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AS-Thé Caneadian Chamnpion Tuesday, August 9, 2005, www.karensflowershop.com n n ui y Pg 487 Laurier Ave. p g 878-2881 ConnectCare offers lifeline for many By GILLIAN CORMIER Special to The Champion Sometimes a littie buttun can make a big difference. For ConnectCARE clients, it can mean the difference between independence and assist- cd living. The ConnectCARE program is a non- profit personal response service operated by Halton hospitals that allows seniors and persons with chronic medical or physical conditions to reach help at the îouch of a bunton. "Clients wear a uIte button, waterproof anid very light, on their wrist or as a pen- dant thaî's connected toi a speaker unit that dials into the Oakville response centre," said ConnectCARE Co-ordinator Margaret Robichaud. When the button is pressed, shre explained, the speaker unit is activated and staff at the centre contact the client through the unit. A fainily member, a neighbour or emergency service is then dispatched dcpending on the nature of the problemn. If thec client doesn't respond, the alert is treated as an emergency. Ail relevant per- sona] and medical information is immedi- ately available to staff, who then dispatch emergency services. "The programri is designed to get people help quickly, su they don't go undiscov- ered if they're hurt," said Ms Robichaud. It also complements other home-care services, and allows clients toi prolong or delay instituîionalized care in a lot of cases. ConnectCARE is monitored 24 hours a day to meet the needs of older clients and those suffering from seizures, MS or other medical conditions that sometimes make living independently a challenge. The program operates on user fees, which include a one-time $35 cost for ini- tial activation and $35 a month for mainte- nance. ConnectCARE also offers funding for those who can't afford the service, and works with local community groups to sponsor qualified candidates. The Royal Canadian Legion in Milton currenîly sponsors two individuals. Units are installcd by volunteers. many of whom are retircd. Thiey also niake sure the units are functioning properly and that the batteries get changed regularly. When a unit gcts losv on batteries. it sends a signal to the response centre. svhich dispaîcîses a volunteer to replace thcm. The speaker unit also bas a battery back-up. wbicb allows the unit Eu function in a blackout. About 950 clients in Halton and other "It gives themn the choice to remam Wnependent. People don't Mie to think about it until something happens."9 areas of Ontanio use the service, and Ms Robîchaud saîd the centre is now able tu monitor clients anywhere in North Amenica. She saîd some clients take their unîts with them tel cottages up north or on vacations elsewhere in Canada. In those cases, the centre gets informa- tion on the new location and performs test cails tu the new area toi ensure they can respond quickly in an emergency. ConnectCARE celebrated its 151h anniversary in October, and since its incep- lion has provided life-saving support to tbousands in the Halton ares ajonc. But ConnectCARE also provides clients with something equally important - a sense of sccuriîy, self-esteem and the ability to be lesa restricted by physical limitations. "It's not an admiùssion of frailty, it's a powerful thing." she said. "It gives them the choice toi remain independent. People don't like tu tbink about it until something happens." She remembered une case where aa woman in her eighties fell and broke ber hip five feet away from the telephone. It took her an hour lu get lui Uic phone toi cal....... an ambulance, and in Uic process she had a heart attack. Now she han piece of mind as a ConnecîCARE client. "Falls are prevalent in older adults," she said. "If they're nul discovered for 24 hours, tIhe chance of complications devel- oping is much higher." Ms Robichaud describcd a client who had a unit installed, and thc next day had chest pains and used ber unit tu contact thse response centre to gel medical attention. White in hospital. she wroîe on a menu under thse CunnecîCARE description, 'You saved my life.' 'I kept tIsat,' said Ms Robichaud. " .,truck a churd with me. Il svas one of those twists, of fte tIsat she had tIse unit installcd tIse day before.- ConnectCARE is alsvays okîng tor Magae - chad volunteers and donations that can be uised ipas oe fth 10 boy nesv equipment or put îosvard spon- Cnetaeuîs soring a client in need. For more informa- Pht by GRHA PAINE. lion on the prugram, caîl (905) 338-4357. I l t7 PiT IrfPi 1%0 e 9'%kI É 4A11- /1 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ W uU~JUr~ JG I3119 Vt~~ ouu ~miiii. 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