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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-07-15, Page 30• Page 18A Times -Advocate, July" 15, 1987 "' • The_ readers write: More comments from mayor, eaneer and Villa stats Editor Exeter Times Advocate Exeter, Ontario. NOM ISO Dear Sir: . With regard to Councillor Gaylon Josephson's statement published in your paper last Wednesday which was voiced by Mr. Josephson at a re- cent Exeter Council meeting. 111r. Josephson said that he questioned the authenticity of statistics indicating the local needs for additionalinusing home beds _atExeter-Villa. He also stated tha7 other homes could be in competition for some of the people planning to move to Exeter. 1 would like to take this opportuni- ty to provide some factual informa- tion from one who handles all en- quiries and deals with the emotional truslrations and turmoils families face while waiting for a nursing home bed at Exeter Villa. In the 1960s, one of every 12 people in Ontario was over 60 years of age. Today, in the late 1980s. that ratio is 1:10. By the middle 2000s, one of every six persons in Ontario will be over 60 years of age. Clearly -the issue of dynamic professional care' for our elderly is one that is growing dramatically. These figures represent the average Ontario population. However, for a town like Exeter and surrounding area, these statistics may be mucic higher. When the Nursing Homes Act was. first conceived in 1972 by the Provin- cial Ministry of Health to regulate services provided to seniors, the average age was 75 years of age. In recent years, medical advancesand growthin commun.ty based services have enabled elderly residents, not only to live longer, but to enter health care facilities at a much later time in their lives: Today, in 1987, the average age of our resident is 86 years. As a result, residents admitted -to our facility, present themselves with many more complex physical problems, requiring a great deal more care than the average resident did 15 years ago. Today's society has become in, creasingly more mobile and tran- sient. No longer is the extended fami- ly the norm. Yet, when illness or debilitating physical conditions. oc- cur. often related to the aging process itself, family members are faced with the dilemma of what to do for their loved ones. It is not easy emotionally to admit a father or mother to a nur- sing home. In fact it is -perhaps one of the hardest decisions any offspring has to make. It is a time of anguish and the never-ending question... "Am I doing the right thing for my parent." That question is reconciled much more easily when families- have the satisfaction of knowing that their family member is entering a facility that has not only demonstrated a high standard of caring and compassion, but is also situated in an area that is familiar to them. The town of Exeter and,surroun ding areas have been the focal point of many seniors for all of their lives whether that may be 60, 70, 80 or 90 years. This is where thay have lived, raised their families, socialized, gone to church. shopped and played. Em- pathize with these seniors for a minute. Imagine spending your entire life, perhaps serving the community in one aspect or another and then when you require the assistance of caring people and services, those ser- vices are not readily available in the community in which you have always lived. Imagine being forced to seek assistance in a foreign environment away from your common roots. This is the very real situation many seniors of Exeter are being faced •with. Our Nursing Herne is full as is the retirement area. At present, we have a waiting list of 18 for our Nursing Home from external sources. As well, a number of residents in our retire- ment home are or wit) be in need of extended nursing care very soon. Telephone enquiries average about 3-4 per day .with many people dropp- ing in to enquire about the services we provide. The overall consensus is, people want to stay in . Exeter or return to Exeter to be close to family and friends. The establishment of a Nursing Home in Exeter has been a tremen- dous asset to the community. However, the demand for increased service to the community is increas- ing at an alarming rate. In order to provid these services, additional nur- sing home beds are a must. These beds can only be obtained through the awarding of beds by the Provincial Ministry of Health. These additional beds have been requested, however they have been turned down as Huron County is not on the priority list at this time according to the Ministry. We feel that, not only should the county be a priority, but that the situation at Exeter Villa is at a crisis level. It is therefore of utmost importance to continue to inform the Ministry of Health of this need. As residents of Exeter and surroun- ding community, you can help us in 'this endeavour, by writing: Mr. Mur- ray Elston, M.P.P., Minister of Health, Queens Park, Toronto, On- tario and Mr. Jack Riddell, M.P.P., Minister of Agriculture, Queens Park, Toronto, Ontario. • All seniors in Ontario are entitled to quality long-term care when the need arises. However, if the facilities to provide that care are missing ... Please feel free to discuss the situa- tion with us at any time. Sincerely, Kathy A. O'Reilly Reg.N. Director of Care/Administrator Exeter Villa * * * Dear Sir: Further to the latest furor created this past week over the threat to secede from the County, I wish to of- fer the following comments. The Reeve and Deputy -Reeve of Exeter have, over the years, express- ed dismay and frustration with Coun- ty Council. The 'system' does not pro- vide for change, reform or progress, and as a result it encourages ulcers, apathy and closed -mindedness. But our representatives are outspoken; they do their homework; and they are prepared -to challenge what has 'always been done'. Exeter Council -has also seen, first, hand, the intrasigence of committees - and their refusal even to consider other perspectives. Your readers will be familiar with at least two issues and will have read the comments of Bill and Lossy concerning County government especially this last year. We have no wish to take drastic measures, but the County must understand that it has to find a means of dealing with our legitimate con- cerns. Unless we talk openly of all the options that might be available to us, we are afraid our difficulties will be dismissed without any consideration. Our ultimate aim is reform, not secession. I hope your readers examined our brief to the Task Force that was printed in last week's T.A. If they did, they will see something of the pro- blems we face. One of the advantages Exeter has over most of the other municipalities in the County is the unity of commit- ment and dedication of .all council members. As a result, on this issue, we are all of one mind. We are for- tuiate that our two delegates to Coun- ty Council are forceful, outspoken and good representatives, if not of the County, certainly of the municipality which sent them to County. ' And yet; inspite of- their obvious loyalty to their 'home', they have a very broad perspective of the matters brought to them and to the best of my knowledge have never voted on an issue because they come from a town or because they didn't want to offend another reeve. I am certain we would have very 'few arguments with the County if all reeves and deputy -reeves could leave the same impression. - Yours truly, Bruce Shaw Mayor * * * The Editor Exeter Times Advocate Exeter Ontario Dear Bill: I would like to thank all those peo- ple who participated . in the 1987 Cancer Campaign.. The door to door canvass was responsible for $16,154.83. The Art Christmas Show which was a new ad- dition this year produced $2,523.50, the Sorority Daffodil Drive came to $3,280.81, Exeter District Deposits from London Computer Canvass of Business is as of this date $1,005.00, and Pfaff Santa Fund came to $950.00. The total from all sources as of Ju- ly 11 comes to $24,512.11. - Sincerely Norm Martin Campaign Chairman Exeter Branch Canadian Cancer Society WET -N -WILD WAIT Exeter lifeguard Sue Coates (kneeling, centre) prepares to launch two small craft for a race across the pool during 'Wet -N -Wild' day at Exeter pool. The kids gathered around Coates didn't get a chance to make the crossing however, due to a passing thunder storm. 'Wet -N -Wild' is part of the continuing summer pro- gram at the pool. Huron library is promoting a new list of talking books This spring the Huron County Library has been actively promoting its talking book service. To reach potential talking hook patrons (anyone who is unable to read print due to a visual, physical or perceptual disability ), more than 125 letters were mailed out to Huron County doctors. service clubs and community groups. This promotional project has been a great success. In addition to in- creased community awareness, many Huron Count» organizations have generously donated towards the purchase of talking books. To date $1685. has been collected for this wor- thwhile service. Donations have rang- ed from $10 to $500. A very heartfelt thank you is extended from the lluron County Public Library Board to all the groups and individuals who have LOTS OF ANTIQUE CARS Antique cars were one of the show at the Ilderton fairgrounds. features at the weekend Heritage antique T -A photo f supported the library's talking book service. - In order to give proper credit to all supporters, talking books purchased by these funds will be labelled with the doner's name. The Library Board will also apply for matching Wintario funds to fur- ther increase thetalking book budget. In a recent survey of 27 libraries in the Ontario Library Service area of Saugeen, it was shown that only 3 libraries t Kitchener, Guelph and Cambridge) have larger talking book collections and more registered patrons .than Huron County. Huron County has a larger number of children using its talking book service than any other library in the Saugeen area. The generosity of Huron Coun- ty service clubs and community groups will allow the libary to main- tain and increase this high level of service. The library will be able to correct some of the weak areas in its collection such as the small number of children's titles currently available. If you know of anyone who could benefit from the library's talking book -collection, please tell them about this completely free service. Once they have a certificate of elegibility signed by a health professional (doc- tor, nurse, therapist etc.), they will become a registered talking book patron. Their disability maybe tem- porary; someone with burned hands or broken arms, or a permanent one such as blindness: Victims of strokes or arthritis are other potential talk- ing book patrons. If you would like to learn more about talking books, phone the Huron County Public Library headquarters at 524-2105. Granton By MRS. E. SUMMERS Mrs. Eileen Summers was pleasantly surprised to have her son Allan, his wife Gayle and son•John of Scarborough visit her during the past week on their way back from holidays id Kentucky and Graceland. Mrs. Glenn Hall and son Jason of Glencoe are spending a few days holidays with Mrs. Hall's grand- parents, Mr. ,and Mrs. Kenneth Hodgins. .KIRKTON STAFF ; The staff for the 1987 season is asembled and hard at work at the Kirkton pool From left to right on the guard plat- form are Maureen Blackler, Karen Atkinson, Lisa Ulch and Carolyn Dykemon. Standing in the front row from the left ore Leanne Bickell, Traci Tryon, Jenny Burgin and Beth Wifliams. Fell into theatre and is back again The Huron Country Playhouse is delighted to welcome back Mariam Newhouse this season. Miriam ap- peared at the Playhoue in the 1981 production Nurse Jane Goes to Hawaii. Having been involved with profes- sional theatre for 20 years, Miriam got her start in England auditioning for a Children's Theatre Company and was accepted. During her 10 year stay in England, Miriam met and later married Director, Peter Messaline. She and her husband travel across the country lecturing on the business side of acting. Miriam's most recent accomplishment is Brighton Beach Memoirs in Montreal and she is the co-editor of "And what are you going to do for us?", a collec- tion of audition pieces drawn solely from Canadian plays. Just like the characters she will play in Allan Stratton's Papers this season, Miriam actually just "fell into theatre", originally intending to be an English Professor. She has always had a particular liking for Allan Strat- ton and his work. Says Miriam, "Allan Stratton has a quick, sharp mind with a tremendous love and ap- preciation of words and their power. He is charming, vulnerable and quite mad!" Academics are a prime target in Papers which is set in a small rural University and two lonely articulate, would-be lovers struggle with their in- ability to communicate. Papers, written by Allan Stratton and directed by Lloy Coutts plays at the Huron Country Playhouse from Tuesday, July 13 until July 25, Playhouse II at 8:30 p.m., Matinees Wednesdays, Thursdays at 2:30 p.m. For ticket information, call 238-8451.