January (10.0 MB) - Senior Connector

Page 10 Senior Connector www.seniorconnector.comJanuary 2007There is growing evidencehat no matter what yourge, brain health is moremportant than ever before.That’s the theme forhe national campaignor Alzheimer Awarenessonth titled, Heads Up forealthier Brains.“The Alzheimer Societyf B.C. will be promotingways to reduce the risk ofeveloping Alzheimer’s disase,and ways to take actionor a healthier brain,” saidTerri Maynard, support andducation co-ordinator forhe Alzheimer Society of.C.As part of AlzheimerAwareness Month, and toelp promote Heads Upor Healthier Brains, theAlzheimer Society of B.C.nvites you to participate inhe “Walk for Memories.”870 Westminster AvenueKamloops, B.C. V2B 1N9Over 10,000 locationsworldwide.(000) 000-0000(000)(000)000-0000000-0000Local Local Address(000) 000-0000AddressLocal AddressLocal Local AddressAddress(000) Local 000-0000Address(000) LocalLocal 000-0000AddressAddress(000) LocalLocal 000-0000AddressAddress(000) 250-377-7680Local 000-0000Address(000) 000-0000(000) 917 Local worldwide.Laval 000-0000Address Cresent(000) 000-0000Kamloops, Local AddressLocal Address BC V2C 5P4(000) Local 000-0000AddressLocal Address(000) Local 000-0000Address(000) Local 000-0000Address(000) Local 000-0000Address(000) 000-0000Local Address(000) Local 000-0000AddressLocalLocal AddressAddressLocal Address(000) Local (000)000-0000Address000-0000Local AddressLocal Address(000) LocalLocalLocal 000-0000AddressAddressAddress(000) LocalLocal 000-0000AddressAddress(000) Local 000-0000Address(000) 250-376-2272000-0000(000) LocalLocalLocal 000-0000AddressAddress#8-1103 AddressLocal 12th Address Street(000)(000) Local 000-0000Kamloops, Local 000-0000AddressAddress BC V2B 8A6Local Address(000) Local 000-0000AddressLocal Address(000) Local 000-0000Address(000) Local 000-0000Address(000) Local (000) 000-0000Address000-0000(000) Local 000-0000Address(000) 000-0000Local Address(000) Local 000-0000Local AddressAddressLocal AddressLocal Addresscurves.comOver 10,000 locationsWalk for Memories brings honour to Alzheimer Awareness MonthSuites available(250) 376-0315www.caretendersinc.comLAWYERS DOWNTOWNCATES CARROLL WATT is afull service law firm servingKamloops for the last 93 years.We are conveniently located inthe Old Firehall No. 1 at Fourthand Lansdowne and would behappy to advise our KamloopsSeniors in matters concerningthe law.Join Curves now and get 30% off the service fee, plus yourfirst 30 days free. Discover how 30 minutes is all it takesto get a total body workout with our total support.sho04_suitesFREEINITIALCONSULTATIONWeekend, Home and HospitalAppointments AvailableTelephone: 372-8811There’s no time to lose inthe fight against Alzheimer’sdisease, so sign up today toparticipate in the AlzheimerSociety of B.C.’s annualInvestors Group Walk forMemories and collect pledgesto help those in our communitywho are affected bydementia.The walk will be held onSunday, Jan. 28, at the InteriorSavings Centre in Kamloops.The walk is a noncompetitiveevent for peopleof all ages.Participants collectpledges for the chance towin great incentive prizes,including a chance to win agrand prize.“This is the fourth yearfor the walk in Kamloops,and this year the walk isbeing held in memory ofBeth Desjardine and in honourof the Desjardine family,”explained volunteer eventorganiser Marg Rodgers.“The enthusiasm theevent has generated hasreally helped us make a difference!”An estimated 61,000British Columbians haveAlzheimer’s disease or arelated dementia, a diseasethat also has a huge impacton family and friends.Approximately 14,000new cases are diagnosedeach year in B.C.The Alzheimer Societyof B.C. provides a variety ofinformation, programs andservices to support peoplewith Alzheimer’s or a relateddementia, caregivers, andfamilies.The Alzheimer Society ofB.C. ensures people whoselives are affected by dementiaare connected to a communityof information, servicesand support. Fundsalso go towards research tosearch for the causes andthe cure.Register for the Walk forMemories today!For more informationon Alzheimer’s disease, theAlzheimer Society, or toregister for the Walk forMemories, contact the local*Offer based on first visit enrollment, minimum 12 mo. c.d. program. New members only. Not valid with any other offer.Valid only at participating locations. ©2006 Curves Internationaljcw01Alzheimer Society of B.C.Resource Centre at 377-8200 or 1-800-886-6946, orvisit www. alzheimerbc.orgor www.walkformemories.Walk for Memories 2007,KamloopsIn memory of Beth Desjardine,and in honour of theDesjardine family.Sweethearts since theywere 16, Joe and Beth metwhen they were pinsetters ata local bowling alley on VictoriaStreet in Kamloops.Married on Feb. 2, 1949,they celebrated 57 years ofmarriage in 2006. Theyraised four children, twosons and two daughters.They also have eightgrandchildren, and threegreat-grandchildren.Joe worked as a brakemanfor CN Rail, until helost his sight. Then he starteda poultry farm in Westsyde,where he raised hensfor local egg farms.During this time, Joe alsohelped start the WestsydeVolunteer Fire Department,and was made an honorarymember.After seven years, Joemoved the family intodowntown Kamloops. Therehe ran the CNIB Kiosk inthe Liquor Store on SeymourStreet for 22 years.Beth enjoyed raising herfamily, and worked 20 yearsfor Woodwards, until sheretired in 1988.Together Beth and Joeenjoyed baseball and longwalks. Beth was a big fan ofbaseball.When they were young,she watched Joe play on ateam at Riverside Park whileshe helped pass the collectionplate to raise donationsthat kept the team going.Beth was also a hugeToronto Blue Jays fan.Are you or a member of your family, livingwith a chronic health condition?This can be any health condition that goeson for a long time and has affected your dayto-daylife, such as diabetes, heart disease,osteoporosis, chronic depression or manyother conditions. Thompson Rivers UniversitySchool of Nursing needs your help.As part of TRU’s nursing program, firstyear students visit families with chronichealth conditions.Please consider volunteering your timeto help TRU’s nursing students education.You will be asked to participate in three visits(about one hour in length) with a nursingstudent.The purpose of these visits is to learnabout health challenges from the familiesperspective. This perspective enables nursing“Supper would be late ifthere was a Blue Jays gameon,” laughed Joe.They were fortunateto have the opportunityto attend a Toronto BlueJays home game in 1992.In 1998. Beth and Joe alsotravelled by train (somethingelse Beth loved to do), toNew York to visit family.There they took in a baseballgame at the famous YankeeStadium.Beth also loved towalk. She could walk greatdistances, and very fast.Together, Beth and Joeenjoyed many walks and aparticularly lovely adventurealong the Oregon coast.However, Beth’s enthusiasmfor walking also becamea concern after she was diagnosedwith Alzheimer diseaseat age 70.For six years, Joe caredfor Beth at home, with thehelp of family and friends.Joe described Beth asalways being a very healthyperson, and he said she nevertook pills, until her diagnosisof Alzheimer’s disease.Then she was prescribedmedication for Alzheimer’s,but she did not want to takeit. Joe said she would havetrouble remembering whohe was.“The most difficult waswhen Beth would forgetwho I was. I would try andconvince her I was her husbandJoe, but she would say,‘You may be Joe, but you’renot my husband. ‘ She wouldeventually remember when Itold her things only I wouldknow as her husband,”explained Joe. “After Bethwas admitted to PonderosaLodge, the nurses made sureshe took her medication andthen she always rememberedwho I was.”Beth could also rememberher phone number, butnot her address. Joe saidBeth’s walking became wanderingaway, and that washard on the family becauseshe was such a quick walkerand could go a long distance.“Luckily they were alwaysgood people who would helpand bring her home,” Joesaid.Joe contacted theAlzheimer Society of B.C.after Beth was admitted toPonderosa Lodge.In the Caregiver SupportGroup he found people whoshared similar experiences.However, Joe recommendsthat people contactthe Alzheimer Societyand attend a support groupsooner.Joe participated in theWalk for Memories in 2005and 2006, along with Beth’syounger brother Jim Freathy.Jim was a very special personto Beth, because withher being 12 years older,she helped take care of himwhen he was a baby.“Once at a family dinnerat our son’s, while wewere eating ice cream, Jimstopped by for a visit. Bethloved ice-ream, but shedidn’t finish it because shewould rather be with herbrother than finish her icecream,”Joe fondly recalled.The love Joe has for Bethis obvious in how he speaksabout her and their lifetogether.Sadly, Beth passed awayin July 2006, after eightyears with Alzheimer’s disease.On Jan. 28, Joe and Jimwill Walk for Memories inmemory of Beth Desjardineand in honour of their familywho lovingly supportedBeth and Joe during theirjourney with Alzheimer’sdisease.Wanted: Families with chronic health problemsstudents to become more caring nurses whenworking with families throughout their nursingcareer.As a benefit for the families, they areoften able to identify or reaffirm theirstrengths and resources used in coping withtheir health circumstances.If you or someone you know meets thecriteria and is interested in participating inthis assignment, please contact Mona Taylorat mtaylor@tru.ca or phone 828-5478.Holly – Early Christians of NorthernEurope decorated their homes andchurches with this easily grown evergreencalled “Holy Tree,” later “Holly,” becausethe pointed green leaves reminded themof the crown of thorns and the red berriesof the drops of blood at Jesus’ crucifixion.