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The Huron Expositor, 1985-08-07, Page 3NEWS AND FEATURES THE HURON EXPOSITOR, AUGUST 7, 1985 -- A3 Myths are washed away by seniors' zest BY LARRY TIIL Dave Netzke chases nurses. "And he's pretty good at it," says his wife Eva. The Netzkes are in the business of exploding myths. The myths they explode have to do with aging and traditional negative stereotypes of the elderly. Mr. Netzke is in his nineties, although he could easily pass for a man 20 years younger. He may not actually chase the nurses, but his response to that question ("What do you do to keep yourself busy?") is a good indicator of his buoyant attitude. Those words ("I chase nurses") were his actual answer. The Netzkes are residents of the Seaforth Health Care Facility, formerly known as the Manor. They recently celebrated 72 years of marriage, end show no signs of losing their lust for life,j He—talks/About his life as if he's at a vacation resort. "I should have come here two years ago," he says. "You can't beat the meals." Mr. Netzke has suffered blackouts recent- ly, and Mrs. Netzke is a little hard of hearing, in spite of which they both appear to be truly happy people. They can live with the misconception many people have about the elderly - that they are slow of mind, rigid of reaction and do nothing but complain. They know it's simply not true. Recent scientific evidence backs them up. Professor Richard Ionetto, a psychologist at the University of Guelph, has done some study into the process of aging, as well as attitudes toward death, He has uncovered some truths, laid to rest a few,falsehoods and worked to give an accurate picture of Canada's senior citizens. Seniors average between eight and 10 per cent of the population across Canada, In Huron County, estimates have put that number considerably higher - maybe as high as 15 per cent. In Seaforth, it is higher still. According to the latest population statistics available, 495 of the town's 2,146 people are age 65 or older. That translates to 23 per cent of the total population. By comparison, the number of people in Seaforth between the ages of 21 and 59 - the period generally considered peak life experience years - is only slightly more than 40 per cent of the total, or less than double the population of seniors. Even more significcaanntly, the largest single age group in the Most recent population survey done of Seaforth (1983) is the group aged 70 and up. Their number constitutes better than one in every seven citizens. According to Prof. Lonetto's study, flexi- bility in the elderly is more a function of personality than of age. The adaption and survival of the elderly does not depend on chronological age but on their self view and sense of their ongoing usefulness," the study says, "The elderly are less resistant to change than men and women in their 20s." "I've ;never had as much fun my fife" --Dave Netzke, 91 years young IN THE YEARS AGONE Thieves 'do' London 100 YEARS AGO August 6, 1885 - There is a gang of sneak thieves and pickpockets doing London (Ont. at the present time. As Mr. Andrew Million, of the 6th concession of Colborne, and wife were on their way to Clinton on Wednesday last week, one of the hold -backs gave way and the horse became unmanaged and ran away. Both Mr. and Mrs. Million were thrown out and received severe injuries. The buggy was badly smashed. 75 YEARS AGO August 5, 1910 - (Ki pen Notes) Mr. Robert McMordle, of London, was here this week calling on old friends, all of whom were pleased to meet him and see him looking so well. A recent windstorm unroofed the barn of Mr. A.F. Jones of Tuckersmith. 50 YEARS AGO August 2, 1935 • High honor of an unique nature has been bestowed on Dr. W J.R. Fowler, Of Guelph, who hag been appointed by the French government Chevalier du Merite Agricole de France. according to a recent despatch in the Guelph Mercury Dr. Fowler is a native of Hullett Township and practised in Seaforth for a number of years. The fountain presented to the town a year ago last winter by Miss Nan Campbell is now in process of erection. The committee who has had the matter in hand for some time, decided on a location in front and to the south of the Town Hall on Monday night, and the work of placing the fountain commenced next morning. 25 YEARS AGO August 4, 1960 . Swimming tests in beginners and tadpole lasses got underway at lions Pool on Friday. Swimmers were examined by pool supervisor, Bruce Langley. Four youths were taken to Scott Memorial Hospital, Seaforth, following a single -car crash on Highway 8, five miles west of Seaforth Thursday night Western YPC holds election On Saturday, July 6, the Western District Association for the YPC (Young Progressive Conservatives), held its annual election for executive officers. Elected to office were: Steve Sperling as Policy Director and Doug Earle as Communi- cations Director. Steve Sperling is presently the Vice -Pres- ident of the Huron•t3ruce YPC Association (Federal), and Doug Earle is the President of the Huron -Bruce YPC Association (Provin- cial). The Western District of the YPC Associa- tion encompasses 29 electoral districts with Huron Bruce now having a strong voice in the executive. COMMUNITY CALENDAR If you're organizing a non-profit event of interest to other Seaforth area residents, phone the recreation office at 527-0882 or the Expositor ai 527-0240 or mail the information to Community Calendar, The Huron Expositor, Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario N0K IWO well In advance of the scheduled date. Space for the Community Calendar Is donated by The Huron Expositor. Wednesday, August 7 Sunday, August 11 Soccer - Squirts 7 p.m., Optimist Park Friday, August 9 Soccer - Atoms & Mosquitoes 6 p.m., Seaforth High School Saturday, August 10 Minor Baseball paper drive. Please have papers by the curb at 9 a.m. 7:00 p.m. - Drive in Church Service at Bethel Bible Church, Egmondville. Senior Citizens night. Special music including Paul Nunez of Arizona. Come in your car, come as you are (and dont forget Grandma). Tuesday, August 13 8:15 p.m. - Seaforth Women's Institute will hold their citizenship and world affairs meeting at the home of Mrs. James Nolan. 6:45 p.m. - Scotts vs Ken Murray at Lions Park. 8:30 p.m. - Ken Smith vs Queens at Lions Park. 8:30 p.m, - McNichol vs Browns at Optimist Park. Do you have a meeting, game or special event planned for the near future? if so let us know so we can inforh"t the public. It's difficult to find out what's happening unless you're willing to keep us informed. The community calendar re an eight-day timetable of non-profit events going on in the community. Let's keep each other on top of things. One of the most profound fears of the elderly, the study indicates, is not of death itself but the idea of dying alone. They are also affected deeply - as are most people - by loss, which earl entail death of friends or loved ones, or even diminishing physical ability. They are also concerned about their bodies and their pain, says Prof. Lonetto. "More and more time is spent on taking care of the body and there is almost a preoccupation with pain. This may account for the fact that 12 of the 22 drugs most commonly used by the elderly are sedatives or painkillers." Belle Papple has been at the Kilbarchan Nursing Home in Seaforth for two years. The care she's given there is wonderful, she says. In spite of that, though, she says it's not like home. But then, "You can't expect everything," she admits with a sigh. "You have less interest," she says. "It's not the same." "You can't have a home when you're in a home, " A fellow resident of Kilbarchan, Vera Hambley, feels pretty much the same way. Confined to a wheelchair, she's still not afraid to say "W a have almost everything here." She's also not afraid of getting older, she says. The idea causes her no discomfort. There's no time to think about things like that," she says. Mrs. Hambley lost both her legs in a recent accident. But she's not letting that slow her down. "I've been able to do everything," she says. The only thing she has problems with is the ramps in the home. "They're hard to get up," she says. The administrator of the Seaforth Health Care Facility is Irwin Johnston. He says Alzheimer's disease is the most serious problem facing seniors. Alzheimer's is a disease of the nervous system, which can cause severe personality changes and physical deterioration, most often resulting in death. The most prominent theory about its cause has to do with aluminum deposits in the brain, although there has been some talk those deposits may be the result of the disease rather than its cause. Mr. Johnston says the confusion and forgetfulness arising from Alzheimer's can also bring big problems. That's true not just for the patients, but for their families. He's been at the home for more than seven. years and says it bothers him when "You can see them going down hill." He does not, however, blame institutionalization for any measure of the problems. He says, many of the non -physiological difficulties can be brought on by other personal experiences, such as "nervous breakdowns, alcohol tor) bankruptcy." W hen an elderly person starts doing things like leaving the stove on, it may be the sign of imminent problems, he says. "It gets so they can't handle the home situation (living on their own)." His counterpart at Kilbarchan, Anne Helm, says her job is "To see residents get the most of life (and) maintain contacts outside the home to enable them to continue their life as much as possible." Most people, she says, have a negative attitude toward nursing homes. She says that's often a result of the myth that "People come here to die." 'It'strue some of our patients never go home again," she says, "But some come and live here for years." Indicative of some of those negative beliefs is the sentiment expressed by Jerry Fehr, 18, of Seaforth. "It would be awful walking around old," he says. "You get older and you wonder." "It could happen any time." His friend, a 20 -year-old man originally from London but now living here, would not divulge his name. He lives across from the Seaforth Health Care Facility which may be why he has fewer problems with the idea of aging than does Mr. Fehr. He realizes he's "gonna be old one of these days," and says he enjoys his occasional conversations with' residents of the home. He's also dose to his grandparents, although they live in Hamilton. "I can talk to them about anything," he says. "Iean sit and talk to my grandma about drugs or women or whatever." His one complaint about the town's seniors has to do with employment. A large international company was thinking of locating here several years ago, he says, until the seniors talked them out of it. "They didn't even give it a chance." Lori Dumas is another young person with mixed feelings about the elderly. The 25 -year-old runs a retail store in town, and says the only people who are bitter are the ones who sense they will "pass on before their goals are achieved." I know some people in their sixties," she says, "and it can be sickening. They're hard to tolerate. You just listen to them and it's depressing. "You feel like saying, 'Do something.' " Regardless of that, she says, "Seniors are treated well. And there's no reason they shouldn't be." "There's nobody more knowledgeable." She's also very close to her grandparents, she says. "They're lovable old people. They tell us some great tales," Dave Netzke says if he were still in his former nursing home residence in London and joked about chasing the nurses, he'd get his face slapped. He really enjoys the congenial atmosphere in Seaforth. He's made friends in town, and doesn't regret a minute of the time he spends here. 'i never had as much fun in my life," hp says. Brussels man appointed rep James W. Cardiff of Brussels and Jon M. Gaiser of Exeter have been appointed to the Huron County Housing Authority. Mr. Cardiff, a real estate broker, will serve as federal representative, and Mr. Gaiser, who is in the insurance and real estate business, will serve as a provincial represent- ative on the seven -member authority that manages Ontario Housing Corporation's 415 assisted housing units in Huron County area. The federal, provincial and municipal governments nominate individuals for ap- pointment to the housing authorities by provincial orders -in -council. The province appoints the housing authority chairman. The day-to-day management of OHC's 84,000 housing units is carried out by local housing authorities, although the primary responsibility for assisted housing remains with OHC. OHC chairman Allan Moses said: "By volunteering their time to serve on the local housing authority, private citizens such as Mr. Cardiff and Mr. Gaiser are helping to ensure that Ontario's assisted housing program is sensitive and can respond to the needs of the many communities it serves." The Huron County Housing Authority manages 331 senior citizen assisted housing units and 84 units for low-income families. The authority also provides housing for physically -disabled and mentally -retarded persons who are capable of living on their own. Tornado damage estimated at $5m Damage to the electrical system caused by the May 31 tornado cost Ontario Hydro an estimated $5 million. It took Hydro crew three weeks to complete permanent repairs. Fierce winds knocked down 15 high-volt- age towers weighing 10 to 20 tonnes. Transmission lines were strung on temporary wood poles within a few days, but new towers were not all in place until June 20. The tornado destroyed so many Ontario Hydro and municipal utility poles in the Barrie, Alliston and Orangeville areas that a final count was impossible. By June 5, service had been restored to all but a handful of customers. TORNADO TESTS SYSTEM PROTECTION PLAN Hydro's $35 million computerized Bruce System Protection Plan was called into service for the first time during the tornado, to prevent widespread power blackouts. The storm toppled four towers on the 500 -kilovolt transmission line between the Bruce Nuclear Power Development and the Milton Transformer Station. As a result, more electricity was being produced at the station than could be transmitted, and the computerized protection system automatical- ly disconnected three Bruce generating units from the electrical grid. At the same time, power was automatically cut to seven transformer stations serving the Hamilton, North York, Oakville, London, Chatham, Barrie and Belleville areas. This action kept the electrical system in balance and prevented a massive blackout which could have affected all of southern Ontario and possibly Michigan and New York State SWINGING SISTERS — Renee Thompson, 12, left, had trouble finding a summer job despite placing an advertisement in the paper, So, her mother hired her to babysit sisters Danielle and Noelle. (Mcllwraith photo) Finding work a job itself Renee Thompson is a typical 12 -year-old girl who approached a typical desire a little differently. Renee wanted a summer job. And in an effort to get one she took a different route. she placed the following advertisement in the newspaper; "Have too much to do? Well I'm a 12 -year-old with lots of energy and spare time to - cut your lawn, walk your dog, babysit your children or deliver your groceries." The main purpose of the ad was to get Renee enough clientele that she could gain a little pocket money over the summer, since, her mother says she's at the age where she wants to buy some of her own clothes, make-up and records and such. • Unfortunately though for Renee the ad brought in no results, and that's because, her parents believe, she's still too young to be considered seriously in the job market. "Her dad and i think she's on the border line between being old enough to do something but not old enough that people want her for the jobs she said she wanted to do," said Brenda Thompson, Renee's mother. But despite a lack of response from the ad Renee is not unemployed. Her parents have taken advantage of Renee's availability for the summer and hired her to babysit her two younger sisters, and to do odd jobs around their home. "She may not be making as much money as she might have made somewhere else but there are just so many kids looking for work, -older ones too," said Mrs. Thompson. "We're just new back to the area so we don't know a lot of people who need odd jobs done And Renee is not that forward so we thought a the newspaper was a way to let people know she was available without being too pushy about it. You always see signs up in the laundry mat and grocery store. We thought the newspaper would bring more readership. There's only so much a 12 -year-old can do and maybe people just do it themselves. And it seems there are more babysitters around than babies," said Mrs., Thompson. To Renee it didn't really make much difference whether she got a job at home or away from it, as long as she's able to make a little money of her own. "it's okay. i was a little disappointed but i don't mind looking after my sisters. They listen to me," she said. "They like having me babysit them better than my brother." "It's been an experience," added Mrs Thompson. "it was fun writing the ad."