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The Times Advocate, 2008-09-03, Page 11Wednesday, September 3, 2008 Times -Advocate 11 Province announces funding for personal support workers HURON — As part of Ontario's $23.3 million investment to sup- port the creation of 873 personal support workers (PSWs), Huron - Bruce will receive $ 234,788. for 17,239.7 hours of care for area long-term care homes. This will increase the average paid hours of direct daily care per resident to 3.26 hours this year of nursing, personal care and pro- gramming and support services, Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell announced last week. This is the first round of funding to add 2,500 new personal sup- port worker positions and 2,000 more nurses in long-term care homes over the next four years, as announced in the 2008 Budget. These additional frontline staff will increase the average paid hours of direct daily care per res- ident in long-term care homes to 3.5 hours by 2011. As a result, long-term care home residents will benefit from more hands-on care, such as per- sonal hygiene care, help with transferring into chairs, vehicles or beds, as well as dressing and undressing. "No doubt, these personal sup- port workers will provide more bedside care to residents and help to improve access to quality health care in 12 long-term homes," Mitchell said. "Today's announcement allows the most frail and vulnerable members of our community to live with greater dignity and com- fort." Since 2004, the government has funded at least 6,100 new front- line staff in long term care homes, including 2,300 nurses. Shirlee Sharkey, president and CEO of Saint Elizabeth Health Care, submitted a report this spring following an independent review of staffing and care stan- dards in long-term care homes. Sharkey is leading an implemen- tation team that includes repre- sentatives of residents and fami- lies and providers and staff. The team will develop local staffing plans that would increase accountability for how staffing dollars are spent. For the first time, the govern- ment will work with the Ontario Health Quality Council to publicly report on the quality of care in the province's long-term care homes. Ontario is consulting on regula- tions under the new Long -Term Care Homes Act, which will intro- duce new measures to improve care and resident safety. More than half of the long-term care homes in the province, rep- resenting 35,000 older long-term care beds, will be upgraded over the next 10 years. EatRight Ontario is the information line to nutrition (NC) — The research is clear: two important things you can do for your good health are to eat right and be active. But getting the right amount of the right kinds of food can be a challenge. That's why the Government of Ontario and the Dietitians of Canada have teamed to create EatRight Ontario, a new tele- phone information line designed to provide Ontarians with easy-to-use, credible, reliable nutrition and healthy eating information. EatRight Ontario connects Ontarians directly with Registered Dietitians who can discuss healthy food choices and explain diet -relat- ed health risk factors. Maybe you have a teenager who's a finicky eater, a personal weight goal, or a parent who is managing a chronic disease. At EatRight Ontario you can get practical help to introduce new foods, learn about portion con- trol, or the latest information on salt or fat reduced food choices. Healthy info a call away From anywhere in Ontario, just call, toll-free 1-877-510-510-2 to speak to a Registered Dietitian for free -- Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. In addition to English and French, the service is available in more than 120 lan- guages including: Cantonese, Korean, Polish, German, Spanish, Hungarian, Punjabi, and Arabic. Also, make sure to visit the www.ontario.ca/eatright website, which offers articles on nutrition, portion sizes, healthy weights and more. And the "Ask a Dietitian" fea- ture allows for nutrition -related questions to be asked online, with a response back within three business days. Your child's first day in kindergarten By Meg Westley CHAIRPERSON OF THE AVON MAITLAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD SEAFORTH — As our schools wel- come back students for the new school year, I feel for parents with a first child about to start school. I recall my first-born starting kinder- garten all too well. Mike was keen enough, but I was a wreck. How could I abandon my child to strangers at such a tender age? I imagined a horde of children teasing or ignoring him, while a har- ried teacher hollered. Still, I wanted him to go, to gain independence and to learn. Sort of. We lived one house down from the school. Mike didn't even have to cross a street. I could be there in three minutes in an emergency. Holding his hand, I walked him to school the first day. Mrs. Currie, his teacher, smiled understandingly. "He'll be fine," she said. I left reluctantly and paced the house until it was time to pick him up. He looked cheerful, his miniscule backpack bobbing on his shoulders. G.1.0.'s 460% Awry Gaiser "11 Kneale Ins' Broker Inc' EXETER - 235-2420 GRAND BEND - 238-8484 CLINTON - 482-3401 "So how was it?" I asked. "What did you do?" My husband and I both leaned close to hear. "Well, Mrs. Currie took us into a big room called Jim, and a guy named Prince Bull talked for a long time." "Did you make friends?" I asked, hiding my smile. He looked at me blankly. I got wor- ried. But the next day when I picked him up, he was racing around after another little boy. They didn't speak, just wagged their fingers at each other like tiny swords, shrieked with laughter and ran. He'd made a friend. Whew. At the end of the first week, Mrs. Currie called to ask if we would mind moving Mike to the afternoon class. I panicked. He'd be torn from his friends, plunged into a complete- ly new class just when he'd begun to adjust. But Mrs. Currie said most families could not move their chil dren as they worked afternoons, and there were too many children in the morning class. After a sleepless night imagining Mike forlorn and ( Business Directory REPAIRS Sewing Machine REPAIRS TO ALL MAKES Free estimates 90 day Warranty Experienced since 1952 Sew and Save Centre Ltd. 149 Downie St., Stratford Phone 271-9660 sobbing among new classmates, I agreed. He never noticed the difference. There were still lots of kids his size, and other boys to point fingers at. A week later, Mike solemnly informed me that I was not to kiss him in sight of the schoolyard. A week after that I was forbidden to walk him to school, although it was OK if I watched from the porch. Before long, he was bringing friends home from school. He'd made the transi- tion. So if you are feeling anxious about that first day of kindergarten, rest assured. There will be a warm- hearted Mrs. Currie to welcome your little one, a Prince Bull to make sure all goes smoothly and a terrific room called Jim to play in. And you'll adjust too. Honest. Stan Lee Club begins its fall season on Sept. 10 By Joan Beierling VARNA CORRESPONDENT VARNA - Varna would like to welcome its newest business "Paws For Coffee & More" opening this week by Paul and Kelly Dearlove, owners of "On Golden Paws" (dog train- ing/grooming/supplies) in Varna. Their YARN new venture is appropri- ately "kitty corner" to each other and is opened for the needs of the resi- dents of Varna and area, as well as those just pass- ing through. Paul and Kelly will be serving fair trade/organic Kicking Horse coffee, as well as fudge, chocolates, sweets, baked goods, soy candles, furniture, antiques and so much more. Drop by for a coffee and a hello! Varna UCW and area ladies enjoyed a dinner at the Docks in Bayfield last Thursday night. Deb Rathwell welcomed and thanked everyone for coming out. Thank yous were passed around from Julie Webster, Doris Wilson and Ruth Johnston. Deb thanked Sjoukje Steenbeek and Mona Stephenson for all their work organizing the evening. A reminder about Meggin Bartliff Reid's community bridal shower to be held at Varna United Church on Wed., Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m. A huge thank you to all whom collected for all the weddings. Barb Consitt was sitting on the lucky chair. Onto the Huron County Playhouse in Grand Bend to see "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change". Thanks to those who did the driving. That is always appreciated! Church service will resume Sun., Sept. 7 in Varna church at 10:30 a.m. There will be a very important A NEWS congrega- t i o n a l meeting Sept. 21 after the church service. Many from Varna and area attended the open wedding reception for Danny Peck (son of Dale and Dianne) on Saturday night. Danny is married to Linda Baker and they are wished the very best. The Stan Lee Club reminds everyone, they will begin their fall season on Wed., Sept. 10 begin- ning with a potluck supper at 6 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by the Bag Ladies (10 of them) from Goderich. They will be guests for supper. New members are always wel- come to join the monthly meetings - usually the first Wednesday of the month. Bill Hayter and Libby Rowe were married at Brewcreek Lodge on Aug. 17. Margaret seen sights in Vancouver such as Stanley Park , Granville Island and Moutains. She went to Delburne , Alberta to visit daughter Darlene Marshall and then to Calgary to fly home. She also spent time with granddaughter Janine _lue— We invite the community to come and help us celebrate... Care T ater compassion €ommunity est / ome Breaking Ground for our Long-term Care Redevelopment Project Friday, September 12, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. For more information, please contact: Blue Water Rest Home, RR 3, Zurich ON NOM 2T0 T: 519-236-4373 F: 519-236-7685 E: a.herrington@bluewaterresthome.com i 4 4 L . Children have teddy bears to keep them safe. Parents have Hunter Douglas. Wrap your home in comfort with Duette'"' honeycomb shades. This soft shade actually traps air before it enters your room, decreasing the drill in winter and the heat in summer. LiteRise® allows you to raise and lower your shades and blinds with just the touch of a finger. Your window Fashions will open and close evenly every time, and an be stopped at any position along the way. There are no pull cords to become tangled in, so kids and pets stay safe. FREE! 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