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Wednesday, March 9,1994" Houston Times-Journa! page 10A New Support Group Will Help Ease Alzheimer Pain They appeared as the ideal cou ple. She often laughed at his corny jokes, and looked at him with ad miring eyes. I found it quite amus ing that she referred to him as Mr. Harris. I observed Mr. Harris holding Mrs. Harris' hand or giving her a sly wink. It was refreshing to see a couple in their late 60s so obvi ously in love with each other, they had raised five children and made a living as farmers. Their favorite hobby as to sing gospel songs in their small country church. He played the guitar and they both sang. I saw them for several years each time they came to our rural health clinic for check ups. After each visit, Mr. Harris would look seri ous, shake my hand and the doctor’s as he said, "We thank you very much for all you do for our fam ily." A small gesture, but it meant a lot because it was sincere. They exemplified the older generation by their love of God, family, hard work, honesty and appreciation for others. One of the most difficult dilemma all health care workers must face is to watch people we have become fond of lose their health. This was the case with Mr. Harris. Mrs. Harris called one day and in confidence said, "Mr. Harris is getting very forgetful." She had not worried too much about it until he began to get confused at night. Could the doctor take a look at him? After a series of tests and exams, Mr. Harris was diagnosed with Houston Schools Reaping Benefits From Ga. Lottery Houston County continues to reap the benefits from the Georgia Lottery for Education. Governor Zell Miller's supplemental budget recently passed the Georgia General Assembly, and it will mean $1,569,334 in new lottery funds for Houston County. "I am very pleased to provide this education funding for Houston County," said Miller. "I want every child in every county in Georgia to reap the benefits of the Lottery for Education, and this money will give the children of Houston County the chance to use the latest computer equipment, work in a modem media center and if they keep their grades up, go to college tuition free." The funds will go to the follow ing in Houston County: classroom computers, $339,700; media cen ters, $472,500; safe school grants, $204,634; regional libraries, $17,500; technical institution equipment, $500,000; and for the public libraries, $35,000. Under Miller's budget, every single public school in Houston County—elementary, middle and high school—will receive $17,500 for technology in the media center. "It is exciting for me to think what $17,500 could do for libraries and media centers in Houston County," said Miller. "They might choose to buy a CD-ROM tower, for example, to get access to an endless supply of newspapers, magazines, books and encyclope dias. This money has the potential to open up whole new worlds for our students in Houston County." Miller's budget also includes $17,500 for each middle and high school to purchase computer equipment, and a total of SIB,OOO for computer equipment for every school with elementary grades. "We must prepare our children to compete in the global economy of the 21st century," Miller said. "This money allows our children to work on the latest computer tech nology, and I am leaving it up to the local schools to decide how best to use these funds." Miller also wants to expand the HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) scholarship program to include even more students. Un der his new proposals, 95 percent of Georgia's families would be eligible for HOPE scholarships. "Just think of it, HOPE would enable any child, regardless of means, to go from kindergarten to a completed college degree tuition free," Miller said. Currently, to qualify for a HOPE scholarship, a student must have a "B" average and the student's family income must be less than $66,000. Presently, the scholarship is only available for the freshman and sophomore years if the student maintains a "B" average. Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's Disease is now the fourth leading cause of death among adults in America. The disease at tacks the brain resulting in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. Alzheimer's is a progressive degen erative disease which has no cure. The Alzheimer's Association states most people are over age 65 when they exhibit symptoms, how ever, it can strike in the 40-to-50 age range. Symptoms of die disease may begin with simple forgetful ness and progress to memory loss, changes in thought, personality and behavior and, in the final stages, re sult in a total inability to perform even simple self care. Alzheimer's brings great anguish and deep frustration to those with the disease and their families. These families must deal with constant major changes. Mr. Harris pro gressed from a farmer and busi nessman to a man that had to be constantly observed so he wouldn’t wander off. At times Alzheimer vic tims may not even recognized their ‘own families. The fatigue, frustra tion and hopelessness experienced by these families is indescribable. Alzheimer's is a terrifying dis ease for the patient and a heartbreak ing one for the family. Our society tends to deal well with physical ill ness, but diseases that affect the brain we tend to shy away from. Often just when Alzheimer fami lies need us the most, we run be cause we don't know what to say or do. The care giver of an Alzheimer patient experiences the loss of the person closest to him even though they are still alive. HOPE grants may be used to pay tuition and mandatory fees at public technical institutes, colleges and universities in the state of Ge orgia. Other HOPE grants are avail able for students at private colleges and for GED recipients. Miller's proposed expansions for HOPE are to expand it to cover tu ition costs for juniors and seniors at public colleges and universities, to increase the income eligibility of a family from $66,000 to SIOO,OOO, to expand it to cover mandatory fees and provide a book allotment and to raise the tuition equalization grant from $1,500 to $2,000 for students who attend a Georgia private col lege. Kenneth Watson Completes Marine Basic Marine Pvt. Kenneth C. Watson, son of Lehman J. and Marsha F. Watson of Kathleen, recently completed recruit training. During the training cycle at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., recruits are taught the basics of battlefield survival, introduced to typical military daily Pit-Cooked Barbecue lUISS - CHICKEN - PORK Drive-Thru Only * 704 Carroll Street 987-3626 Open Wed. - Sat. • 11 am - 8 pm VISIT THESE OPEN HOUSES THIS WEEKEND SUNDAY FROM 2:00 - 4:00 1002 Cherokee Road 102 Clifton 107 Clifton For More Information Call 987-0743 V Richardson-Free m S Realty, Inc. jjjj 4/^ i V Beth L Jones, rncl The Alzheimer patient and their families need community support, as well as medical and social man agement Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, the patient and family will benefit from what therapy is available. Physical exer cise and social activities are impor tant, as ar proper nutrition, medica tions and medical followup. Approximately 70 percent of care given Alzheimer patients is provided by families. The cost of family care is approximately SIB,OOO per year. The annual cost of nursing home care ranges be tween $24,000 and $36,000. Unless a cure cm- means of prevention are found, an estimated 12-14 million people will be affected by the year 2040. A group of concerned people liv ing in the Perry area are forming an Alzheimer's support group. Their goal is to try and make a difference in the lives of people with Alzheimer's and their families. The group will meet each Thursday night in March at 7 p.m. in the Medical Library of Perry hospital. An Alzheimer forum is planned for April. Any person who wishes to join this group is welcome to at tend. If the legislature approves these expansions to the HOPE program, virtually every Georgia child would have a chance to get the education they need to compete for tomor row's jobs. Miller emphasized that HOPE is providing a dream come true for thousands of Georgia's students. There are already more than 40,000 students in Georgia who are attend ing college or technical school tu ition-free. During the first few months of the program, Georgia achieved record enrollments in pub lic colleges and technical institutes, and achieved large enrollment in creases in state private colleges. routine, and personal and professional standards. All recruits participate in an active physical conditioning program and gain proficiency in a variety of military skills including first aid, rifle marksmanship and close-order drill. Teamwork and self-discipline are emphasized jSL 8$ 4M pi' 1 Tucker Elementary Students of the Week The following are Students of the Week for February 18, 1804 at Tucker Elementary School: Taylor Burch, Britney Felder, Kacle Stewart, Nikki King, Kyle Hood, Marqulta Golden, Danielle Corcoran, Matthew Kramp, Clifford Barnea, Billy Warren, Kimberly Gllea, Corey Bennett, Tara Ragln, Whitney de Yampert, Patrick Carlson, Erika Askew, Wesley Perry, Alberto Zermeno, Jennifer Conger, William Barnea, Gla Buckles, Bradley Dugger, Quentin Askln, Danielle Davie, Crystal McGhee and Nlcolya Bryant. Navy sends J.S. Smith Out To Sea Navy Seaman Recruit Jason S. Smith, son of James E. and Susan E. Smith of Perry, recently departed for a six-month deployment aboard the destroyer USS Comte De Grasse, homeported in Norfolk, Va. to the Mediterranean. The 7,500 Atlanta Fleet sailors who comprise elements of a joint task group (JTG) which includes units of the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga Battle Group and the USS Inchon Amphibious Ready Group, relieved the USS America JTG. Joining the JTG, are 2,000 Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit from North Carolina. Smith is one of 382 crewmembers aboard the 9,100-ton USS Comte De Grasse. The ship is 563-feet long and is armed with missies, guns and torpedoes. Designed to operate overseas and to respond swiftly, the Navy and Marine Corps"sea-air-land" team is capable of a full range of action from humanitarian relief to major offensive operations, from the sea. Jason joined the Navy in September 195%. <£> NAPA AUTO PARTS Save Now, Pay Later I ■’ | NAPA WASHER fn) \ FLUID U \ #XXXI42I3/ Z' r PERRY JR Sale prices good thru Sunday. March 13.1994, or while supplieslast. Auto Parts 4NAPA) 805 Commerce Street • Perry, Georgia ® (912)987-2922 WtltobowiltoWHi. 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