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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1981-04-08, Page 291 • LAST CURLING BONSPIEL — Convener Karen Davison presents prizes in the second draw of the final mixed curling bonspiel of the season to Gerry and Sylvia Smith and Keith and Sandy Strang. T -A photo Demand increases Good year for By SHELLEY MCPHEE For the third year in a row the Town and Country Homemakers have had a successful year and all in- dications point to further increase and growth for the agency in the future. An immediate indication of the agency's success was apparent at their annual meeting held in Holmesville onMarch 25. Over 150 people attended the dinner meeting, a substantial increase from the first meeting held in 1979 when only 25 were present. In the beginning years, some 50 homemakers provided personal and domestic in-home care to 25 clients a week. In 1980 close to 80 homemakers serviced 124 clients a week. As people have become more aware of the agency, the demand for homemakers has increased and 75 per cent of their work now goes to private individuals, who in 1980 purchased a total of $182,159 of service. The Huron Home Care Program is also a major purchaser of homemaking services for their paitents and in the past. year bought $55,898 worth. Social Services, the Canadian Cancer Society and the Family and Children's Services also support the agency. Homemakers Anyone who is ill, disabled or is having difficulties managing their home can hire the services of the trained homemakers. Presently 65 per cent of the clients are senior citizens, but according to board 'of directors chairman Betty Cardno of Seaforth, even a couple going away on vacation could hire a homemaker to look after their house and their children. The homemaker provides a number of in-home ser- vices for their clients in- cluding housekeeping and personal care. The Town and Country Homemakers also ONE DAY ONLY ALL DAY TUESDAY —Regular, 3 -pc. Dinner — $2.90 Value — TUES ONLY 230 YOU SAVE 60 GOOddddeen! %'eTWINS Kai* fd.dCI,j. Exeter 227 Main St., N. 111•111111=11118, offer a handy man service for minor home maintenance chores, a cleaning service and transportation for those who need personal assistance. Agency director Jean Young of Wingham reported that seniors citizens who purchase any of the services, and who cannot afford the full cost, have had their fees subsidized through the Community Support grant from the ministry of com- munity and social services. Still the agency, a non- profit organization, is in need of more funds, and in her report Mrs. Cardno stated, "If all levels of government are sincere in developing alternatives for community health services, more funds should be available on a non - conditional basis over a long period of time." The board of directors are planning an all-out fund raising drive for the year with a $10,000 objective. This got off to a good start at the annual meeting when over $1,200 was raised on a quilt draw, a draw for a floral arrangement and a quilt stand. The agency also receives a yearly grant from the Huron County Council and they are looking for financial support and volunteer help from any individual or organization in the county. Anyone interested in learning more about the Town and Country Homemakers, or having their slide presentation shown at a meeting may contact Mrs. Young at the agency's 92 Victoria Street office in Wingham, at 357- 1522. Approximately 80 homemakers serve all areas of Huron County and the board of directors come from all points in the county as well. Named at the annual meeting they include: Pauline Atton, Howick Township; Grace Fraser, Bayfield; Geraldine Gregus, Exeter; Rev. Barbara Laing, Dashwood; Irene Okahashi, Bayfield; Rev. Terry Trites, Bluevale; Helen Underwood, Turn - berry Township; Ruth Linton, Goderich; Lossy Fuller, Exeter; Bev Brown, Turnberry Township and Paul Steckle, Huron County representative. Two other board members, Betty Cardno and Lois Hodgert, both of Seaforth are com- pleting their terms and will be up for re-election at the board's April meeting. Gwyn Whilsmith of St. Joseph's was also named to the board of directors and has been elected as vice president of the Ontario Association of Visiting Homemakers. Mrs. Young is also a member of the association. Need was projected Times -Advocate, April 8, 1981 Page 13A Drop Conestoga Homemakers program By SHELLEY McPHEE Despite a projected need for more trained homemakers in Huron County, their three-month education program has been dropped at Conestoga College's Clinton campus. The homemakers are specially trained women andmenwho are working for one of the county's largest employers , The Town and Country Homemakers. Started three years ago to provide in-home services for the ill, elderly and han- dicapped, the agency now employs some 78 homemakers who provided personal care and domestic help to 1,486 clients in the past year. According to board chairman, Betty Cardno of Seaforth, the need for homemakers is steadilyonthe increase, but the service will be facing a major setback with the cancellization of the training program. Sponosored by Canada Manpower the course has been running at Conestoga for the past five years, and according to Brian Cook, chairman of the Clinton campus, "the graduates are sought after." He explained however, that the recent financial cuts by the federal government has forced Canada Man- power to drop some of its courses. In the past, Man- power has paid the tuition fees and wages for students taking the homemakers course but now have decided to end their financial support for the program. In December, when 12 graduates became Certified Visiting Homemakers, instruuctor Connie Sullivan of Mitchell stated that the need outstripped the supply two to one, and the enrollment could have been doubled if more government subsidies were available. Now the Town and Country Homemakers have learned SPECIAL HONOU — Rhoda Knight o Kitc ener receive a prize for travelling the farthest distance to attend Saturday's 25th Anniversary of Court Valentine in Granton. Making the presentation at the left is Elsie Dann. T -A photo Computer age hits library The library has entered the computer age! The Huron County Public Library Headquarters at 66 Waterloo Street South in Goderich is now housing the Port HP 3000 terminal. The terminal is on loan from the Midwestern Regional Library System (MRLS) for a three month period. The installation of an out wats line provides the library with a direct link to the computer at the Processing Centre at MRLS in Kitchener. The terminal allows us to complete two tasks very efficiently. Grace MacDonald is able to place orders for the acquisition of material for the headquarters collection and the five town libraries, Clinton, Exeter, Goderich, Seaforth and Wingham. Marian Doucette can use the terminal to search in- terlibrary loan requests on behalf of all twenty-eight libraries in our county. At the end of the three month period, a report to state the value of the ter- minal will be presented to the Library Board. At that time, the Board will also decide whether or not it is feasible to purchase or rent the terminal. This is the first county library to utilize the terminal for these purposes. The advantages offered to the staff are numerous. The recording of material is accomplished at various intervals instead of having to be processed in one day. Order information on the material is updated sooner than previously. The use of the inquiry reduces the duplication of book orders. The terminal also reduces the work Toad for both the A PERSONAL LOAN THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU, ount on the Commerce for the personal loan you need. Whether it's for a new car, a boat, home improve- ments, or any other worthwhile purpose, talk it over with us. We'll welcome the opportunity to help. At the Commerce, we treat personal loans personally. We offer a range of loans with features to suit your financial situation: competitive interest rates, convenient repayment schedules, life insurance on most loans (at no additional cost) and a disability insurance option. And you don't have to be a Commerce customer to apply. Drop in to any of our branches today. You can count on the Commerce for the things you need in a bank. And more. WILL PROBABLY MAKE SENSE 10 US. CANADIAN IMPI IAL IiANK OF COMMERCE COUNT ON THE COMMERCE MRLS and the Huron County Library staff. This is a very exciting and innovative experience which allows the library to serve the public better, a library spokesman said. Rebekahs play euchre The Pride of Huron Rebekah Lodge held its regular meeting Wednesday evening when NG Marjorie Arthur welcomed 60 members. She was assisted by VG Cheryl Edwards who also gave the sick and visiting report. DDGM Percy Noels was introduced by JPNG Margaret Cook and welcomed. Treasurer Mavis Atthill gave the financial report and also stated there had been 18 tables in play at the dessert euchre. Prizes were won by high, Mrs. Maurice MacDonald and Mrs. Ethel Boyce; lone hands, Mrs. Edna Caldwell and Mrs. Arthur Frayne; low, Mrs. Isabel Cann and Mrs. Gladys Skinner. Members were reminded that the last CPT euchre will be held April 8; the official visit of the Assembly President Myrtle Paterson April 15 and the district meeting in Brussels April 22. There will be two carloads going to Stratford and two carloads going to Parkhill April 7. The new District Deputy for District 23 will be Mrs. Grace Fuller, Goderich. The Rebekah Degree was con- ferred on five new members, Following the meeting a delicous lunch was served. that the need for more trained workers may triple when the ministry of health implements its chronic home care program in March 1982. An extension of the present active care program, the new service would allow chronic care patients to remain in their homes rather than be sent to an institution if they received 40 hours of homemaking care and threevisits a month from medical professionals. The province -wide program has now been in- troduced to 22 homemaking agencies and according to Jean Young, director of the Town and Country Homemakers, "They (the homemaking agencies) have warned us to be prepared to rapid growth and growing pains" "With the announcement of cutback in dollars for training through Man- power", she reported at the agency's annual meeting in Holmesville on March 25, "the problem of having qualified, trained homemakers intensifies especially in the year when the ministry of health will be making greater demands on us for our service." Conestoga could re -instate the homemaking course as a regular tuition paid course, or Manpower could reverse their decision to finance the program in the future, but the present situation is that there is no more available training for homemakers in the area, or possibly at nearby. colleges.. "The majority of people think that anyone can be a homemaker, but that's not true," Mrs. Cardno stated. "Nobody's challenging that they can't bake a cake or scrub a floor, but it takes special training to deal with the elderly and the ill," she said. To be a qualified homemaker involves in - class study for 12 weeks and a total of 360 hours. The course teaches the responsibilities and limitations of the visiting homemaker and teaches how to provide personal care for the individual or family in health, illness or con- valescence. An in-depth study of good nutrition, home management, understanding and communication available community resources and first aid is also taught. Proper training is stressed by the majority of homemaking agencies in the province and Mrs. Cardno explained, "We don't want to be sending people into homes if they're not capable of doing the work." At the agency's annual meeting Pat Lees, head of the Metropolitan Home Care Program in Toronto stressed the need for trained homemakers. She said that in most areas there's a waiting list of people trying to get into the course, however with program cutbacks there is a growing concern that trained homemakers may become scarce. The Ontario Association of Visiting Homemakers has also voiced their opposition to the cuts and plan to take their concerns to the government. Locally the Town and Country Homemakers will be ap- pealing their case to the Ontario and federal mem- bers of parliament in hopes that the course can brought back before the chronic care program begins. rie INTRODUCING! EXETER FORD THE AREA'S NEWEST DEALER SELLING AND SERVICING ARIENS OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT _i 41% ;1111 111 1.10 1,104011'' 1 • 11:0: ,j' • 0,, " 111 • , Y �I. i ` • Garden Tractors • Yard Tractors • Sno-Thros • Riding Mowers • Power Tillers • Trac -Team — powers rotary broom. Sno-Thro, rotary tiller or rotary mower EXETER FORD Equipment Sales Ltd. 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