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_ Home

TO most passers-by, it just
looks like ‘another ‘housé on

. ‘another residential street.

But to the children who stay
‘there. and their’ parents, the
“Respite Care Home on Loen
‘Ave. is a special place,
Now. in®it’s ‘third year of
“Operation, the home offers the
“parents or guardians of mental-
“ly handicapped children living
iat home a sometimes. much

'. inéeded break from the demands

“Of-caring for their child::

-McRostie has been working at

.the-home since September of

989, wl

. Custom-built for its purpose,
=the Respite Home is a bright,
Jairy house featuring doorways
‘that are a little wider than stan-

~ dard and spacious bathrooms
-with. large shower stalls.

“Everything was designed with
‘the children in mind,”
McRostie explains.

: There..are, for example,
special bathchairs which ensure
' the safety of both the child and
the staffer. who has to lift them
inand out. >

* However, while the physical

- surroundings are important, she
_ emphasizes ‘the importance of

the staff and the effort they put
in to: ‘meet the needs of the
‘children. *. ;

«--Thehome has a regular staff
of four, Apart from performing
all aspécts of daily care and
routines including feeding,
toileting.and- bathing, they are
also--trained to administer
medications, . emergency _first-

aid, -handle behavioural pro- .
blems and can also care for |

children ‘who are prone to
seizures. Co

->“4] féel very proud of my staff
and: the caring attitude they
have,"’ McRostie emphasizes.

-* Adniitting their jobs “canbe ° «

very stressful at times, she. says
that just underlines the necessity
of having a respite care home.

* Because the parents faced
that same stress day after day, it
was important they have the op-
portunity to take the occasional
break, even if it was only for a
few hours.

Although the parents might
feel a sense of guilt at giving
their child over to someone else
even if only for a short period,
McRostie says, “I think they’re
doing the best thing in the world
because they’ve then got that
extra to give when the child’s
back athome,” |

Apart from the regular staff
menibers, the home can call on
auxiliaries when needed and an
intensive-needs worker is
available for children who re-
quire that level of care.

School aides also come in
after school is out or on the

:*Program manager Diane .

Oe ee eee ee ee

IT'S A DEMANDING JOB, but Respite Care Home manager Diane McRostie says the respanse of

children to staff members makes it a satis

such a iift with a warm hug.

fying one as well: Above, Jane Lussier gives McRostie just

weekends to help with outings

such as a trip to the park or
shopping. The home organizes
recreational activities for the
children as well including bowl-
ing and swimming. Although
activities are usually geared to
the majority, McRostie says
sometimes a staff member may
take just a single child out. -

“We give them (the children)
the experience of trying
everything,”’ she explains, while
adding safety is always a prime
consideration,

Stressful as the job can be at
times, McRostie says it is also a
very. satisfying one. That

' @ two-year break.

satisfaction comes in large part
from the children themselyes
who, even when non-verbal, let
the staff know they are ap-
preciated. _
McRostie had been working
with seniors until 1989 and ad-
mits the switch to the Respite
Home was only supposed to be
That two years over, she now
says ‘‘I think I'll probably be
here the rest of my life,”
, wkhkkk |
The respite care program is
Operated by the Terrace and
District Community Services
society under contract from the

Social Services ministry,

The ‘service is available to
parents or guardians of mental-
ly handicapped children up to
the age of 19 years. Applica-
tion, accompanied by a doctor’s
certificate, is made through the
ministry,

Although there are provisions
for fees, McRostie says she
knows of no case to date where
parents have had to pay. She
also emphasizes respite care is
Offered to people of all income
brackets,

For more information on
respite care, contact McRostie
at 635-3601. '

Once again, students in
Thornhill Jr, Secondary’s
CounterAttack club are play-
ing their part in the annual
Christmas campaign to
against drinking and driving.

Club members took their

road —: literally — Monday
when they lined ‘Hwy. 16 to
Send’ message of caution to
Passing motorists, a
each holding a sign carrying

themselves out along the

two-week campaign .on.the |

“Small groups of ‘students, .
"a single” word;* spaced ~

roadside so drivers:had am-.- :
ple ‘time to’.read,’ and—

hopefully heed, the message:

being spelled out for them,
Elizabeth Metzmeier, staff

co-ordinator for. the club,

Taking their message o

said other projects. being "

undertaken by the: students
included distributing: 100 in:

formation packages to local’

households. | \5-"-

She explained each “bag cae

will contain pamphlets pro-.
viding the reader with useful

drinking-and-driving-
statistics and advice‘on how::
to say:'No’ to a drink, for ex-’.

ample. ;

Another effort to ensure
people’s festive season is not
marred by tragedy or injury
are the cards students have
made urging the reader not
“to catch a tide with friends

. who are drunk. Those will be

distributed at a local pub
during lunch hours,

Metzmeier said they will be

cade ”*. carrying that same message
facts “—\a:.chart:.on -blood.,. ...
* alcohol levels induced by.a-.

given’. number. : of = drinks;

-when . they. visit Thornhill
Elementary school to talk to
‘grade six and seven students
there. co

Inthe last weekof the
“campaign, CounterAttack

n the road

students will also be selling
mocktails — non-alcoholic’
cocktails — at their own
school, -

_ ‘The following good advice -
— 18 ways to say ‘No’ toa

toad,” +. ;

Wor the road, ybe, but.

“As much as I'd like to, 1

know. my bead wouldn't ap-.

stom

Terrace Churches’ Food Bank are the beneficiaries of nearly
$1,400 in cash and food donations courtesy of the B.C,
Senior Games Society,

jor food stores two weekends ago to raise money and collect
food.

$1,178 in cash and food donations valued at $200. “People
were really good,’” McAra commented,,

the volunteers who were on hand to receive the donations and
the stores for allowing the society to set up tables

"He said the cash has been divided equally between the
Salvation Army and food bank while the food went to the Ar-
my’s hamper program. :

one of three prizes, McAra said the winners were Laverne
Kellm ($100 cash), Ann Foley (Fireplace logs) and John

G

the event next year, perhaps with some changes in format.

paign sponsored by local drycleaning establishments are
already being given out by the Salvation Army, :

Army,
Hoeft.

adults were also collected during a six-day period last month."

finally found a permanent home, It is housed on the ‘upper
floor of the old St, Matthews Anglican church building on
Lakelse Ave. °

sion. Kamenz can be contacted at 638-1330,

Foundation last week — Friday was the day its efforts topur-
chase a CT Scan for Mills Memorial got a solid boost with
; + donations from two community groups... eee fe.
The Portugese-Canadian club handed over a cheque for
$2,500, money raised by the dinner-dance they staged last
month,

-Filipino-Canadian club who presented the Foundation with
$800, half the proceeds. The balance was donated to the

C.

‘Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 11, 1991 — Page Bt

Seniors score success

The Salvation Army’s Christmas hamper program and the

Local members of the society manned tables outside of ma-
Co-ordinator Keith McAra said the society had brought in

The society, he added, wished to thank all those who gave,

Noting everyone who donated was entered in a draw for
enest (gift certificate), a
McAra anticipated the Senior Games society would repeat

And winter coats collected as part of a Coats for Kids cam-

The coats are cleaned and repaired before delivery to the
“We're getting good quality coats,’ said the Army's Lt.
Although the campaign is called Coats for Kids, those for-

Home at last

The local Volunteer Bureau-Sentors Access centre has

The burean also has a new executive director, Cherie |
amenz, & member of the city’s Seniors Advisory commis- .

Foundation fund boost _

TGIF rang especially true for the Dr. R.B.M. Lee Hospital

A dinner-dance was also the money-raising method for the

anadian Red Cross.

Sy 8 « a
NURSING MOTHERS now have a comfortable chair and
foot stool at the hospital courtesy the Terrace Breast
Feeding Support Group. Trying out the chair is Ruth
Wright with newly-barn daughter Rachel Victoria. Gn the
left is support group representative Terry Walker and on
the right is maternity ward head nurse Lita Flynn,

- Students and teachers are reminded the final date to submit
--éntries for the 1992 Pacific Northwest Music Festival in Jan.
10 a .

Sound’stores in Terrace, Kitimat and Prince Rupert and the -
Terrace and Kitimat public libraries,

B.C., V8G 4B5,

Deadline reminder
By JO FALCONER ;

fe

Entry forms and the syllabus are available at Sight and

Or. write to the Secretary, PNWME, Box 456, Terrace,

ote

eee

; aay ote Or, the road, may oe : nocaled 3! - "1 Competitors should note the rules have been revised and
_ drink and not féel guilty is ~" pot for meé;‘thamks:”* (© Breciate it im the morning." os Feached my quota, brought up to date so they should be read carefully before the
included in the information “C'mon, Joanne, Have just How about a drink? 00 ons entry form is filled out. " eas
packages being distributed onemore” shouldn't, om “I'm on a diet, so I'll have Those wichin to apply for the Joan § Memorial :
| by the Thornhill Jr. Secon Mriving,”” or, soda. with a twist — and Se Tin ae Cone oa Spencer Memo
—) Do guys atlll try to get girls oS tae’ wy, ; ” scholarship will find the application form on the inside back '
i dary CounterAttack club. dru TP coe ipy Bee girks 7 No way, I'd rather fall another dance. v f the syllabus. It may be phot ied 3
reer Hoe, a eae te hair gr amleem im bed than under the wwe "The Festival takes place March 30- Apa 11 but
| Retail heey About a litle hair Of table," or, emma soa fae Nanay Diack Mare Iready order oe annul
| “Come on, you're the only ME COB NG, Bye got to finish that : OF course, the club points F nan Haier tating a ee a
| one not drinking!” ene “You know Idon't believe. English essay tonight,”” out there is always another, considerable cost in putting on an event which attracts close
| ‘How's that for rugged in--” old wive's tales,” or,.2- How about another?” .—«.-ttueh. simpler answer: “No, to 2,000 participants and we depend on the generosity of our ;
! dividualism?” Pin nursing a cold, so PM --’Phere’s not much point | Uhamks,’?.;, patrons.to make it a success.)

If you would like to contribute, please send donations to

* Just nune what's left of this
one, thanks,” 0.

_ Drink ‘up, it's
‘buy.a round,"

What in thd

*"sweally — 1 just turn into a... As it points out, there's no
Weal jerk when I'm drank,” - . law that says you have to ac-
Wo en drink if you don’t feel
can't, I'm taking drugs. ¢- like’ one! Remember, most
an allergy,’ 06° 5 500 ooks will soon turn

the above address marked for the attention of A, Knezacek, F
The Festival committee's next meeting will be held Tues- '
day, Jan, 14 at the Northwest Academy of the Performing (| -

Arts beginning at 8 p.m, New members will be warmly | -

3] welcomed.

TW uae

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