The Citizen, 2001-09-19, Page 7ee, fight Alzheimer's Have a co
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ALZHEIMER SOCIETY
OF HURON COUNTY
provides support, training & resources including:
• Library and Resource Centre
• Caring Support Groups
• Respite Assistance
• Referral & Advocacy Services
To access these services please call our office
317 Huron Rd., Clinton 482-1482 www.alzheimerhuron.on.ca
• Alzheimer Wandering Registry
• Information Short Courses
• In-service training
Study addresses dementia
A new study being conducted by (ASO) and its 39 local chapters Minister of Citizenship and Minister
researchers from the University of across Ontario, the Caregivers Responsible for Seniors.
Waterloo is looking for participants Association of Ontario and the John Ellis, executive director of
to help them determine exactly Murray • Alzheimer Research and the Alzheimer Society of Ontario,
which community supports are need- Education Program (MAREP) at the says, "The ASO is very excited
ed for caregivers of persons with University of Waterloo. about the project and we plan to use
dementia. The researchers are hoping to the results to develop recomMenda-
"Although not without its rewards, reach as many caregivers of persons tions for real change in policies and
caring for a person with dementia with dementia as possible. practices related to the provision of
can be one of the most difficult, frus- According to Smale, "every caregiv- community support services for
trating, and distressing of all care- er's involvement in the study is caregivers of persons with dementia
giving roles," said Dr. Sherry important to ensure that the experi- across the entire province."
Dupuis, associate director of ences and opinions of all caregivers If you are currently providing care
research for the Murray Alzheimer are represented." to a family member or someone else
Research and Education Program "The government is committed to . with Alzheimer's Disease or a relat-
and one of the researchers on the ensuring the health, well-being and ed dementia and would like to par-
study. best possible quality of life for ticipate in this study, or would like
Family members cannot cope in Ontario's seniors. We recognize that more information, you are asked to
their . caregiving roles without caregivers play an invaluable role in contact Cathy Ritsema at the
accessible, appropriate, and effective the quality of life for persons with Alzheimer's Society of Huron
support services in the commu- Alzheimer's," said Cam Jackson, County at 519-482-1482.
nity.
Nevertheless, Dupuis emphasized
that very little is known about the
experience of caregivers of persons
with dementia in Ontario and even
less about whether or not current
community support services are
addressing their needs.
The study being conducted by
Dupuis. and Drs. Bryan Smale and
Tim Epp, also from the University of
Waterloo, has been designed to till in
the current information gaps.
The study is- one of the 10 initia-
tives being funded by the
Government of Ontario through its
Strategy for Alzheimer Disease and
Related Dementias. Researchers also
are working in close partnership with
the . Alzheimer Society of Ontario both heart disease and age-related - News Canada _
Boost memory with vitamin B
memory loss) and those suffering
from Alzheinier's disease have lower
blood levels of certain vitamins,
especially folic acid, 136.and B12.
Getting an adequate at-wart of B
vitamins through diet and- supple-
mentation may lower homocysteine
and reduce its negative effect on
memory. •
Eating a diet 'rich in B • itamins
such as meats, fish, poultry, fortified
breakfast cereals, and taking a well-
balanced daily multivitamin, can
help raise levels of .helpful B vita-
mins and may play a role in protect-
ing your memory longliilain.
The thought of not being as men-
tally alert at 60 as we were.at 30 is a
scary one. Fears about conditions
such as Alzheimer's or dementia
have Canadians searching for reli-
able advice on how to avoid these
conditions by adopting preventative
lifestyle measures.
There are indications that getting
adequate amounts of certain vitamins
and minerals may be beneficial for
baby boomers trying to preserve
their memory as they age.
Early findings indicate that people
over the age of 60 with higher homo-
cysteine levels (a factor linked to
TEM CITIZEN, YWEIDN ES DAY,,SEPTE111 B ER 19, 20,01, PAPS,?
Seniors
History helps to make sense of our world
By Carol
McDonnell
Although the
second world war
was over approxi-
mately 50 years
ago, friends who
emigrated from
Europe after that
war were instantly
reminded or it, by
the events of Tuesday , Sept. 11,
2001.
Having immigrated to Canada
from Britain, one remembered the
nightly rain of bombs over London.
From Holland , another recalled the
sight of bombs beginning to fall as
he raced towards a bomb shelter.
While viewing the terrible images
of destruction in the United States,
these people immediately thought
back to this earlier time in their
lives. How many others_ who have
immigrated to the safety and securi-
ty of Canada after whatever war,
wherever in the world, were remind-
ed of their past ?
Whole cities were flattened by the
end of the war all over the world. I
thought back to my visit to the '
rebuilt Coventry Cathedral in
England, where a remnant of the for-
mer building still stood, after severe
destruction during the 1940s. The
words "Father Forgive" were still
visible on the piece of altar still
remaining.
In North America, September is
another new year for our society.
BusineSses are humming after the
holidays. Young children trot off to
school in their shiny back-to-school
clothes. Even my university-bound
daughter was bubbling with enthusi-
asm for her new courses. Life was
continuing.
Then life stopped. Abruptly our
continent was brought to a halt by
the tragedies unfolding, and we will
all remember where we were when
we first heard the news.
counselling and education materials.
Continued public support provides
much needed funds at the communi-
ty level to ensure people get the help
they need."
Each year in Canada, approxi-
mately $5.5 billion is spent on
Canadians with Alzheimer's, figures
that will skyrocket with the aging of
the baby boom population. By the
year 2031, it is estimated that more
than 750,000 Canadians will have
Alzheimer's related dementias if- a
cure is not found.
People across the country are
encouraged to help in the fight
against Alzheimer's by making a
donation when they have their daily
cup of coffee. For more details to
find out the location of Coffee Break
Not since Canadians and
Americans fought each other during
the War of 1812 has anyone attacked
the continental United States. Then
of course there was the American
Civil War (1861-1865) with a
tremendous loss of life. Canada has
not been attacked from without
although we have certainly had our
problems internally.
But we have all felt so smug and
secure on our almost-island of a con-
tinent. For so many years both coun-
tries have prospered unfettered by
major conflict. Generations of chil-
dren and grandchildren have grown,
free from too many worries of secu-
rity.
Haying seen many action films
and television shows over the years,
it was difficult to realize that the
images of the television were real
people.That was not . Arnold
Schwartzenegger coming down the
street with a crew of special-effects
people just off the camera range.
near you, contact your local
Alzheimer Society or call 1-800-
616-8816. For more information,
check the website www.alzheimer.ca
in the news and events section.
Coffee Break is the Alzheimer
Society's nationwide fundraiser.
Through a nationwide network of
provincial and local organizations,
the Alzheimer Society operates sup-
port and educational programs for
people with Alzheimer's disease and
their caregivers and funds research.
The Society's programs are funded
primarily by donations from caring
Canadians. Participating locally are
Huronlea -Home of the Aged,
Brussels Town and Country, Blyth
Apothecary, Brussels Legion and
Duff's United Church, Walton.
Many of us have been to New York
and used those twin towers to get our
bearings as we toured Manhattan.
Whatever we use as a moral com-
pass in our lives , we will need to
immerse ourselves to come to grips
with these happenings and help our
children, and friends to do so as
well.
History is not being taught to any
great degree in our schools these
days. What a shame. For studying
the past would give anyone a better
perspective on even this event.
Even better though is to talk to
someone who has lived a long life,
experienced the evils of our world,
but still looks forward to another
day. In this way we can establish an
historical compass in order to come
to grips with recent and future
events.
On Thursday, Sept. 20, Canadian
coffee _lovers can join the fight
against Alzheimer's disease by
• donating the cost of their favourite
brew to the Alzheimer Society.
Proceeds from the over 10,000
Coffee Breaks to be held in towns
and cities across Canada will help
local programs and services for
those with Alzheimer's and their
caregivers who are coping with the
debilitating effects of the disease.
"Today, over 350,000 Canadians
have Alzheimer's disease and related
dementias," said Steve Rudin, exec-
utive director. of the Alzheimer
Society of Canada. .
"These individuals and their care-
givers need help with programs and
resources such as support groups,