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May/June 2010

 

 

   

   

 

Upcoming Events:  Mark your Calendars!  April 28 – 30, 2010 - COBIS conference at Naramata, BC see http://www.braintrustcanada.com June 17, 2010 - Brain Injury Golf Classic at Newlands Golf & Country Club November 18 & 19, 2010 - Pacific Coast Brain Injury Conference www.pcbic.org December 8, 2010, FVBIA Christmas Party

Chilliwack Safety Village – We have had a great first month with the Safety Village! We always enjoy being a part of such a wonderful educational program. For anyone who doesn’t know, the Safety Village is a nonprofit organization that offers free fire safety, helmet safety and road safety to every grade 1 and grade 3 class in Chilliwack. And even though it does make for a very busy time of year for us, it is a very rewarding experience. If you’d like more information on the Chilliwack Safety Village just give me a call! New schedule- Well a new newsletter means a new semester at school for me so just to let everyone know I will be back in the office on Wednesdays (YEAH!) but now out of the office on Fridays (still a YEAH! Giggle). As always, if I am unavailable please leave me a message and I will return your call as soon as I can. I am never too busy to hear from you all. Young Adult Program?? – As some of you already know, I am hoping to hold a focus group to determine what a young adult program would need to look like to meet the needs of all the different communities. I need input from young adults out in the different communities to design a group/program that meets your needs. I have had two responses (you know who you are and thanks so much!) but as of right now that’s not enough interest to hold a focus group. If you’re interested in having a say in a new program designed for young adults ages 18 to 26 with brain injuries then give me a call at 604-897-1451. Parents are the best advocates- The parents group that was scheduled to run the first and third Tuesdays of every month has been cancelled at this time. For more information please contact myself 604-897-1451 or Mary McKee at 604-897-1452.

Congratulations to Christine Foell, This years’ recipient of

the John Simpson Rehab. Family of Year Award 

To each and every one of you that helped make our 2nd Annual Pathway to Hope Gala Dinner and Fundraiser and wonderful success. Without your participation and sponsorship, it would never have been possible. A special thank you to Vancouver Coastal Health and Simpson Thomas & Assoc. for their generous sponsorship. We would also like to thank, Faith E. Hayman, RDM, CONNECT, Paine Edmonds and Central Credit Union 1 for their generous contributions.

Thank you to the planning committee: Julia Bryant Taneda, Harry Snyders, Dave Price, Loretto Stitillis and to Enrica Huston and Freddy O’Brien for all their hard work.

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May/June 2010

 

                    

Thank you to all of our

advertisers! With their help, we have been able to expand

our Newsletter and offer you more

information.

FVBIA welcomes

submissions and advertising. Please call us at 604-557-

1913 for advertising

rates.

The content of submissions or editorials does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the FVBIA and may be edited

for length.

Ads in this newsletter are

not an endorsement of

services provided by the

advertisers.

If you prefer to have your Newsletter

emailed to you, please call 604-

557-1913 or Toll-Free 1-866-

557-1913 or email

info@fvbia.org FVBIA #204-2890 Garden

Street, Abbotsford, BC

V2T 4W7 www.fvbia.org

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May/June 2010

 

 

 

 Spring Cleaning Tips!

Clean one room a day – Don’t overwhelm yourself by thinking about the entire house. But make it a rule: Don’t leave the room until you’re done. Your home will be sparkling clean in no time.

Get organized – Bring boxes or bins to each room labeled “Trash,” “Storage,” “Recycle,” and “Donate.” Start cleaning out the closets or cabinets first. Move on to cleaning the light fixtures, windows, counters, and other surfaces. Finish with window coverings, baseboards and floors. Don’t forget wiping out the refrigerator and oven cleaning. Turn up the music – Blast your favorite upbeat music as you clean the house. It’ll take your mind off the huge project at hand and keep you in a great mood.

Reward yourself – When you’re done with each room, reward yourself with a relaxing bath, some aromatherapy candles and a good book. You’ve earned them!

http://blisstree.com/live/quick-spring-cleaning-tips/

604.864.2880

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May/June 2010

 

These are the comments and thoughts of John Simpson not necessarily shared by the Board and the staff of FVBIA. John Simpson : Aging, Long Term Care and Support All of us age, some more gracefully than others. As a parent, we expect our children to grow up, become independent and stay in contact but never expect that they should become our primary caregivers. No parent expects to have to become the primary caregiver to a child, in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, not to mention an advocate total caregiver and case manager. Even if the aging parent or adult child is in a group home, they will still be involved.

Many survivors with a brain injury who are capable of living on their own really struggle to make ends meet. Some, because of social difficulties, lack of funding and out of support, may well move to a more isolated area where they can perhaps have a small trailer or home. One particular person I know, who I helped with his claim for Criminal Injuries Compensation, had a small lot at a lake in the Cariboo. He had electricity but no running water. His heat was totally inadequate and eventually he installed a wood burning stove. This was totally against the rules and regulations, but he did it just to survive because those lots had a lot of trees that could be cut down and burned. He is the fourth person in my own personal knowledge that died in a fire trying to keep warm a couple of months ago.

Those who were very, very seriously disabled and live in a group home and it is 20+ years since their injury, are running into all kinds of health problems are tremendously stressful on their parents. The medical profession just seems at a loss to diagnose and treat these health issues.

If an attendant is involved as well then they burn out and those in the business of obtaining and supplying attendants tell me that the burnout rate in cases of brain injury and spinal cord is very high and in brain injury particularly high. Parents, of course, go on forever.

Behaviour problems play an enormous role and they are extremely difficult to handle and then you add drugs and alcohol and health/psychiatric issues to the mix and you really have problems trying to find appropriate living situations. This is a scenario that has to be properly looked into not later but sooner. There is also a need to work together, even across disability groups as it affects every one of them.

 

   

    

 

 

 

Gala News - Thank you to Mr. Bret Anderson, receiver

for the BC Lions for your help in making our 2nd Annual Gala a great

success!

Thank you to ICBC for their generous donation of tickets to the Paralympic Games and for the invitation to the Gold Medal Sledge Hockey Game! It was very inspirational to see these athletes in

Chuck Jung Associates – Psychological and Counselling Services 

Vancouver: (Main Office) Surrey: Abbotsford: Chilliwack: Langley

1303 – 750 W. Broadway 101 – 8927 – 152nd St 101 – 2828 Cruickshank St 101 – 45625 Hodgins Ave. 401-21183 88th Ave.

Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 1H1 Surrey, B.C. V3R 4E5 Abbotsford, B.C. V2T 5M4 Chilliwack, B.C. V2P 1P2 Langley, B.C. V1M 2G5

Tel: (604) 874-6754 Tel: (604) 874-6754 Tel: (604) 852-7885 Tel: (604) 792-7177 Tel: (604)-874-6754

Fax: (604) 874-6424 Other locations in Port Coquitlam and Richmond

Website address: www.chuckjung.com

Contact us at one of our locations for more information or to book an appointment.

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May/June 2010

 

Chilliwack: Drop-in: Contact at 604-792-6266 Tues 10am- 1pm, Thurs.12- 3pm Lunch at 11:30 on Tuesdays. 45966 Yale Rd, Chilliwack Support Group: Contact 604-557-1913; Toll-free 1-866-557-1913 Abbotsford – Drop-in: Contact Communitas at 604-850-6608 Wed & Fri 4 – 7 pm. Meal at 5:30pm Wednesdays, #103-2776 Bourquin Cres. W., Abbotsford Support Group: Contact 604-557-1913; Toll-free 1-866-557-1913 Art and Photo Clubs: Contact Mary McKee at 604-897-1452. Drop In Programs and Support Groups funded in part by Fraser Health and ICBC Rehabilitation

FVBIA Support Groups & Drop-ins:  

Mission Support Group: Next Meeting May 10 & June 14 - 10:30 – 12:30. Mission Community Services on 2nd Ave. Mission. Contact Mary McKee at 604-897-1452 Abbtosford Support Group: Meeting on May 31st this month Next Meeting May 31 & June 28- 10:30 – 12:30 at FVBIA 204 – 2890 Garden St. Abbotsford . Contact Mary McKee at 604-897-1452 Langley – Art & Photo Clubs Contact Mary McKee @604-897-1452 Hope –. Community Leisure Program: Contact 604-869-9494 Wed & Fri 1p.m. – 3:30 at 19855 Owl St. Silver Creek

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May/June 2010

 

 

 

Thursday June 17, 2010 Newlands Golf and Country 21025 48th Avenue, Langley, B.C. Tel: (604) 533-3288

Please register by June 4, 2010 Early Bird Registration by April 30, 2010

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Full Registration (includes cart, lunch ticket and dinner) $145.00 Early Bird Registration (includes cart, lunch ticket and dinner)

Register & Pay by April 30, 2010 $130.00 Name: _______________________ Company: _____________________________ Address: ____________________________________ City: __________________ Postal Code: ______Phone: __________ Fax:____________ Email: ___________ Golf Skill (* MUST BE FILLED IN PLEASE!): Average score: ________ or Handicap ________ Beginner ________ Male Female Other foursome members (please ensure that all members submit their own registration forms): ___________________________________________________________________________________

Dinner only $ 50.00

Name: _______________________ Company: ________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________ City: _____________________ Postal Code: ______Phone: ______________ Fax:______________ Email: ________________

Total Enclosed $ __________

*Please include payment with registration form.

Cheques made payable to Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association.

What a great gift for dad! A ticket to our Annual Golf Tournament Can’t say I love you better than that!

Prizes include:

• A return trip for two anywhere WestJet flies.

• Hole in One Prize of $15,000 cash.