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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 ole f..::.... 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. WE BUY AND SELL USED PAPERBACK BOOKS CSE NOM AN0 VARIETY . 15 VICTORIA ST. - CLINTON d% OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 8 AM -11 PM Ar e you over 60 or turning 71 before December 31, 1985? If you are, and wish to secure a lifetime income from your R.R.S.P. Call: ARNOLD ST1NNISSEN 117 Goderich Street East Seaforth Res. 527-0410 We have other 5 year investments at very competitive rales E YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN®••YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT YGIJ ARE MISSING! PleasNote: We will continue to serve your needs an6 honour all Guarantees at both our Shoppers Square, Goderich and Sutton Park Mall, Kincardine locations In the future CASH Mdstereard; 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 GOLD - SILVERSMITH JEWELLERY DESIGNER also • •weaving•glass•ceramics CANADIAN AWARD WINNING DESIGNER GODERICH, ONTARIO 524-4509 How much, of your insurance dollar is someone else's profit? if you're insured"by South Easthope Mutual, none of your insurance premium is diverted for someone else's profit. The policy owners own the company themselves. It's the purest form of Home. Auto or Farm protection you can buy. artraievywooi SOUTH E, HOPE FARMERS' MUTUAL ETRE INSURANCE COMPANY TP :'4 ROY.1NWRANC'P fiRC)KisR INC. 11 Huron St., Clinton .1H2-9.157 1