HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-01-19, Page 3r
Wednesday, January 19, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 3
The caregiver message is awareness and education
1116 Alzheimer- put your
mind to it
L Hillman-R+lpley
Lakeshore Advance
Wile lady sitting in front of nie is a Alzhe-
imer caregiver. She does not want me t0
mention her name or her husband's.
That's okay, I say. It is your message we
want to get out there --not who you are.
Married for 53 years, this couple worked
and raised children and went on holidays.
He built the home, she looked after it.
T}+pical everyday stuff. 'Then at 59 years of
age he was diagnosed with cancer. After a
lengthy recovery, the couple progressed
into a life of retirement. They had every-
thing figured out. How he would spend
this new leisure time, how she would join
dubs and keep busy and how they would
manage their finances so retirement
would be a pleasant time for both.
Then life changed. The husband, now
75, changed.
"I began to see things that I chalked up
to old age; she says adding she also began
her denial at the same tirne.
"Sentences began with a verb," she said,
"I would ask him why he was talking like
this and he acted as though we were
already in a conversation." She said he no
longer used nouns to start a sentence and
told her husband to speak properly, "she
was not a mind reader.'' she said often.
"I just figured he was getting lazy in his
old age; she said stating she made excuses
for his new flaws.
Then he needed to be near her all the
time. When she was cooking he would
stand there- not talking, just watching.
Frustrated, a new found emotion for her,
she told him if he was going to stand there-
-he may as well chop or stir something.
Again, her excuse for him was boredom.
This guy, her husband, had always been
a Mr. Fix -it. Ile could do anything, the
devoted wife said. One day she asked him
to put together a simple project. One that
should have taken only minutes. He did
put it together -backwards. 1 should have
heard (damn," she said but it was easier to
conte up with excuses.
Since this man was on medication for
many things, this wife began to think
maybe two meds were crossing paths and
she should check with the doctor. That
appointment went fine and the doctor
assured the couple everything was fine.
Just to make sure though the doctor did
give this man a mini -mental test, a indica-
tion for the doctor if there was any mental
impairment. The next time he went, the
Back to the drawing board for old by-law
Lynda HMman-Rtpley
Lakeshore Advance
It was back to the drawing board for
council when they realized one contractor
could not go forward without the repeal of
a by-law.
In December 2010 Lambton Shores
received a request from the solicitor rep-
resenting Ray Losee asking that a bylaw
that had been passed by the former Vil-
lage of Grand Bend be registered on the
title of his property at 29 Sauble River
Road so he could create his separate lots.
Lambton Shores staff were not aware the
by-law had not been registered and
advised they would do so.
But- upon examination of the by-law it
was determined that prior to the by-law
being registered it would have to he
approved by the County of Lambton as
Grand Bend council in 2000 did not have
subdivision approval powers under Sec-
tion 50 of the Planning Act. Therefore, all
subdivision approvals at that time were
required to be finally approved by the
County of Lambton who had been dele-
gated subdivision approval powers by the
province.
So, Lambton Shores approached the
county to ascertain if a signed by-law was
available and the county searched their
files and could not find a bylaw enacted
by the county. Since the municipality has
the power to delegate subdivision
approval powers, it was easier for them to
rescind the previous Part Lot Control By-
law and pass a new one rather than ask
the county for approval and delay the
prods.~.
.. 'irk.
M U l E l & R E S T A U R A N 1
2 Can Dine
for $69 IIP
11. Valentine's Dinner 111.
PRIME RIB SPECIAL!
January 21st and 22nd
For reservations please call
519-238-2081
236 Ontario Street S,liraml fiend
man wrote a note to the doc-
tor- 1 need help." No more
denial for anyone --husband,
wife and doctor knew some-
thing was wrong.
From her perspective once
reality struck she began to get
depressed. What if she could
not handle the changes, what
if he got lost.
"Luckily for me the Grand
Bend community is tight." she
said adding the support sys-
tem with neighbours and
friends and organizations is so
amazing, it Just took a bout of
tears from her to realize her
help was only a phone call
away.
For whatever reason, Alzhe-
imer has a stigma and this
woman, wanting to be anony-
mous is a clear indication that
stigma is real. She goes to a
support group and listens but
feels that awareness education
is lacking and she hopes her
message can help at least one
person.
"My husband thought there
was a pill for everything. Not
this time -there is no pill for
Alzheirner-s."
She has learned to keep
things simple. Television
shows that are fast paced are
no longer followed. He is Just
not engaged like he used to be.
Learning ways of stimulation --
such as cards or visits out with
friends or even spending time
at the Adult Day Services pro-
gram are ways that keep this
man busy. He sleeps a lot and
needs to be engaged in outside
activity.
As for his wife, she is doing
the best she can and he tells
her often he realizes the stress
she is under. This has been a
two-year plus journey and she
says it they have to think of
their future in a new -way. She
says that government dollars
should be going to respite for
caregivers.
"We did so much together -
we became one. Now the two
of us are one in a different way.
"We live two different lives as
one person," she says.
If this wife of more than five
decades has a message it is
that people need to know the
10 WARMING SIGNS—
AL'S DISEASE
It's normal to occasionally
forget appointments, col-
leagues' names or a friend's
phone number and remember
them later. A person with
Alzheimer's disease may for-
get things more often and not
remember them later, espe-
cially things that have hap-
pened more recently.
DIFRCULTY PERFORMING
RVAILIAR TASKS
Busy people can be so dis-
tracted from time to time that
they may leave the carrots on
the stove and only remember
to serve them at the end of a
meal. A person with Alzheim-
er's disease may have trouble
with tasks that have been
familiar to them all their lives,
such as preparing a meal.
PROBLEMS WRH LANGUAGE
Everyone has trouble find-
ing the right word sometimes,
hut a person with Alzheimer's
disease may forget simple
words or substitute words,
making their sentences diffi-
cult to understand.
DISOR INN OF
'T1ME AND PLACE
It's normal to forget the day
of the week or your destination
-- for a moment. But a person
with Alzheimer's disease can
become lost on their own
• Lr -'e
Bluewater Area Family Health Team
Are you looking for a
local family doctor?
Dr. Lori Teeple is accepting new patients.
Registration forms can he picked up at the
Zurich Medical Centre
43 Main Street, Zurich
Monday - 8 am - 8 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - 8 ani - 5 pm
Friday - 8 am - 4 pm
Visit - hluewatcrareafht.ca for more information.
street, not knowing how they got there or
how to get home.
POOR OR DECREASED JUDGM@iT
People may sometimes put off going to
a doctor if they have an infection, but
eventually seek medical attention. A per-
son with Alzheimer's disease may have
decreased judgment, for example not rec-
ognizing a medical problem that needs
attention or wearing heavy clothing on a
hot day.
PRDBLBAS WITH ABSTRACT TWANG
From time to tirne, people may have
difficulty with tasks that require abstract
thinking, such as balancing a cheque
book. Someone with Alzheimer's disease
may have significant difficulties with such
tasks, for example not recognizing what
the numbers in the cheque book mean.
MISPLACING THINGS
Anyone can temporarily misplace a
wallet or keys. A person with Alzheimer's
disease may put things in inappropriate
places: an iron in the freezer or a wrist-
watch in the sugar bowl
CHANGES N MOOD AND BEHAVIOUR
Everyone becomes sad or moody from
time to time. Someone with Alzheimer's
disease can exhibit varied mood swings --
from calm to tears to anger -- for no appar-
ent reason.
CHANGES N PERSONALITY
People's personalities can change
somewhat with age, but a person with
Alzheimer's disease can become con-
fused, suspicious or withdrawn. Changes
may also include apathy, fearfulness or
acting out of character.
LOSS OF INITIATTVE
It's normal to tire of housework, busi-
ness activities or social obligations, but
most people regain their initiative. A per-
son with Alzheimer's disease may
become very passive, and require cues
and prompting to become involved.
FIST 1:.1.1'. Rate
3.25%
t min. .$.p..' iw. ■ppt,I
GRAND BEND
23114M84
EXETER
235-2420
Geiser
('LINToN
Kneels 482-3401
Ins. •roks► Inc.
,1%� tri'
'111WlLLENY DIIMON & GAU RY
rt.,( )/.,
J .. ,t•nn' Y,• 'h 1 .. r •
My 1tnist sampan yea tIs.'t knew?
WE PAY CASH or EXCHANGE
FOR NEW JEWELLERY
WE WILL AUT Y0411 OLD GOLD,
• DIAMONDS, PLATINUM, c01NS,
AND MUNN SILVER
NO APPOINIMtN1 Nit. MANY