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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