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It is 2:00 in the morning. Your child has a fever and the fever has spiked. You give the child some medication to control the fever but you are in a quandary. Should you sit with your child and see if the fever drops? Should you drive to the emergency department? Should you call 911 for an ambulance?

These kinds of dilemmas occur in all kinds of families; those with young children, elderly relatives, or a member who is chronically ill. It occurs for people who live alone or who are caring for a spouse or a parent.

The Rural Kingston Health Link is holding three public information sessions to talk about what options people have when they are in need of medical help and don't know where to turn.

Dr. Ken Edwards from the Emergency Department at Kingston General Hospital, Gale Chevalier from Frontenac Paramedic Services, and the staff of the Verona Medical Centre will be on hand at Trinity United Church in Verona next Tuesday, February 24, from 7 until 9 pm to talk about what is available and to listen to public concerns.

One of the concerns among those who provide emergency care is that over 50% of emergency room visits would be better dealt with through other means.

“There is a difference between urgent care and emergency care,” said Lynn Wilson, of the Rural Kingston Health Link.

This distinction has implications both in terms of costs for the emergency departments and land ambulance, and for patients, who might find themselves spending a sleepless night in the waiting room at KGH when they would be better off at home.

One example of an alternative to emergency room visits is the option to contact a doctor over the phone. By calling their local family health teams or family practice in Sydenham, Sharbot Lake, Northbrook or Tamworth after hours, patients from those clinics will be referred to Tele-Health Ontario, and through Tele-Health they can access an on-call doctor from one of the local clinics. Patients of the Verona clinic are directly referred to the on-call doctor.

Even if that doctor is not from their own clinic, the doctor will still have access to the patient's medical file, and can offer advice tailored to the patient's medical history.

All of the clinics also have extended-hour clinics throughout the week, during which time they accept patients from any of the other clinics in the region.

Frontenac Paramedic Services is developing a community paramedicine program, to make better use of the skills of paramedics in between emergency calls, and to help reduce unnecessary visits to the emergency room. They will be using the meetings to help them tailor their programs to local needs, and to help them avoid duplicating services that are offered by other providers.

For those who cannot attend the meeting in Verona on the 24th, similar meetings are scheduled for Sydenham on March 10 and Sharbot Lake on March 24.

The public meetings are meant to foster a two-way conversation. Those attending will be encouraged to share their own experiences and their ideas for how they could be better served.

For more information see the ad on page 2.

Published in SOUTH FRONTENAC
Wednesday, 10 December 2014 23:08

Seniors' fitness in Sharbot Lake

A senior's exercise program is offered free of charge through the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team, and on December 8 participants attended the final week of classes for the fall session. Judging by the 65 seniors who just wrapped up the program, local seniors know well that one of the best ways to stave off the negative effects of aging and to stay healthy is to be active.

“Exercise at any age is beneficial,” said Ashley Williams, the new occupational therapist at the SLFHT, who sparked off the eight-session program, which began in October 2014. The one-hour classes were held at the community room at the Sharbot Lake Medical Centre and included a cardio component with walking and other aerobic exercises; upper and lower body strength training; exercises for the core and also balance and coordination exercises. The program includes an educational component and every few weeks a health care professional spoke to participants about a specific health-related topic. The fall session included a visit by the SLFHT's registered dietician, who spoke about appropriate sizes of meal portions, protein shakes and more.

Williams outlined the benefits to seniors of regular exercise and how the fitness classes help improve cardio-vascular performance, over-all strength, balance and coordination, which together can help minimize falls. The social benefits are also worth mentioning and the classes offer seniors the chance to meet regularly with friends, form new relationships and have fun while exercising.

Williams said that participants have spoken about having increased strength and overall health as a result of the classes, with some being able to perform tasks around their homes that they had been unable to perform prior to the classes.

The 2015 winter session will begin on January 19. Classes take place on Mondays and Thursdays. Participants should wear rubber-soled shoes and loose clothing. For more information, contact Ashley Williams at 6132-279-2100 ext 128.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

by Jean Brown

Last week a large contingency of our Land O' Lakes Seniors visited two members at their home in Pine Meadow, notably Verna Cowdy and Betty Tarney, along with many other friends. Sharing laughs, telling hunting stories, and enjoying coffee made for a fun morning, in spite of the roaring snow outside. We donated funds to aid the Pine Meadow Family Council, whose mission is "to improve the quality of life for all residents by promoting an atmosphere of sensitivity, caring and support among staff, friends and family members of the residents." The Council supports the needs of staff and residents by offering fun and fundraising events that enable other events such as a steak BBQ for all residents, staff appreciation day, Christmas gifts for all residents, and much more. Pine Meadow is buzzing with excitement as Christmas approaches and as the new addition nears completion and folks move into their newly renovated rooms. Thanks one and all.

Published in ADDINGTON HIGHLANDS
Wednesday, 12 November 2014 23:44

Pine Meadow Nursing Home

Bonnie George, the administrator at Pine Meadow Nursing Home, has a bit of trouble explaining how the next phase of construction at Pine Meadow will proceed.

A couple of weeks ago, residents moved into the newly constructed wings at either end of the v-shaped home.

Now that all the new construction is completed, crews are renovating the rooms in the older part of the home that were vacated by those residents. When those renovations are complete, residents will move across the hall, and those rooms will be worked on. Then the administration offices will be changed, the main dining hall and servery will be renovated.

“All of this will take place while the home is operating. It's all very complicated. I spent days with the construction supervisor figuring it all out and how it will work,” she said.

The construction phase is now 70% complete and is on budget thus far, George added, and the good news is that a number of residents are in new rooms, enjoying the benefits of an upgraded, grade “A” long term care facility.

Pine Meadow will have only two-bed or one-bed rooms when construction is complete, and each 32-bed wing will have its own admin hub, nurses' and doctors' rooms, showers and baths, common room and activity room, and dining room.

The entire home will be newly finished, and will be up to date in terms of safety and accessibility requirements.

Bill Cox, the chair of the management board that oversees the home for Land O'Lakes Community Services, said that the home has developed a reputation as a first class care facility due to the support of the surrounding community through ongoing fund-raising and donation efforts and other engagement with the home.

“The renovations include a new staff lounge plus space in what is now the dining room for public use,” said Cox. “Some day we hope to have physiotherapy and dialysis offered here for the general public. The space will be there; it will be up to the LHIN or the ministry if the service ends up being available here,” he said.

One thing that Bonnie George is hoping will happen sooner than that is a decision to increase the capacity of the home to 64 residents. The home is licensed for 60 residents, but it has a healthy waiting list, and the ministry approved constructing it to a capacity of 64.

“It will be up to the ministry to decide if we should be licensed for 64 residents, but we will certainly be ready once the renovations are complete,” she said

The projected end date for the project is February 18, 2015, and George anticipates the construction crews will be close to or spot on that deadline.

For members of the management board who began lobbying for the re-build of the home almost 15 years ago, that day can't come soon enough.

Published in ADDINGTON HIGHLANDS

by Sonja Alcock

Coming together for a meal is a common occurrence. Often the first date for a new budding couple is dinner and a movie - sharing time together in order to get to know one another better. This sometimes leads to more dates, more meals, partnering together for life “until death do us part”. And once that “parting” happens, often the one left behind is left with trying to cope with life without their mate….the one for whom they either cooked, or was lovingly cooked for. I know that when my husband is not home, I seldom cook a full meal. And I know that when I’m away, he will eat hot dogs only! Not healthy meals at all - not like what I would have made for us every day.

The same is true for widows/widowers/single elderly or older couples. Why bother cooking something that takes time just for only one person to eat. We often fall into that “Tea & Toast Syndrome”. So coming together with others during the week to enjoy not only a healthy meal, but a wonderful social interaction is a benefit to the well being of every senior, whether still married or single. This is the time when friendships are made; when others learn to care for one another in a deeper way; where contacts are made. Here is when we learn the ups and downs of each other’s lives, and often what illnesses are happening so they can “take care of each other”. “How is your chest cold today, Eddie?” “Did you see the doctor last week for your checkup?” Basically keeping tabs on one another.

Congregate Dining is happening all around us every day. Inviting someone over to lunch, dinner - or meeting somewhere for coffee. And here in the Land O’ Lakes area, Land O’ Lakes Community Services (LOLCS) provide two programs for seniors to come together for food and friendship: every Tuesday in Flinton, and every first Monday of the month in Denbigh. A time where friends meet to play games, exercise and then have a great meal cooked by loving volunteers who make nutritional meals that not only consider the health of each person, but taste buds as well!

I met a woman in the grocery store a few weeks back who is a volunteer cook. There was a sale on butter and she was there buying as much as she could because she wanted to make the best tasting meal for those she cooks for. Her devotion speaks volumes to me. There are 14 volunteer cooks with LOLCS Diner’s Club and Adult Drop In, serving 50+ people in Denbigh, and 80+ people in Flinton. Other volunteers plan menus, shop, cook, serve, clean up and lead exercises. Without our many volunteers, LOLCS would not be able to make this wonderful program function as well as it does. Knowing this means that you will be with people with loving and caring hearts. If you are interested in participating in these wonderful programs, but do not know how to go about it, please contact Pam Lemke at 613-336-8934, ext 229 at the LOLCS office in Northbrook or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Adult Drop-In meets every Tuesday at the Flinton Hall in Flinton. It is a wonderful opportunity for social time, mild music & card games or just visiting with others. Begins at 9:30 a.m. with a hot, nutritious lunch prepared and served by volunteers. Cost is only $7 for the meal. And you are more than welcome to come just for the social time without having the meal at no cost at all except gaining a friendship.

Denbigh Diners Club meets in Denbigh at the Community Centre on the first Monday of every month, except when it’s a holiday; then it’s the following Monday. Once again the cost is only $7 for the meal.

Gift Certificates are available for the above at the LOLCS office in Northbrook.

If you are unable to attend because of transportation issues, LOLCS has that covered too, so please call and let them help you make some new friends for life.

Published in ADDINGTON HIGHLANDS

Seniors in Snow Road have been keen to stay active and healthy, and four members of the community took the initiative and have been running regular seniors fitness classes at the Snow Road Community Hall.

Recognizing their initiative and in an effort to serve the residents in their western North Frontenac catchment area, the North Lanark Community Health Centre recently trained the four local residents in their seniors fitness instruction program. Sheila Kittle and Carolyn Jarvis recently completed their senior fitness training through the NLCHC and are now holding one-hour classes at the Snow Road Community Hall. The classes take place there on Mondays and Thursdays from 9:30 -10:30am.

On September 8, Kara Symbolic, a community health promoter with the North Lanark Community Health Centre, attended the first official Monday class where 16 seniors were participating. She congratulated the four trainees, two of whom, Sue Sworowski and Laurie Ryder are just finishing up their training and will also be instructing the classes.

The NLCHC serves a large rural population and until now have been serving residents mostly in North Lanark. Symbolic said the NLCHC is unique in that it sends community health promoters and community developers, who work with community members on the root causes of illness and ill health. “We do a lot of health promotion and illness prevention by running programs like fitness classes, cooking classes and mindfulness-based stress reduction classes. We do a lot to help people build their own capacity to prevent sickness and disease from happening,” Symbolic said.

The classes and programs are free and are open to all members of the community. Participants do not have to be clients of the health centre. “People on fixed and low incomes often find it difficult to participate in community life so we have a strong commitment to being able to offer accessible programming for all members of the community,” Symbolic explained. Symbolic is delighted that Snow Road community members are stepping forward to make a healthier community. The classes at Snow Road are geared to seniors and older adults and incorporate a short warm up, 20 minutes of cardio vascular exercise, a cool down, 20 minutes of strength training and some flexibility and balance exercises. Those with specific injuries or particular health issues are welcome and can be easily accommodated in the classes. For more information contact Carolyn Jarvis at 613-278-0696.

Published in NORTH FRONTENAC
Wednesday, 30 July 2014 14:21

Arden Seniors “Happy Gang” summer sale

Laughter and smiles were shared at the Arden Seniors Happy Gang fundraiser, which took place at the Kennebec hall in Arden on July 26. The annual event is the group’s biggest fundraiser of the year and it included a community garage sale, craft and art market, an outdoor barbeque and a silent auction with a wide variety of items donated by members of the seniors group.

Jack Patterson has been the president of the group for the last 11 years and this year the group boasts 75 members. The fundraiser, which on average raises close to $3,000 a year, allows the group to continue to support numerous groups and organizations including the Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Alzheimer's Society, and Leukemia research, as well as Land O'Lakes Public School in Mountain Grove and the Central Frontenac fire station in Kennebec.

The group also supports Northern Frontenac Community Services, the local snowsuit and hamper funds, the local swim program and the local food bank. Any remaining funds are used to put on a special Christmas dinner for the group.

Close to 300 people attended this year’s summer sale, making for another successful year. Patterson said the goal of the group is not only to provide a social venue for the seniors in the area but is also a way for seniors in the community to keep on eye on local happenings and issues that are of concern to them. “We often make special requests to our local council for things that concern us and, as one example, we have been able to acquire air conditioning for the hall here.”

The group meets regularly on the first Tuesday of the month at the Kennebec hall in Arden at 11 a.m. and Patterson encourages anyone over 50 who is interested to come out to sample a meeting. “We have an hour-long business meeting and then we enjoy a nice potluck lunch. It's a lot of fun and you can bet to hear a number of pretty good jokes.” The meetings are a great way for seniors in the community to get together, share a meal and offer support to numerous worthy causes in and around the community.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
Thursday, 15 May 2014 10:29

What can you do with $7.93?

The provincial government believes that you can feed a resident in a nursing home three meals and two snacks a day if they give you $7.93 per day! All you grocery shoppers need to try this challenge. Maybe you could do it one day, but how about every day?

Don't forget you need to address the Ministry of Long-Term Care guidelines: follow Canada's Food Guide, address special dietary needs and have variety in the meal planning schedule that rotates over a three week cycle.

By the time you leave the fresh produce aisle, you have used a lot of your government allowance. Don't forget dairy for maintaining strong bones and fibre...we need fibre. Vegetarians might have some coins left after they select their protein foods. It will be a search in the meat department to find something "tender" and appealing for dinner.

I visit family and friends in various nursing homes and it is the same funding...same issue. Residents are not going hungry, but quality could be better. They certainly don't get steak on this budget.

Our political representatives now and future need to address this issue. Maybe they could raise the rate to match the prison system. You should ask them about this discrepancy when you see any of them on the campaign trail. If you are a caregiver, senior or a baby-boomer like me, we need to fix the problem sooner than later.

Brenda Martin

Published in Letters
Page 5 of 5
With the participation of the Government of Canada