Sidewalk to Tim Hortons would be costly

As published in The Erin Advocate

Installing a sidewalk from Ross Street up to Tim Hortons and the Medical Centre would cost the Town of Erin about $310,000, but it only has $100,000 set aside for the project.

Town Councillors took no action after receiving a report from Road Superintendent Larry Van Wyck on April 15, other than to request a list of potential sidewalk jobs so they could discuss priorities.

“We’ve encouraged development there, and there is a lot of pedestrian traffic – a lot of kids are using the area,” said Mayor Lou Maieron.

Truck drivers often pull to the side of the road and cross the ditch to get to Tim Hortons, and high school students have beaten a trail across the Deer Pit for a more direct route to the restaurant.

The Town would be responsible for building the 550-metre sidewalk, but since Main Street is a County Road, it would also have to convince Wellington council to fund construction of curbs and gutters, or a physical barrier between pedestrians and traffic, plus storm sewers and catch basins.

There are two ditches there, and the one closest to the road, which handles little water, would have to be filled in.

Contributions totalling about $100,000 were required from the developer of new buildings in the area, and this money is being held in reserve for the sidewalk, but the Town would have to cover the balance. This project is not in the current budget or the five-year capital forecast.

Elizabeth Manley shines light on mental health

As published in The Erin Advocate

Olympic figure skater Elizabeth Manley was at Erin Public School on April 10, bringing her story of hope as an inspiration for families dealing with mental illness.

The “Finding Light Through Darkness” event was organized by the Erin Parent Connection, with volunteers from several local schools, and included a Mental Health Fair with information from supportive agencies and businesses.

Manley grew up in an Air Force family and spent many hours at rinks, determined to be better than her hockey-playing brothers.

Moving to Ottawa, she progressed quickly in her early teens, with her figure skating talents honed by professional coaching and a tough training schedule. She would be on the ice by 6 am, in school for the morning, and then back on the ice in the afternoon and evening.

“I loved skating so much I didn’t know what else I was missing,” she said. Socially and emotionally she had some difficult years, especially with the divorce of her parents. She was bullied in school, but developed a tough mindset, in which “you never let your competitors see you weak.”

Her coach had to quit as she was preparing for the Olympics. She learned later it was because of AIDS, but at the time she was blaming herself. She felt guilty for making mistakes on the ice, since her mother was making so many sacrifices to keep her in the sport.
“I felt like my world was falling apart,” she said.

As a 16-year-old national champion, she felt the pressure of representing an entire nation. After moving to Lake Placid for training she had a nervous breakdown, losing her hair, gaining weight due to fluid retention and being diagnosed with clinical depression.

Because of her sport, she wanted to avoid all drug therapy. Talk therapy was limited and expensive, so she resolved to heal on her own and forge on with skating.

“People avoided me like I had leprosy,” she said. “But I said, no one’s going to tell me I can’t do something I love.”

Things were especially dark after she lost her title at the Nationals competition, with thoughts of suicide and a feeling that she had disappointed so many people. She did get help from a psychologist who donated his time, enabling her to release and deal with her emotions, and within seven months, she was back to skating.

“Sometimes we forget the things we love – we get distracted by fear and guilt,” she said.
With the help of supportive coaches and club members, she made the 1988 Olympic Team. She had some rough treatment in the press, and was competing with a high fever, but she continued to push herself.

While in third place after the short program and at risk of dropping out, the entire Canadian men’s hockey team showed up to watch her practice and give her encouragement. Coach Dave King told her later that his guys “needed to be inspired by a real champion”.

Manley is proud of the silver medal she won in Calgary in 1988, but the opportunity to help other people has become more significant for her. She raises money with the help of other skaters through the Elizabeth Manley and Friends Ice Show.

She supports research into Alzheimer’s disease and cancer, in honour of her parents, and for organizations like Community Living that work against stigmas in society. She is part of a growing effort to bring mental health issues out into the open for discussion.

“You never get over it – I still suffer,” she said. “But you can learn how to live a very fulfilling life, so don’t be afraid. Take time to take the pressure off. Parents, make a point of having conversations, take the time to know what’s going on. I want kids to know that there is help out there.”

Health Link helps patients with complex needs

As published in The Erin Advocate

A new effort to ensure that seniors and patients with complex problems don’t “fall through the cracks” of the health care system has been announced for rural Wellington.

A Health Link partnership will be led by the Family Health Team in Mount Forest, but it will be of equal benefit to residents of Erin, Hillsburgh, Rockwood and the rural area served by the East Wellington Family Health Team (EWFHT).

“We can do better with the health care dollars we are provided,” said EWFHT Executive Director Michelle Karker. “There are areas where we know we are lacking. There will be local coordination of records and we will look at all the services that are needed for a patient to be healthy.”

That includes not only treatment from doctors and nurses, but needs such as transportation, in-home support for housekeeping and personal care, addiction treatment, mental health counselling, support groups and video consultations via the Ontario Telemedicine Network.

“Health Links break down barriers for Ontarians, making access to health care easier and less complicated,” said Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, announcing the Wellington initiative. “By encouraging local health providers to work together to co-ordinate care for individual patients, we’re ensuring our highest needs patients – seniors and those with complex conditions – get the care they need and don’t fall between the cracks.” 

Complex patients represent up to five per cent of Ontario’s population, but use two-thirds of the health care budget, so efficiency in treating that group can help the entire system. 

Joan Fisk, Chair of the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), said the new Health Link for rural Wellington will make a “significant difference”, by providing “one coordinated care plan that reflects their entire health situation.”

Family Health Teams are already working in partnership with organizations such as the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), but the goal is to provide more comprehensive service and smooth transitions. 

Health Links bring together professionals in a given geographic area, including primary care providers, specialists, hospitals, home care, long-term care and community agencies. At the time a patient has contact with the system, it will be an opportunity to see what other services they might need.

The plan is to reduce avoidable emergency department visits and unnecessary hospital admissions and readmissions, provide same day or next day access to primary care, reduce referral time to specialists and home care, and reduce the number of Alternative Level of Care (ALC) patients – those taking up acute-care beds in hospitals while they wait to be discharged to other facilities. 

A recent study found that 75 per cent of seniors with complex conditions who are discharged from the hospital receive care from six or more physicians and 30 per cent get their drugs from three or more pharmacies.

A patient my still need to be seen by several doctors, but the plan is to have a common database of information on each patient, so that procedures such as X-rays and blood tests won’t be repeated unnecessarily.

“Patients need the health care system to respond quickly and seamlessly to their health care needs, especially those with complex conditions,” said Susan Eng of CARP (formerly the Canadian Association of Retired Persons). 

“Health Links is a major step towards a much needed comprehensive approach to care. CARP has called for a One Patient model – a comprehensive, well-coordinated, and integrated health care system that is easy to navigate and considers the full spectrum of health care needs as people age.”

If a patient lives in the Wellington territory but has their family doctor or specialist in another area such as Georgetown, Guelph or Orangeville, it is intended that there will be a seamless sharing of records among Health Link centres so that information is available to every health provider that needs it.

While the Health Link has been approved, the Ministry of Health will still need to approve a business plan to ensure that all the details have been worked out.

“Health Links present an exciting opportunity to collaborate and work together with our community health partners, including primary care, to put patients first,” said Liz Ruegg, President and CEO, Headwaters Health Care Centre. “This enhanced model of care will ensure higher-quality of care and improved access for our communities.”

Fitness Centre launches wheelchair bikes

As published in The Erin Advocate

Erin PhysioFitness has launched a campaign to raise $7,500 to buy a wheelchair bike for the participants of ARC Industries East.

"We will be able to take them for rides on the rail trail – and let us know if you wish to become a volunteer bike rider," said Campaign Chair Ted Forrest. He also volunteers his time taking seniors from the Wellington Terrace home in Fergus out on the nearby Elora-Cataract Trail, using a similar bike.

ARC Industries, part of Community Living Guelph Wellington, provides work and support for adults with intellectual disabilities, and recently opened a new Erin facility close to the trail.

Donations can be made at the gym at 6 Thompson Cres. in Erin, or call Forrest for more information at 519-855-9788.  Cheques payable to ARC Industries East can also be sent to their location at 10 Thompson Cres., Erin N0B 1T0, or visit www.clgw.ca to donate online.

Ted Forrest takes a senior from Wellington Terrace out for a ride.

Good recovery prospects for those with depression

As published in The Erin Advocate

Speakers at a panel discussion hosted by the East Wellington Family Health Team (EWFHT) this month painted a hopeful picture of recovery for the many people who suffer from depression.

With presentations that included scientific, therapeutic and personal points of view, the overarching message was that this condition can be defeated or made manageable.

"Depression has many faces, changing the way it appears from one person to the next," said Kim Bell, Program Lead/Mental Health Worker at EWFHT.  "Compounding this problem is the fact that most people are unaware that depression is an illness. It's a treatable illness. People do recover every day. So there is hope."

Depression affects 10 per cent of Canadians. Early intervention can reduce its severity, but sufferers and health professionals are working against the embarrassment, fear and stigma attached to all mental illnesses. Caring support from family and others can be crucial to recovery.

Dr. Pete Anderson, a family physician who recently joined EWFHT, and has a PhD in molecular biology and genetics, described the physical changes that take place in the bodies and brains of people with depression. Some 15 per cent of people will suffer from depression at some point in their life, with a higher incidence for women, especially in the time following the birth of a child.

"There are measurable changes in how your neurons work in the different parts of your brain, and things that short-circuit it can cause depression," he said, recounting his own struggles with the illness.

"The pressures I put on myself while going through medical school put me into a spiral. Had my wife been a hair less strong than she was, we might not be together today. So I am very, very lucky to have had the support of my family and friends to get through that.

"Insidious is a fantastic word to describe it. I was just miserable. Everything I did was just coloured by this morose, blue, outlook on things. All the pleasure of small things seemed to get drained out of the activities in my life."

Losing the ability to function distinguishes major depression. Anderson suffered many of the classic symptoms, at first not knowing the cause. A diagnosis requires a combination of symptoms persisting over a period of time.

These include overwhelming sadness, loss of interest in activities, low self-esteem, weight loss or gain, insomnia or excessive sleep, lack of energy, slow movement, changes in appetite, feelings of guilt, impaired concentration and decision-making, and thoughts of suicide as a way to escape.

"Maybe it would just be easier if I wasn't here – I remember saying that to my wife," he said.  "That was a big turning point, when I actually admitted I was having these thoughts."

Research is showing that stress triggers hormones that can wither the neurons in the brain and reduce connectivity, which can lead to a self-reinforcing pattern of negative thoughts and emotions. The human brain evolved to handle the short-term stress of emergencies, not the constant stress that society now generates.

"We think depression is a maladaptive response of the body to chronic stress that you can't get resolution to," he said. "There's usually a difference between expectation and reality that you can't reconcile. The part of the brain that decides what to do is locked out.

"The good news is that there are effective therapies for depression. You have to start doing things that used to make you happy. You have to socialize – there's something protective about social interaction, having people tell us that they care about us. That helps make new connections in the brain.

"Exercise releases hormones within the body that actually help neurons grow. Our bodies are designed to move, and our brains are designed to catalogue that movement," he said, but cautioned against expecting quick results. "You are not going to snap out of it. It takes time for brain re-growth."

Counselling can help people challenge their negative thoughts, while medications can sensitize the brain to helpful hormones. Finding the best medication and dosage is often a trial and error process, with the risk of serious side effects, but it is extremely valuable for many patients.

So the strategy is to combine different therapies to fight the illness. I will touch on some variations when I outline the presentations of the other panelists in a future column.

Worldwide events promote suicide prevention

As published in The Erin Advocate

Having a special "day" may not seem like much, in the struggle to keep people from taking their own lives. But when it is an issue that we are afraid to talk about, public discussion is a valuable key that can open up channels of hope and support.

World Suicide Prevention Day will be marked with a brief event in Erin on Monday, September 10, at McMillan Park on Main Street, at 12:30 p.m. It is partly to mourn the many lives lost to suicide, but more importantly to encourage those who are still at risk, and to reduce the stigma that makes it difficult to talk about mental illness and seek help.

I have been asked to share some personal reflections at this event, since Jean and I had ten years of experience in suicide prevention, before losing our son Thomas last May.

"Until it touches somebody's life, they don't realize how common it is," said Kim Bell, Program Lead/Mental Health Worker at the East Wellington Family Health Team, who is helping organize the event.

It is also sponsored by the Suicide Awareness Council (formerly the Suicide Resource Group) of Wellington-Dufferin, which has been in existence since 1999. Its goal is to reduce the incidence of suicide and its impact, through access to credible information, education and resources.

There is valuable information at www.suicideawarenesscouncil.wordpress.com and at www.suicideprevention.ca. It is also worthwhile to learn about the Collateral Damage Project, at www.leftbehindbysuicide.org, which promotes training in how to deal with the risk of suicide.

Preventing suicide requires a core partnership that includes the person in distress, the immediate family and health professionals – family doctor, psychiatrist and counsellor.

"It's about asking tough questions, hearing tough answers and taking action," said Bell. She said suicide is rarely an impulsive act, as people normally seek out many other options to alleviate their pain.

"You have to be honest with each other. Asking about suicide does not make it more likely. It gives the person permission to talk about it."

The suicides of almost 4,000 people per year in Canada create a painful reminder that this is a major public health issue, one that affects all walks of life.

“It speaks loudly about the need for the Government of Canada to pay heed to the call from thousands of Canadians, the United Nations and the World Health Organization to establish a national suicide prevention strategy,” said Tim Wall, Executive Director for the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention.

Bill C-300, to create Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention is now before the Senate. It would recognize suicide as a public health issue, provide guidelines, and promote collaboration, knowledge exchange and best practices.

When it was passed in the House of Commons in June, the Bill’s sponsor, Kitchener-Conestoga MP Harold Albrecht thanked all MPs for the quality of discussion through all the debates, which remained free of partisanship.

He challenged MPs to keep the conversations on suicide and its prevention alive in their own communities, as Canada remains a long way from breaking the stigma surrounding this issue.

Progress still slow in helping the disabled

As published in The Erin Advocate

Since talking is always cheaper than doing, I am always skeptical when governments talk about the need for additional talking. Such was the case when I read MP Michael Chong's announcement of a Panel on Labour Market Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities.

I may be a fine one to talk, being in the word trade, but like most people I am not in a position to directly make things better for the disabled. I wrote about this issue in 2010, but strangely, nothing appears to have changed.

Maybe businesses would pay more attention to customers than to columnists. If you were to walk into a downtown store and notice a three or four-inch concrete step, a difficult barrier for anyone in a wheelchair, would you be willing to ask the shopkeeper what could be done about it?

Removing these barriers in some older buildings might present a prohibitive cost, but there are other buildings where relatively inexpensive concrete work could make a big difference.

Municipalities with more than 10,000 people (like Erin) are required to set up an Accessibility Advisory Committee, with a majority of the members having disabilities, according to the Ministry of Community and Social Services. Erin's obligation is being met through an initiative at the County level. Store steps could be a topic for discussion.

Since one in seven people have a disability (one in five by 2036), the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act aims to make the province accessible – by 2025.

The federal government initiative focuses on employment issues, since that falls within their jurisdiction.

"The future of growth and prosperity in Canada is dependent on getting more people into the labour force, including Canadians with disabilities," said Chong. "The Panel is interested in hearing about the various ways employers have recruited and supported employees with disabilities at various stages in their careers, and how these best practices have benefitted their businesses."

This is all well and good, of course, but some disabled folks might be surprised that the Panel is setting out to identify barriers and disincentives to their employment. I thought they were fairly well-known, along with the need for laws and incentives to help change behaviours and attitudes.

An on-line consultation process starts next month, so if you want to participate or get more information, email: panel@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca or go to www.hrsdc.gc.ca, where you can also reach the federal Office for Disability Issues.

On the provincial side, where most disability issues reside, new rules came into effect this year. The Accessibility Standard for Customer Service applies to any person or company that provides goods or services and has one or more employees.

Businesses (and non-profit groups) must now make a plan to accommodate the disabled, including communication, allowing assistive devices and service animals, welcoming support persons and telling customers when accessible services are not available. They must also train their staff to make sure this happens.

Businesses can go to www.ontario.ca/AccessON to find out all the requirements, and run the Compliance Wizard software to help sort it all out.

Other provincial initiatives include mandatory changes to recruitment and hiring processes, and changes to workplace equipment. An emergency plan is already a must, but other measures will not be required until 2015 for the public sector, and 2017 for the private and non-profit sectors.

Some accessibility changes will come through the Building Code, and there will be other standards for the built environment in public spaces, which will apply only to new construction and redevelopment. These will cover not only buildings, but recreational trails, outdoor patios, playgrounds, pedestrian traffic signals and parking lots.

Change may be happening as slow as molasses in January, but at least it is flowing in the right direction.

Erin needs to prepare for seniors population boom

As published in The Erin Advocate

A survey of seniors in East Wellington shows the need for improvements in a wide range of services – with demand expected to climb as a higher proportion of the population graduates to the 55+ age group.

The project in Erin and Guelph-Eramosa was started last spring by East Wellington Community Services (EWCS), with the help of a volunteer committee and a grant from the federal government's New Horizons for Seniors program. The long term goal is to create a more senior-friendly community.

Seniors aged 55+ make up about 25 per cent of the population. They number about 7,500 in East Wellington (including 3,570 in Erin) with another 2,300 passing the 55 mark in the next five years.

An analysis of the 320 responses to the survey was to be discussed at a public forum on March 31 at Centre 2000. I went to the meeting thinking I might find a room full of seniors looking for ways to get better facilities and services in this area. Instead, I was the only person there, along with EWCS staff members Sherri Plourde, Manager of Seniors Services and Rick Eller, Committee Administrator.

Statistics may be important, but they are obviously not everyone's idea of an exciting evening out. The report has been presented to all local politicians, including the councils of the Town and the County, and to agencies who make decisions affecting seniors services. It will be used to show local needs when applying for Ministry of Health funding through the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).

"That data and research is really important for them to be aware of," said Plourde. "We hope to generate discussion."

There is also a need to make more people aware of existing services. For example, 73 per cent of respondents did not know that EWCS offers counselling services in Erin. Almost as many had no idea about local housing options, and among those who did, the rating was overwhelmingly "Poor".

Plourde said that seniors who live alone have lower incomes, are older, are in poorer health, and are more concerned about their future and the services they might need. Urban seniors are more often in poorer health, with lower incomes and living alone, compared to rural seniors.

Lack of access to transportation was identified as a key barrier to independence, along with the need for light housekeeping and snow removal help. About 40 per cent (and 57 per cent in the 75+ age group) said they would be interested in a fee-based transportation system.

"There are lots of seniors who want to stay independent and stay in their homes as long as they can," said Eller. Of course, many 55+ people don't consider themselves in need of "seniors" programs.

"For those who feel they are too young to need the service, why not volunteer to help," said Plourde. She said it is important to start expanding services now, since the current level of services will not be adequate once the senior population boom really gets going. "The numbers will increase and there could be waiting lists."

The EWCS website enables you to download a copy of the survey report, a shorter summary or their current newsletter. The site has details on seniors transportation, day trips and programs, and this year's Seniors Wellness Expo.

Do not go to www.ewcs.com, which is the site for Easy Web Computer Solutions in Argentina, or to www.ewcs.ca, the home of Electronic Warfare Consulting Services in Ottawa, or www.ewcs.net, the Earlswood Window Cleaning Services in Bangor, Northern Ireland. Instead, go to www.ew-cs.com, and bookmark it.

Distress Line volunteers provide immediate help

As published in The Erin Advocate

Sometimes, you just need someone to talk to, someone to listen without passing judgement, someone to give you good advice without forcing you to do anything. A person like that is sitting near a phone right now, ready to help.

Community Torchlight volunteers and staff have provided quality listening services to people in Wellington County, Dufferin County and the City of Guelph for more than 40 years.

The help is free, every day, around the clock. It is paid for mainly by the Ministry of Health, through the Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs), the United Way of Guelph-Wellington and fundraising efforts.

Known previously as the Distress Centre, Torchlight has expanded in recent years, and now has five different phone lines. Their Distress Line takes about 10,500 calls a year, with a team of 35-50 volunteers, each providing 16 hours of service per month.

They get 32 hours of in-class training and a period of professional mentoring before taking calls on their own. They range from senior citizens with time to contribute, to younger adults planning a career in social services.

"It feeds a sense of giving back to the community," said Executive Director Jesse Baynham. To find out more about volunteering, call 519-821-3760 or go on-line to dc-wd.org.

Torchlight has hosted The Walk for Suicide Awareness in Guelph and Orangeville, and has helped facilitate a series of Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training workshops.

In seeking financial donations from the public, Baynham said it is often families who have been affected by mental health issues who are especially inclined to support the agency. For those unaware of the issues, it can be a difficult message to get across.

Torchlight helps callers cope with a wide range of difficulties. "We are supporting some of the most disenfranchised people in the community," said Baynham.
Here are the various services (not long-distance calls from Erin):

• Distress Line – 519-821-3760 – a 24/7 listening service for people who are lonely, confused or in distress. Anonymity is assured, since Caller ID is not used. Referral to other sources of help is provided when requested.

• Crisis Line – 519-821-0140 – a 24/7 hotline for people experiencing a mental health or suicide crisis. This service is provided by professional staff, not volunteers, who are skilled in crisis assessment and de-escalation. This can be the first point of access for a range of services within the Crisis Intervention System of Guelph, Wellington and Dufferin.

The Crisis Line is the most expensive section of the Torchlight operation, made possible by funding of more than $400,000 annually from the Waterloo-Wellington LHIN. It is part of the provincial effort to reduce demands on hospitals, by assessing crisis situations and linking people quickly to the help they need.

• Youth Support Line – 519-821-5469 – an alternate way to contact Distress Line volunteers, an outreach to young people.

• Emergency Shelter Resource Line – 519-767-6594 – a 24/7 service for people in need of a warm, safe place to sleep. The volunteer will ask for the caller's name, gender and location, and direct them to an appropriate temporary shelter.

• Telecheck Dufferin – 519-415-3764 – a daily telephone check-in service that supports independent living for seniors 55 and older. Volunteers call the seniors for a brief chat, making sure they are not in need of help. If the senior cannot be contacted within one hour, the volunteer calls an emergency contact person.

The volunteers are mainly seniors. The team has grown in five years from four people to 23, making 17,531 calls in 2009-2010, including on weekends and holidays, serving 64 current clients. The Telecheck service is intended for residents of Orangeville / Dufferin, with funding provided by the Central West LHIN since 2008.

For Torchlight to provide such a service in the Erin area, it would require an interest among seniors, including potential volunteers, partnership with a local group and funding from the Waterloo-Wellington LHIN. Telecheck Dufferin got about $85,000 from the Central West LHIN in 2009-2010 as part of the Aging at Home strategy, and also gets support from the Dufferin Alzheimer's Society.

East Wellington Community Services (EWCS) offers a scaled down version of the service. Sherri Plourde, Manager of Seniors Services, personally calls to check in with eight seniors, two or three times a month, to see how they are doing. She would like to have a volunteer-based program, and have it funded and recognized as an essential service.

It is easier said than done, of course, since staff and volunteers are already busy with existing programs, and there are many projects that need funding. As always, public awareness and demand are the essential first steps.

Seniors Wellness Expo helps add life to your years

As published in The Erin Advocate

Getting older is getting more complicated all the time. With life expectancy creeping higher in our affluent society, it is no wonder there are so many people trying to help seniors live better. Fortunately, we have agencies dedicated to helping us figure out which other agencies we should be using.

For those with an interest in educating themselves on the process, it was worth a visit to the second annual Seniors Wellness Expo, put on by East Wellington Community Services (EWCS) on August 18 at Centre 2000. It will be on again in Rockwood on Monday, September 13, 1-7 pm. Transportation is available – call EWCS at 519-833-9696 or go to www.ew-cs.com.

The displays were by private companies, charities, social agencies, health professionals and government departments, all in a casual trade show environment. EWCS unveiled a new display booth, a professional way to show off its many services, which include the Seniors Day Program, information & referral, caring callers, foot care & hearing clinics, and activities for older active adults.

There are various other free services not based in Erin, but intended to serve our population. For example, Community Torchlight of Wellington-Dufferin offers a Distress Line, 519-821-3760, a non-judgmental listening service. It is for anyone who is lonely or upset, needing to talk to a supportive person. Check out www.communitytorchlight.com for their other services, including a Mental Health Crisis Line, 519-821-0140.

Abuse of older adults is a serious issue which often goes unreported. It is not just about violence, but includes issues of medication, denial of mobility aids and neglect of basic needs. Help is available from the Wellington Seniors at Risk System Coordinator, 519-843-6191; from the Waterloo-Wellington Community Care Access Centre, 519-823-2550; and from SOS - Seniors Offering Support, a confidential phone support line with senior volunteers, 519-767-4445.

Anyone who has experienced domestic violence can get treatment, emotional support and advice from specially trained nurses or social workers at Guelph General Hospital. Call 519-837-6440, ext. 2728.

If a senior is being treated for any type of problem at a hospital emergency department in Guelph, Orangeville, or others in the Waterloo-Wellington area, they are likely to encounter a Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM) nurse. They are trained to identify seniors at risk, and link them with community service agencies.

"We try to keep them at home as long as possible, and to avoid emergency admissions and re-admissions," said Nora Bamsey, a GEM nurse from North Wellington. It is part of the Local Health Integration Network's Aging at Home initiative. The issues can include falling, over-medication, underlying health conditions, caregiver burnout and lack of in-home help. Check the website: www.wwlhin.on.ca.

Not all of the displays were about seniors needing help. Many seniors are active in providing help to others. For example, the Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington has many opportunities – call 519-822-0912 or go to www.volunteerguelphwellington.on.ca.

Of course, the East Wellington Family Health Team had a display to promote its community workshops, including Better Sleep, Stress Management, Weight Loss, Diabetes Management, Healthy Living and Meal Planning. One upcoming event is Eat Well - Age Well: Senior Friendly Ideas for Healthy Eating, September 29, 10 am to noon, at Centre 2000. Go to www.ewfht.ca.

One of the business displays was from the Lord Dufferin Centre Seniors' Residence in Orangeville. It is owned by Erna Baniulis (a resident there) with her daughter Donna and son-in-law Dave Holwell. They are planning a new "life lease" adult lifesyle condo development in downtown Orangeville. For details, call 519-943-0847 or go to www.1elizabethstreet.ca.

Just one more website. While poking about on-line, I came across an interesting lecture on living a long, high-quality life. Go to www.ted.com and check out "Dan Buettner: How to live to be 100+".

Family Health Team offers counselling service

As published in The Erin Advocate

Access to counselling help has become quicker and simpler for patients of the East Wellington Family Health Team (EWFHT).

With new staff and a range of services, doctors can now refer people to local professionals for help with issues like grief, life transitions, drug and alcohol problems, conflicts at home or work, depression, stress, anxiety and chronic illness.

"People go to the doctor's office for everything else," said Kim Bell, Mental Health Worker and Program Lead with the team. "It's regular people with life issues that we are seeing."

She says if a condition is interfering with a person's ability to enjoy life, they can decide to view it as a something to be treated, not a weakness to be hidden. In fact, she has been impressed with the strength of many patients, in light of the stresses they have endured.

One in five people will personally experience a mental illness during their lifetime, but if the current trend continues, two-thirds of those will not seek help, said Bell.

She was previously a program manager with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). "Society does not view mental health like, for example, diabetes," she said. The stigma attached to these problems often serves to make them worse.

Mental illness can affect people in all age groups, regardless of their income level, education, cultural background or level of intelligence. The CMHA says about 8 per cent of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives. Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia each affects about 1 per cent of Canadians. Suicide accounts for 24 per cent of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16 per cent among 25-44 year olds.

Counselling is available at EWFHT for individuals, families, and occasionally short-term groups, but only for patients of doctors on the team. Patients take an active role in the process, setting goals and making decisions about treatment. It is not a crisis service – urgent cases are referred to other agencies.

There is no waiting list, so getting the first appointment (day or evening) normally takes only from a few days to a few weeks. The service is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, so there are no costs to the patient. The health team approach is designed to provide more options for doctors and more local treatment for patients.

Michele Ross-Miller joined the team in February as a full-time mental health therapist, after working as a family counsellor in Guelph. I asked her what she finds satisfying in dealing with people facing major stress in their lives.

"There are a great variety of issues, and at times it is frustrating, but there is always something that people take away," she said. "People are often relieved that there is someone there to listen to them and understand. It makes a big difference in their lives, but change comes slowly."

Some people may need to see a psychiatrist, but this service is not offered at EWFHT, and a referral can take more than nine months, said Bell. In any case, a psychiatrist may not do the longer-term therapy or counselling. Often they do assessments and prescribe medication, but the patient remains primarily in the care of the family doctor and mental health workers.

EWFHT has started an initiative with the Ontario Telemedicine Network, using two-way video-conferencing. Each Friday, a doctor in Hamilton who specializes in geriatric psychiatry sets aside time to "see" patients in Erin – without long waits or travelling. They see each other on video screens and have a discussion, with local staff providing assistance. "Patients have responded positively," said Bell.

For people without a local doctor, publicly funded help is available through Trellis Mental Health and Developmental Services, with offices in Guelph, Orangeville, Fergus, Mount Forest and Kitchener. Go to www.trellis.on.ca, or to speak with an information and referral worker, call 519-821-3582. There are also various private counselling services, though these can be expensive if not covered by a group insurance plan.

Also offered by EWFHT, and open to everyone in the community, are workshops related to mental health. Go to www.ewfht.ca for details on the Stop Worrying sessions to be held next March, which provide tips to help people understand and modify harmful worrying behaviour.

There is also an eight-week group program on Relaxation and Stress Management Skills Training, which can help in the self-regulation of headaches, muscle tension, insomnia and anxiety. It will be held on Monday nights in Erin starting October 18, and Tuesday nights in Rockwood starting January 4. Register on the website, or call 519-833-7576, ext. 224.

Disabled still face long-term accessibility obstacles

As published in The Erin Advocate

The steps at the doorways of some Erin stores present an impossible barrier for people in wheelchairs. Improvements have been made at many locations, but even with new customer service regulations coming in 2012, the town will still have a long way to go before it is truly accessible.

Nicole Valentine lives near downtown Erin village, and deals with the frustration all the time because her six-year-old son Pierce needs a wheelchair. He had meningitis as a baby, causing delay to his development and damage to his sight. When driving through town with her children, she would like to be able to stop and bring them into a store.

"I usually don't shop in town, that's the sad part," she said. Sometimes, she gets a babysitter so she can run errands on her own.

Newer stores generally have level entranceways, but at many older, historic buildings, there is not sufficient room on the sidewalk for a ramp, and only an expensive reconstruction of the storefront would enable easy access.

Valentine does not expect owners to tear up their storefronts, but in cases where there is enough room, she is hoping for more ramps, and doors that can be activated with the push of a button. These also help people who are frail, and those pushing strollers.

About 1.85 million Ontarians (15.5 per cent) have a disability. Within 20 years, as the population ages, 20 per cent will be disabled. Already, more than half the population feels the direct impact, if immediate family members are included.
“As caregivers and supporters, they also experience the reality of disability,” said Lieutenant Governor David Onley.

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is gradually bringing in standards in various areas: Customer Service, Built Environment, Transportation, Communications and Employment. The goal is full accessibility by 2025.

The Built Environment Standard, however, will apply only to new and significantly renovated buildings. Store owners will not be required to retrofit existing structures just to meet the standard. Other exemptions are planned, where compliance would be structurally impractical, be detrimental to a building's heritage value or create "undue hardship".

Customer Service was the first standard to come into effect, in January this year for public sector facilities. As of January 2012, it will apply to the private sector. An IPSOS REID survey last month found 68% of Ontarians polled were either not very aware, or had never heard of the new rules, which are based on the principle of equal opportunity.

Private firms will have a legal obligation to train staff and accommodate the needs of customers with a variety of disabilities: physical, hearing, sight, cognitive and intellectual. Goods and services must be provided in a way that respects their "dignity and independence". Firms must communicate with customers in a manner that takes into account their disability, and unless otherwise prohibited, allow guide dogs onto the premises. For more details, go to www.mcss.gov.on.ca.

The Town of Erin has trained its staff on the new service standards. They will take action to meet the needs of a disabled person at the municipal office, though in some cases they will need advance notice. This could include providing larger print or even braille materials for a visually impaired person, hiring an interpreter for a hearing impaired person or holding a public meeting on the main floor instead of the basement, since there is no elevator. There is $9,900 in the current budget to raise the sidewalk slightly at the front entrance and install an automatic door.

Most public sector buildings in Erin are wheelchair accessible, with the exception of the upstairs banquet hall at the Hillsburgh arena. Since that building is considered quite old now, accessibility will likely have to wait for a new facility.

The Royal Bank office in Hillsburgh has no room for a sidewalk ramp, but they have still made helpful improvements with a heavy-duty hand rail and automatic door. The Family Health Team medical centre in Erin has a small ramp of pavement from the parking lot to their sidewalk. There are no markings on the pavement, however, so drivers may not realize they are parking on the ramp, blocking the access. The Erin Post Office has a large ramp, but like many facilities, a heavy door that is awkward for anyone in a wheelchair, or pushing one. This would be an ideal spot for an automatic door.

Charles Beer, a former Minister of Community and Social Services, released a review of the AODA in February. He said a major effort is needed to educate people about the new regulations, and that standards need to be harmonized and streamlined. "I sense a tremendous angst among representatives from the obligated sectors and fears that the cost of compliance will be burdensome," he said.

The rights of persons with disabilities are protected under both the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Ontario’s Human Rights Code. Those rights don't mean much until there are regulations in place, with adequate enforcement.

"Accessibility turns legal rights into practical, everyday realities," said Beer. "As accessibility increases, Ontarians with disabilities will bring their talents to bear more effectively in the workplace and in all other aspects of Ontario life. Youth with disabilities will have more opportunity for educational achievement and seniors will live more fulfilling lives.

"Consumer spending by persons with disabilities will rise. And our quality of life will be enriched by the fuller inclusion of Ontarians with disabilities in our social relationships and community activities. Most important, the realization of accessibility will demonstrate our shared commitment to each other — and reinforce the values of decency, fairness and respect for individual dignity that bind Ontarians together."

White canes help blind live more independently

As published in The Erin Advocate

A white cane has helped give Doreen Cormier the confidence to go out walking in Erin village – but she has been surprised to discover that many people do not know what the cane signifies.

Only able to see shapes, she must often rely on others for help, especially when shopping.

“If I ask someone the price of something, they may say, ‘The price is right up there’. They don’t recognize me as being blind,” she said. “People are very helpful once you tell them you are blind.”

The first week of February is White Cane Week, a time not only to increase awareness of the cane, but also to celebrate the capabilities and talents of the blind and vision-impaired. The Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB), started by blind war veterans, has promoted White Cane Week since 1946. This year’s theme is: “Help promote accessibility…measure me by my capabilities, not my disabilities.”

There are three main types of white canes. Identification canes are lightweight and often can be folded up to fit in a purse or knapsack. They alert others to a person’s blindness and help them with depth perception, and finding things like curbs and stairs. Some people prefer to use longer “probe” canes, especially if they are traveling in an unfamiliar area.

The support cane is thicker and looks more like a regular cane used by non-blind people to help them walk – except that it is white. That is the type that Cormier uses. She says the meaning of the white colour should be taught in school.

The white cane as a symbol of blindness started in England in 1921, and was introduced and promoted in North America by Lions Clubs International, starting in 1931. One of the goals was to make the cane visible to motorists, improving safety for blind pedestrians.

The other major promoter of White Cane Week is the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), which provides many services, including mobility training to help people learn how to use the cane effectively. About 90 per cent of CNIB clients have partial vision.

Cormier benefits from the CNIB Talking Books service. She also has a magnifier so she can read The Advocate and other important documents.

The crosswalk at the corner of Church and Main in Erin village is equipped with speakers that emit a loud “cuckoo” sound when the walk signal is active for crossing the busy road. This was done particularly for the benefit of Cormier – and others with limited vision.

Now she does not have to wait for someone to come along to help her cross the road, though she is always appreciative when someone offers to help.

More than 600,000 Canadians are blind or vision-impaired. As seniors account for an increasing share of the population, issues of vision loss are likely to get more attention. Each year, 78,000 Canadians are diagnosed with Age-Related Macular Degeneration, which attacks a person’s central field of vision, leaving only peripheral vision. That number is expected to triple within the next 25 years, according to the CCB.

The blind community has lower income compared with other groups of disabled persons; 75 per cent are unemployed, compared with 49 per cent for other disabled groups, the CCB reports.

The CCB raises funds to help provide computers and computer training for the blind, along with workplace training, a legal assistance program and social support to help deal with the emotional impact of blindness.