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12_V1_WAT_Dec07 12 • WATERLOO CHRONICLE • Th ursday, December 7, 2017 Serving your community since 1856 CITY LIFE WATERLOO CHRONICLEWATERLOO CHRONICLE AROUND TOWN By Joy Struthers Chronicle Sta� A ll over the world young people are responsible for caring for parents, grandparents and siblings without support. In Ontario, the discussion about this group is just beginning, and Emily Fraschetti, 21, a University of Waterloo student and young caregiver herself, wants to raise awareness. Her mother, Moira, was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's when she was 51 and Fraschetti was just 15. Th ere were signs before that, but she said they were easy to brush off and ignore. "It was just small things. My mom drove me to a camp one time and I knew she had been there before so I wasn't worried about directions. Then we were lost for like four hours and it was an hour away. We had no idea where to go," she said. Moira would ask what Fraschetti wanted for lunch every day, when she always had the same thing, or forget appointments. Some- times she would show up on the wrong day for family dinners out. Th e problems became more serious, and Fraschetti didn't want to talk to anyone about it. Her mother opened up to neighbours and friends and had care in place, but Fraschetti didn't have anyone to turn to. "I only told people if they had to come over, and I didn't want them to come over at all. It was really diffi cult," she said. Fraschetti and her sister, brother and father became joint caregivers for Moira, and they have done everything possible to keep her at home and well cared for. This was a choice they made as a family and stick by it, despite the struggles they face. At fi rst it was about helping her remember things and navigate the house and daily rou- tines, but things got much worse. "She can't feed herself. We feed her and take her to the bathroom, there's incontinence so I have to change her. Sometimes she tells us if she needs to go, and sometimes she doesn't," Fraschetti said, who is grateful they have help from personal support workers. She can speak to her mother and she will reply, but it doesn't always make sense. Moira no longer remembers who her children or husband are. "During my time at university it went from, 'Th is is Emily, my daughter,' to 'Oh, this is the little girl,' to now I tell her who I am," Fraschetti said. She said her mother has changed a lot and goes through phases, which may be connected to separate health issues and side-eff ects from medications. "She went through a phase where she was screaming a lot and she would grab your hands and squeeze them really hard and not let go. She pulled me up from the ground by my hair," she said. Fraschetti said she wants to be home to help her family and spend time with her moth- er, but it is hard for her. Sometimes she wants to go to an event or hang out with her friends but can't because of the responsibilities she has. When she is at home with her family in Mississauga she wishes she had more time to study, as well. She has to work extra hard to complete her assignments beforehand. Sometimes she wishes she could be com- forted, especially when she is sick or upset. "Where is my mom to give me a hug and tell me everything's going to be OK?" she said. The hardest part is looking ahead and knowing all the things she won't experience. "I have to miss out on everything. My mom's not going to be at my graduation, my mom's not going to be at my wedding. My mom's not going to be there when I have a baby," Fraschetti said. Expressing herself and asking for help has been a challenge, but Fraschetti said the recent forum held by Th e Change Foundation, and work being done by KW Young Carers Project made a big diff erence for her. She was able to speak out about what she wants, and thinks identifying young caregivers in order to help them is crucial. Julie Laderoute, from the advisory team at KW Young Carers Project, said right now the focus is on awareness, and soon they will try to implement supports into already existing programs in the region. She said other countries are far ahead of Canada in providing help for caregivers, espe- cially young ones. "We're behind, and we have to pick up our feet," Laderoute said. Young enough to care Young caregiver says youth struggling with added responsibilities May Court Club's Christmas Dreams Th e May Court Club of KW presents its 28th annual Christmas Dreams Raffl e at Conestoga Mall to Dec. 9. Th ere is $23,000 worth of prizes to be won, includ- ing beautifully decorated Christmas trees with all the trimmings. Tickets are available until 1 p.m. on the day of the draw, but they go fast so get yours today. Th rough the generosity of its sponsers, the club is able to help programs at KidsAbility, Children's Wish Foundation, Our Place Family Resource and Early Years Centre. For more information about the Christmas Dreams Raffl e, or the May Court Club, visit www.maycourt- clubofkw.org. Antique appraisal at Clair Hills Dec. 8 Clair Hills Retirement Community is hosting an Antique Appraisal Day, Dec. 8, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., at 530 Columbia St. W., Waterloo. Treasure Antiques has been working in the GTA since 1992 with special attention paid to senior cli- ents in helping them appraise their heirlooms and antiques. Join them at Clair Hills with your most treasured antiques. You will have the opportunity to have your items appraised and also learn about their history. If you don't have any antiques but enjoy a unique history lesson, come join us and see what others have collected over the years. Please RSVP to Sarah Louise McGregor, Marketing Manager, at sarahlouisem@clairhillsretirement.com or by calling 519-880-8444. Find out more by visiting treasureantique.com/ about-us.html Galaxy of Gifts Dec. 9 Th e third annual Galaxy of Gifts is set for Luther Village on the Park's Great Hall, Dec. 9, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 141 Father David Bauer Dr., Waterloo. A fundraiser for the Lutherwood Foundation it features more than 50 tables of various handcrafted items, jewelry and so much more. For more information call 519-783-3710. JOY STRUTHERS PHOTO Emily Fraschetti never thought of herself as a young caregiver. She has helped to care for her mother, who has early onset Alzheimer's for six years, and does so while studying at UW. YOUR city YOUR news also available online