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13 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,N ovem ber 4,2021 insidehalton.com *This offer cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer valid until Nov 30, 2021. Get our 18-point gas fireplace tuneup for only $99.* Surround yourself with warmth this fall. Gas fireplaces are efficient and appear low maintenance to most people. But like any appliance in your home, it needs care and an annual check-up to keep it clean and working properly. Safety is important - we always check for blockages, to ensure there is no CO leakage into the home. Call 647-370-4750 to book your appointment with us today! | A1air.ca dementia. Officially opening on Oct. 28 on Speers Road, the centre is named after local doctor Patty Plaxton, who was forced to retire from her family practice due to early onset dementia. "For the person with de- mentia, this is like a play- ground ... it's a safe space," said Melissa Cameron, di- rector of marketing and de- velopment at Acclaim Health. "They may not know where they are. That's scary. That's frus- trating." The care centre will of- fer two-day programs, eight overnight respite beds and therapy for those suffering from cognitive decline. Having made use of day programs for her mother, Jansson was delighted to hear about the opening of Patty's Place. "We can use five Patty's Places. Given our aging population and the needs in the community, I'm sure there's a vast number of other people who would like to go." Over three-quarters of Halton's senior population reside in Oakville and Bur- lington, compared to just 10 per cent in Milton. In 2011, some 59,470 Oakvillians were seniors, or 32.6 per cent of the population. By 2016, the year of the last cen- sus, that number increased to 68,920 or 35.5 per cent, an increase of 15.8 per cent. The Town of Oakville partners with the Alzheim- er Society in offering Mind In Motion at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre. Alz- heimer's disease falls un- der the umbrella group of dementia. "It is important to con- sider all groups, including older adults and seniors liv- ing with dementia, when developing programs, ser- vices and policy to ensure everyone feels like they be- long," said Julie Pennal, se- nior services recreation co- ordinator for the Town of Oakville. Marianne Waraich of Burlington learned quickly that caring for a person with dementia is a 24-hour commitment. Her husband Gurpuran died with Alz- heimer's in September. His needs were so constant that she often didn't get much sleep. "I would be in bed sleep- ing, but I'm listening with half an ear to make sure that he isn't getting up and going anywhere, right? Yeah, because he had a bit of pacing at night and he could also leave the house without me being aware of it," said Marianne. According to CEO and president of iCare Home Health Services Inc., Rick Menassa, day programs like the one at Patty's Place enable family caregivers "to attend to their own af- fairs because it's very con- suming to attend to some- body who is suffering from Alzheimer's." He added: "(Caregivers are) not able to go to her grocery shopping or her own kids and so on and so forth." STORY BEHIND THE STORY: With an aging population in Oakville and many of its residents suf- fering from dementia and Alzheimer's, we wanted to see how family members and caregivers feel about the opening of Patty's Place. NEWS Continued from page 3 Spokesperson for Acclaim Health Melissa Cameron says comprehensive support awaits patients at Patty's Place. Mansoor Tanweer/Metroland CENTRE OFFERS DAY PROGRAMS AND RESPITE BEDS "Given our aging population and the needs in the community, I'm sure there's a vast number of other people who would like to go." - Daniela Jansson SCAN FOR MORE Scan this code for more local news.