September 2008 - The Senior Times

Sharing secret thoughts
Alzheimer’s Disease is a long journey taking a
family through many stages as the disease progresses.
Each stage brings different reactions and
emotions.
The early stage is difficult on families because the
AD individual is aware of the changes they are
going through: memory loss, confusion and diffi-
culty performing familiar tasks. The person may
become depressed as they recognize these changes
and losses, over which they have no control. They
are often treated with antidepressants.
Still struggling with the diagnosis, families are
relieved to know why their loved one’s behavior
has changed. They are also confused because there
are many good days with no symptoms.
In the later stages, the family witnesses their
loved one’s inability to manage their own care.
They no longer recognize faces – they have a blank
Let’s talk
about it
Bonnie Sandler, S.W.
look in their eyes that makes us wonder how much
of the person we knew is still there.
My friend would visit his mother once a week in
the nursing facility where she lived for several
years. She had been an accomplished professional
and a strong maternal force. My friend spoke to
me of being emotionally wiped out by these visits.
He no longer recognized the bedridden woman as
his mother and had mourned her for years. She no
longer recognized him either. When she died, he
Rock your cares away at NDG Council
The NDG Senior Citizens’Council will holdits 15 th
annual Rock-A-Thon Friday,September 19 from 1
to 3 pm. Similar to a walk-a-thon, volunteer
“Rockers” will raise money for the council’s programs
for seniors living in NDG and Montreal W.
“This one’s a real milestone for us, says Sheri
McLeod, Executive Director.“I can’t believe Rock-
A-Thon turns 15 this year. When Rock-A-Thon
was first conceived we needed a distinctive
fundraiser to raise badly-needed funds for services
for seniors and even now the need is just as
great if not more so. What strikes me is that even
after 15 years we have members who have turned
up at every single Rock-A-Thon.”
Another milestone is that the Council turns 35
this year.
All funds will support the Day Away Respite Program,
the Community Lunch Program, and Action
Transport, a service that links frail seniors with
drivers to get to medical appointments. The always
popular Stand-Up! program – aimed at seniors
who wish to increase their leg strength and balance
felt a mixed bag of emotions – relief, and guilt at
feeling relief. At the funeral, he told me that her
death had been a blessing.
Family members ask what they would want for
themselves if they were in this position. They remember
their family members as independent
and strong people and feel that they would never
want to be dependent on others for all their needs.
One important purpose of a support group is
being able to share thoughts with others who will
nod in understanding and not sit in judgment. It
is a safe place to share feelings of anger, frustration,
sadness and grief.
Some of these thoughts would be viewed by
mainstream society as taboo. But nothing is taboo
among people going through similar experiences
and feelings.
and avoid falls – will start in September. A support
group, designed for those feeling low facing the
changes that accompany aging, will start as well.
The emcee this year is Shirleen Hayes, a singer and
band leader. The Benny Farm Idols will also perform.
Justin and Natalie Jackson, a brother/sister
dance duo, promise fancy footwork. Last year they
literally brought the crowd to their feet with their
mix of tap dance and hip hop.
Anyone interested in rocking or canvassing for the
event is invited to call Shari Polowin at 514-487-1311.
September 2008 THE SENIOR TIMES 15