HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2017-01-25, Page 3There is no safe exits for disabled packers says Seaforth councillor
Shaun Gregory
Huron Expositor
With the removal of
angled parking, Seaforth
Coun. Bob Fisher referred to
the new layout on Main
Street as being hazardous for
handicap parkers.
At the January 10 Iluron
East council meeting, Fisher
said it's been about six years
of demanding for the safety
of those that are disabled,"
I'm tired of brining it up:'
Fisher understands where
people are coming from in
the footings of physical set-
backs, as the Egmondville
native is visually disabled
himself. He admitted to
being on several committees
and associations' correlated
to individuals with disabili-
ties, to his understanding
there must be room for on
the right, left and rear flanks.
In Seaforth and Brussels,
these parking requirements
are not being met, he said.
"There is no safe left exit,
stated Fisher.
"I don't know how we can
remedy it, we had it fixed
and then the County
changed our angled parking.
I think it's an oversight on
our part, by not having a 100
per cent safe spot for people
to get out of their vehicles."
In accordance to the right
and rear, the Mayor of I luron
Fast, Bernie MacLellan is cer-
tain those requests can be
accomplished, however he
indicated to make it safe for the
left side, there would have to
be a "cutaway' in the sidewalk
"Are there actual spots in
places with straight lined park-
ing? Which is what we basi-
cally have in most of our loca-
tions;" questioned the mayor.
Barry Mills, public works
manager for Huron East
responded with saying to the
best of his knowledge, he has
not yet witnessed a corridor
with such accessibilities.
"I would suggest for Mr.
Fisher and future parking
issues on the main core, is that
there is a reconstruction plan
in the next five to six years
with the County," said Mills.
"We are talking to there to see
where we fall in their plan, so
when we redo our sidewalks,
that would be the best time to
explore these options."
With such a difference in
traffic on side thoroughfares,
Mills said it would be an eas-
ier plan to complete if there
was parking in those areas
rather than main roads.
Fisher agreed and as a
compromise until they hear
back from the County, the
municipal lot on John Street
Wednesday, January 25, 2017 • Huron Expositor 3
is expected to possibly have
a couple well -spaced disa-
bled parking spots. Fisher
asked to have "lots" of sig-
nage as well.
In addition, Mills is look-
ing into installing one near
Gouinlock Street.
Caregiver speaks out about dad's Alzheimer disease
`He is my dad
and I am always
mindful of that'
Lynda Hillman-Rapley
Postmedia Network
"It's about making adjust-
ments -- whether you like it
or not."
That's what a Lambton
Shores caregiver said about
caring for her dad, diag-
nosed with Alzheimer>s dis-
ease in 2011.
As with many of the peo-
ple interviewed during Alz-
heimer Awareness Month,
the caregiver did not want to
be named in respect for her
family.
Yet her story is familiar
enough. Danielle Van Wyk, a
family support counsellor at
Huron County>s Alzheimer
Society, says 25,000 Canadi-
ans are diagnosed with
dementia every year.
«One in three people are
or know someone affected
by Alzheimers disease or
another related dementia,"
said Van Wyk. "But dementia
is more than just numbers.»
She said that's one reason
why the society every year
asks a caregiver to tell their
story.
«This story helps us take a
united stance in our efforts
to raise awareness and end
the stigma associated with
Alzheimers disease," said
Van Wyk.
The unnamed caregiver
said she noticed a few years
ago that her father's behav-
iour was changing. He was
repeating stories within a
short time span, and his
explanation went from, «I
wish I could remember...» to
«My memory is just fine; you
people are just not telling me
everything.»
His daughter said her
father was «breaking from
reality.»
At that time, the man's
wife of 27 years started the
process of beginning to cope
with her husband's illness. It
became a traumatic time
while the family tried to
make sense of the man's
advancing condition.
With two stepsisters and
two biological siblings, the
father's condition became a
learning experience. And
then the caregivers' step-
mother was diagnosed with
cancer.
"Life was changing for this
man who was only 79," she
told the Lakeshore Advance,
"He had been a blue collar
worker all his life. He liked
physical labour. He had been
a truck driver. He loved driv-
ing. And now the control he
held over his family as being
the patriarch was
diminishing."
She said he kept his wallet
and car keys with him at all
times, as if rebelling.
"We began to worry about
his safety as well as other
drivers on the road," his
daughter said. "He was
becoming aggravated and
angry... and life as we knew
it was changing, and fast."
She contacted the Com-
munity Care Access Centre
(CCAC) and the process to
have her father moved to a
nursing facility was
launched. During that time
his wife's health worsened,
and she eventually died. But
before she died, the caregiv-
er's stepmother prepared the
family for what they needed
to do for their father. They
had registered for several
nursing homes but when her
cancerous condition deep-
ened, emergency housing
for the husband and father
was actively sought.
"CCAC was amazing," the
daughter said, "We were able
to get dad into Hillside
Manor in Stratford and they
take such good care of him."
That said, after 16 months
the man still doesn't like his
situation, which his daugh-
ter says is understandable
since he had lived in his own
home for 22 years.
"He mowed the grass,
shovelled snow, tinkered in
the garden and loved watch-
ing drag racing," she
explained. "Moving to the
nursing home brought for-
ward unforeseen issues."
The daughter -turned car-
egiver would ask her father
to do something and he
would frequently refuse, say-
ing he was still the father.
She was compelled to take a
leadership role, but doesn't
blame her father for the
situation.
"If there was strain in the
relationship before the dis-
ease, that does not disap-
pear," she said. "Every family
is different. Every Alzheimer
situation is different.
"It is an ongoing educa-
tion process," she added.
"Ile felt betrayed and angry
and it was all my fault that he
was forced out of his home."
But she maintains a level
of respect.
"I have to ask myself how
would I want to be treated. I
know his brain doesn't work
the same. I le is my dad and I
am always mindful of that,"
she said through tears.
The daughter caregiver
wants the community to
understand that Alzheimers
is not a mental illness.
"It is a brain disease. The
person has no control and
we have to adjust as much as
they do. We have to make
adjustments, like it or not."
She credits the support
group for providing her with
awareness and education,
and for a measure of
strength.
"When I began attending
ea orthhuronex I ositor.co
the meetings, I was one of
the only people there for a
parent. Most caregivers were
there for a spouse. That has
changed over the past cou-
ple years and now the chil-
dren are the majority"
If she has any advice for
those facing the same situa-
tion, it is that they know their
parents' or their spouse's
wishes.
■
•
Van Wyk said there is no
handout, no book to read
about dealing with those
who are Alzheimer patients.
"There is no hard and fast
rule," she said. "The stages
may be the same, but each
case is different."
For more information on
the Alzheimer Society or to
chat with Van Wyk, call
1-800-561-5012.
3
The First Baby of
2017 in Huron East is
Ruby Ellen
Megan Murray
Born January 3rd
at 4:35pm,
weight 8lbs 2oz
Welcomed by parents
Jesslyn Carnochan
& Jared Murray
and siblings
Ryelyn & Dane
Thank you to the following businesses
for contributing to the New Year's
Baby Contest: Blooms n' Rooms, Box
Furniture & Floor Coverings, Total Image II,
Seaforth Foodland, MacDonald Automotive
Performance, Add Some Flair, McGlynn
Family Funeral Home, The Looking Glass,
Sills Home Hardware & Seaforth Jewellers.
1'
1 •