HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-09-25, Page 23CANTON NEWS -RECORD, WtDNESDa, SEPTEMBER 35, 1985
Dixie Lee Draw Winner
Doug Rhude, owner of Dixie Lee, Clinton, presents first prize in our recent Mountain
Bike draw to Allen Christensen of Clinton.
Open
Mon. -Fri. 8:30 am -5:30 pm
Eve. & Weekend -by appt.
Sarnia
Wallaceburg
Neustadt
Goderich
No Charge
Horst
Feige D.T.
By Appointment Only
Telephone:
(519)336-6580
(519)62.7-6056
(519)665-7818
(519)524-6688
1-800-265-1415
Did you know...
Ilthat It Is important to
have your dentures examined
regularly? Your mouth is one of
the most important areas
of your body, but often the most
neglected when dentures are, worn. Improperly fitting or neglected dentures can
cause severe health problems. The lack of public information regarding dentures is
alarming and often leads to problems and unnecessary expense. Your local denture
therapist (denturist) is a professional speciallaing In the construction, repair and
modification of dentures and provides this service directly to the public. If you have
problems with your present dentures or think of getting new ones, see your local
denture therapist, consultation is usually free. You will find denture therapists
(denturists) listed in the yellow pages. This information is supplied through the
Denturist Association of Ontario and your local therapist.
\1If
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When someone has Alzhei>itler's Disease,
it has an impact on the entire family.
Take Alice R. for instance. Her husband
Joe, first noticed her forgetfulness. At first
he"mistakes" seemed minor. She'd forget
phone messages. She'd forget dinner on the
stove.
As the months passed, her forgetfulness
grew more pronounced and Alice began
displaying other uncharacteristic traits. She
became fearful, hostile and suspicious.
Alice at first blamed her forgetfulness an
old age and senility. As her problem grew
progressively worse her husband Joe admit-
ted that something was terribly wrong.
Alice felt angry, depressed, embarrassed
and humiliated. She wept tears of frustra-
tion and said she was "going crazy."
A complete medical, neurological and
psychiatric examination confirmed that
Alice R. was suffering from Alzheimer's
Disease.
There is no cure for Alzheimer's Disease.
It is a progressively incapacitating disorder
in which functions of the brain gradually
deteriorate over a period of years -
sometimes even months.
It is a disease that priniarily effects older
people. Because the need for care and atten-
tion increases, all family members may
have to take on new responsibilities and
make changes in their lifestyle, which can
be extremely stressful, both physically and
emotionally.
The Community Psychiatric Services in
Clinton is offering a six week support group
to families and friends of diagnosed
Alzheimer's patients
The project will be looking at ways of cop-
ing with the disease and will focus on such
topics as home support services, family ad-
justments, legal and financial concerns,
management of difficult behavior and long
term care.
Caring for an Alzheimer's patient is a 24-
hour -a -day job. Some have even called it a
36 -hour day.
The first stage of the disease is
manifested by slow, subtle changes in the
person's ability to learn, problems In com-
munication, memory loss for recent events,
impaired judgement, difficulty in making
decisions, Coping with new situations,
suspiciousness and possible outburst of
temper resulting from frustration.
In the second stage, while memory func-
tions continue to deteriorate, other aspects
of intellectual, abilities also decline, in-
cluding language and the ability to com-
municate and to conduct daily activities
without supervision or guidance.
The Alzheimer's patient is often unaware
of lost abilities and may, respond to people or
Silo gas warning for Ontario
ly affected by Aizheinur's
objects in an aggressive way, due to
misperceptions of wbst us happening,
Increased:dlsorientatton totimeand place
occurs, and the person may be unable to
recognize hin/herself in the mirror. There
may be inability to write or understand and
use language. Often there is a struggle to
maitain bodily functions. The person may
be restless, especially at night. There is loss
of dexterity, which may interefere with
tasks such as dressing and other self-care
routines. Body movements are slower and
the person physically resists being helped.
Mrs. L..of Lachine, Quebec said that her
brother now shows so much impairment
that "comprehension (is) too poor to deter-
mine if there is still any memory." She said
that he is "fearful, suspicious, has episodes
of depression and weeping - and sometimes
of giggling. He needs to be guided for he has
just fallen and broken his hip."
Mrs. S. of B.C., said that her 53 -year-old
husband showed an "inability to concen-
trate and to work on figures." She said that
"he seems a different person, but is not too
hard to handle." Later, however, she
reported that he had visual and speech im-
pairment, as well as loss of bladder and
bowel control.
In the final stage of the disease, home
care is often not sufficient. Twenty-four
hour nursing care is usually necessary.
The ability to speak or communicate
disappears, along with increased immobili-
ty. Loss of bowel and urine control greatly
increases. Twitches or jerking may develop
and seizures may occur. Muscles stiffen and
in the final stages of Alzheimer's patient is
left immobilized. Death follows shortly.
Mrs. G. of Edmonton, Alberta reported
that she had been nursing and caring for her
65 -year-old husband at home for about two
years "but finally I could' no longer stand
the physical and emotional strain and was
able to have him placed in a nursing home -
three months before he died."
Coping with someone who has
Alzheimer's is an intensely emotional ex-
perience. Family members can resent the
fact that it requires so much of their time;
or resent other family members who don't
seem to be pulling their weight. They .may
even feel guilty because they think they are
not doing enough, or because they get impa-
tient with the person.
Discussing these feelings with family,
friends, or seeking professional counselling
can often help.
The support group being offered locally
aims to offer that professional and support
counselling.
The program is the; first of its type.to be
held in Huron County. In fact, the only other
support group offered t ',flea of
Aizbeirner's patients is etwrently run at
ParliwoodHospital,. London.
Kate Moriarty, director oE'the Cornnumity
Psychiatric Services in Clinton hopes that
the six week program will dove 'pit Iinto a
self-supporting group. She believes that the
participants in the group can carry on the
program if enough interest is generated.
"These are the people who need the pro-
gram and need the help," she emphasized.
The six ' week program, to be held
Thursday evenings at the Community
Psychiatric Services, 105 Shipley Street,
Clinton will feature six guest speakers.
Dr. C.F. Doorly of Goderich will be
leading the topic, Overview of Alzheimer's
Disease. Betty Cardno will speak about the 40
home support services that are available
and Nancy Larone will lead the discussion
on family adjustments. Ralph Smith will
speak about the legal and financial con-
cerns, Corrie Van Miltenburg, the assistant
director of nursing at Huronview will speak
on the management of difficult behavior and
long term care for Alzheimer's patients.
Alzheimer's is not a new disease. It was
first diagnosed in 1906 and while still little is
known about the illness, more help and
research is becoming available as medical
professionals learn more about the disease.
The best current estimates indicate that
more than three million North Americans
may suffer from it. In Canada, it has been
estimated that, at least 10,000 deaths a year
are attributable to Alzheimer's Disease, and
as many as 100,000 to 300,000 may be af-
fected to a varying degree. After cancer,
heart disease and stroke, it is thought to be
the fourth or fifth most common cause of
death in Canada.
Rita Hayworth suffers from Alzheimer's.
Artist Norman Rockwell died of it.
There is no known cure for Alzheimer's
Disease and still the cause of the illness re-
mains a mystery.
Scientists are ' applying the • newest
knowledge and research techniques to 'study
of human brain tissue removed at autopsy. •
Although there are a number of promising
clues, determination of the actual cause of
Alzheimer's Disease must await more ex-
tensive scientific investigation.
Meanwhile, courses like those offered
through the Community Psychiatric Ser-
vices in Clinton are attempting to offer some
support and consulation for the families.of
Alzheimer sufferers. '
The. 'six-week program in, Clinton will
begin on Thursday, October 3, from 7:30 - 9
p.m. Anyone who is interested in taking part
in this program is asked to pre -register by
calling 482-3961.
Droughtlike growing conditions during
July and August in some parts of Ontario
may have•created a situation where'silo gas
• may be more of .a problem this year than
others. Climatic conditions play a large role
in the formation of deadly silo gas, and
weather conditiobs.over the last two months
have caused some farm safety experts to
issue warnings concerning the gas.
Silo gas or nitrogen dioxide is produced as
a by-product of the fermentation process
that takes place once plant material is put
into a silo. A variety of climatic stress on the
JEWELLERY
Suncoast Mali, Goderich
GOING OUT OF
BUSINESS SALE
Continues...,
ENTIRE STOCK REDUCED
plant material during the growing season
can dramatically increase the possibility of
toxic gases forming._ To avoid silo gas,
farmers are advised not to harvest crops
immediately after a rainfall. Conversely,
crops damaged by hail or frost should be
harvested as quickly, as possible to avoid
build-up of excess nitrate in the plant
• material. If weather or other factors have
increased the possibility of nitrate build-up,
plant material should be cut higher than
normal, as excess nitrates are stored in the
lower portion of corn stalks.
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E YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN®••YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW
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REMEMBER:
SUNCOAST MiALL, GODERICH
LOCATION ONLY!
Silo gas may be visible within a few hours'
after silo -filling and may be recognized by a
bleach-likeodour and may be visible as a
yellowish -brown haze. Dead flies or birds at
the base of the silo may also be an indicator
of thegas. .
Once a silo is filled it'should be sealed and
declared for at least a three week
period. During this period of time the silo
should not be entered, unless all rules for
confined space entry are closely followed
and a self-contained breathing apparatus is
used.
"IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN VARNA"
482-7103
R.C. Stoddart
of 72 The Square
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