox United service