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A8-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, January 31, 2006 Visit us at 47 Laurier Atie. 878-2881 Family not letting Alzheimer 's get best of them Woman moves back in withfather to help him battie disease By STEPHANIE THIESSEN The Champion Wally Lynde and his daugh- ter, Lu-Ann, refuse to be victimized by an ilIness known as a thief of timne and memno- ries. Yes, Mr. Lynde is in the early stages of Alzheimer's, but the two aren't going to let that mile their lives. With a combination of medication, support services through VON Alzheimer Services and his daughter's care, Mr. Lynde, 79. is able to continue doing the things he enjoys. A diagnosis of Alzheimer's is sure 50 send a chili down artyone's spine. But Ms Lynde wants to share their story to let people know dementia, altbough progressive, can be managed. Witb January being Alzheimer Awareness Month, Ms Lynde wants people to know the facts about Alzheimer's disease. snstead of dling- ing to fear. Ms Lynde said she worries some seniors might flot visit a doctor to report sympsoms for fear of that dreaded diagnosis. As a result, they may suf- fer unnecessarily. Mr. Lynde was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease three years ago. "At age 75, sometbing began t0 change," Ms Lynde said, adding ber father bad always worked witb his bands and "sometbing made it flot pleas- urable anymore." Tasks that used to be second nature began tEX stump bim, his daugbser said. Short-term memory affected He's now in tbe early stages of Alzbeimer's, witb msld cognitive impairînent affecting his short-term memory. Be can still do the tbings be enjoys, sucb as carpentry, but needs a little help sometimes. "An example is belIl go out 60 the garden shed because be's going to cnt the grass, and balfway there belIl tbink, 'Wbat did 1 corne for?"' Ms Lynde said. Last yesr, be began taking wbat tbe pair refers to as "memory pis." I-as life improved since be started the medica- tion? "i don't remember," said a laughing Mr. Lynde from bis living room, bis sense of humour intact. Ms Lynde confirmed tisas the medication bas worked wonders. "Take dad's dog. Before be was taking' tbe memory pilla, be would sometimes forget 60 fuil the water B'ougb. Aliter be started taking the pilis, Photo by BARRIE ERSKINE Lu-Ann Lynde sits wlth father WaIIy, who suffers fram Alzhelmor's disease. be remembers ever night," she said. As Ms Lynde knsnws aIl to<s well, a diagnosis of Alzheimer's affects monre tban osne person. It affects an ensire circle osf fa;nily and friends. And in ber case, it cssmpitely cbanged ber day-to- day life. Since ber father was living on bis own, Ms Lynde decided to quit her job and move in witb bim. "Wbile mom was il], I slept bere as nigbt," she said, adding ber mother passed away a year ago. "It tben seemed appropriate tbat I stay ait the bouse." Both fatber and daugbter take a practical, non- doomn-and-gloom, approacb to bis disease. "tt's life, as fair as l'im concemed," Mr. Lynde said. "You get older, tbis bappens and tben even- tually you die." Ms Lynde compares ber father's limitations tri ber ERTRI less tban perfect vision. Sbe can't see well on ber own, so she wears glasses. Ber fatber needs a little belp remembering, so he takes a pilI. As ber sigbt worsens, she'l need a stronger glasses prescription. And wben Mrn Lynde's Alzbeimer's progresses, belIl take a stronger or differents medication, she said. Since tbe diagnosis, MIs Lynde and ber father have been taking advantage of the programs offered tbrough VON Alzheimer Services. Mr. Lynde attends VON's adult day prograrn as Sheridan College in Oakville -there's also a Burlington site - every Wednesday and Saturday. "It's something I look forward to," said Mr. Lynde, sitting on a coucb in bis living room. Tbere are 20 60 30 people wbo attend the pro- gram on Wednesdays and jup tri a dozen on Saturdays, Ms Lynde said, adding ber fatber bas an improved self-esteeni and better quality of lité witb the day program. Something else Ms Lynde said she appreci- ates is VON Alzheimer Services' resource cen- tre, wbich offers a seminar series plus a lending library withbhooks, tapes and DVDs. There's also s counseilor on staff. Every third1Tbursday of tbe montb, Ms Lynde attends a support group for caregivers of people with Alzbeimer's in tbe community room upstairs as Loblaws. Education crucial Tiziana Pelusi, recreationist witb Alzheimer Services, said education about Alzbeimer's is extremely important. "You often bear people say it's about memory loss. But it's a lot more tban tbat," sbe said. And witb the aging population, more and more people will be dealing witb Alzbeimer's in the future, sbe said. "It's very important to make people aware s0 they cas be prepared if it ever bappens to tbem," she said. Support groups for caregivers, sucb as tbe one offered by VON, can be invaluable, sbe said. not just to be witb people in similar situations, but also to swap ideas. "Tb'ey bave to be creative witb tbe way tbey bandie (tbesr Ioved ones') bebaviour," Ms Pelusi said. As for tbe day program, it's for tbe caregivers as mucb as it is for tbose witb Alzbeimer's, sbe said. "Caregivers are getting some rest knowing tbeir loved ones are being cared for in a secure (envirofiment)." Tbere's one other adult day prograin for Alzheimer's patients in tbe ares. 'Me Region of Halton's Friends Landing is a smaller program for cognitively impaired adoîts, and accommo- dates eigbs people. It's located at Allendale Long-Term care facility on Ontario Street. Another program run by tbe Region at Allendale is Milton Place, althougb it's not specifically for people with dementia-type ilI- nesses. It can accommodate up to 20 clients eacb day. For more information on the Region's day programs, visit www.balton.ca/scs/seniors/adp. To find out more about VON Alzbeimer Services, cail (905) 847-9559. Stephanie Thiessen can be reached at sthiessen@miltoncanadianchampion.com. WVCQGECQ Cogeco Cable Channel 14 Programming Schedule - Tuesday, January 31 -Monday, February 6, 2006 lhaIy LO1 beiin 06m SONs0E Liv Malts UoM Coumai 1200pn Swap Tali -00prn Ha5on5escsil 4:00çm TJC Sports: ir-R 1030v IVC Sport JrA 1 00m Mîston Concl Jan (CRelgy) Jan 23 2» (Remls) Jan 182Hockey - Hamilton vs Hocey -Hamîhfon s30 2006 www.cogeco.ca 511p. momw ui mu5216 3:0- 8:0p Pig In! EXTRA 1:00pm Misi oni Jan 154o Pipi lui mu16 aUdlgise BuTîintis A30pm - 8:Opm Plugged In! EXTRA 5:W Ptissed In! EXTRA al.p tm" lT*320 6:00pm - Midoîssi NW lflETRA 6:0p - Midngit Plussed In' EXTRA 6 0Xpn iion Couîcl Jan 8îoeslpm SpU5SONE Liv NORTH I4ALTON STUDIO li0p19 tl6aTV Iqe 1 (L) 9:0p Mallos c 3020306ETAAOoMnEtPugd XR iLau) 1tup arm Cao Jan 18 AOO0pm -Midnight PluggedInEXR 0pm-W ihPlgeI'ETA Laurier Plaza A:xrn puwtIEXTAl 82 AuNue m Aî- Midný Pislssln EXTRA 50W Laurier Avenue (Lise) Jan 2320206 Milton, ON L9T 4R3 il Xpni--AdrngSpug ln' EXTRA