519-661-2489, extension 4009 ahopkins@london.ca An Update From Anna Hopkins Our Ward 9 City Councillor Offer expires September 30, 2020
HEALTH & WELLNESS by Peter Semchism Assorted Health Topics by Peter Semchism New Peter Semchism is a Pharmacist at Greenhills Pharmacy in Lambeth.
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Peter Semchism
Hello Ward 9! As the days grow shorter and the crisp air of fall sets in, many of us turn to cozy meals, warm blankets, and the comfort of home. At City Hall, this season also marks another important tradition—the start of our annual budget review. Understanding the City’s budget process is vital, as the decisions made today directly affect services in our community and the property tax bills that land in our mailboxes tomorrow. Here’s where things stand for 2026: • Council has approved a four-year budget increase of 6.4%. • The Mayor has asked boards, agencies (including the Library, Police Services, and Museum), as well as city departments, to find savings that could reduce the increase to 5%. • To achieve this target, at least $13.2 million in savings must be identified. • For the average residential taxpayer, a 6.4% increase means about $245 more, while a 5% increase means about $192 more. To help residents better understand these changes and have their questions answered, I will be hosting an Information Session on Wednesday, November 5, from 6 to 8 pm at the Byron Library (1295 Commissioners Rd. W.). City staff will also be present to provide further insight. Key Dates in the Budget Process • Monday, October 27 – Release of the Mayor’s Proposed 2026 Budget • Tuesday, October 28 – Special Budget Meeting (10 am) • Tuesday, November 18 – Public Participation Meeting at Council (4 pm) • Thursday, November 20 and Friday, November 21 – Budget deliberations (9:30 am) • Wednesday, November 26 – Special Council Meeting for approval of amendments (1 pm) • Monday, December 1 – Mayor’s statement on veto intentions For more details, visit Get Involved London at getinvolved.london.ca/budget. As always, I welcome your thoughts, questions, and feedback. You can reach me at ahopkins@ london.ca or visit www.annahopkins.ca to sign up for my e-newsletter and stay connected.
Dementia Could Happen to Anyone… Because Everyone Ages. The Facts
Lois Fuchs. Read more on page 6. Lambeth Villager Dementia is not a specific disease, but a general term that describes a gradual decline of mental ability that affects your intellectual and social skills to the point where daily life becomes difficult. Dementia can affect your memory, language skills and decision-making ability; impair your judgment and make you feel disoriented; and it may also affect your personality. Dementia can be caused by many diseases that affect the brain. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Others in- clude vascular, Lewy body, frontotemporal and mixed dementia. Types of dementia differ based on underlying causes and can affect specific symptoms and how it progresses. Symptoms and Complications Many of us often experience forgetfulness. We may forget where we put the car keys or repeat the same story to a friend or family member. These behaviours are usually caused by the information overload of our busy, stressful lives – it doesn’t mean that we’re developing dementia. As people age, they may experience memory changes such as slowing of information processing. This type of change is normal and doesn’t interfere with day-to-day functioning. By contrast, dementia is disabling and not a normal part of aging. Although dementia often presents itself differently from person to per- son, common symptoms include: gradual loss of memory of recent events and lack of ability to learn new things increasing tendency to repeat oneself, misplacing objects, becoming confused and lost in familiar places slow disintegration of judgment and reasoning abilities increasing irritability, anxiety, depression, confusion, and restlessness increasing communication and language difficulties (forgetting words or substituting incorrect words) changes in personality, behaviour, or mood decreasing ability to focus and pay attention inability to plan and carry out tasks that require multiple steps (e.g. pay - ing bills). To be diagnosed with dementia, the symptoms must be severe enough to affect a person’s independence and their ability to perform everyday activities. Issue #98 October 2025 The 100% locally owned and produced Lambeth Villager is published ten times a year with thousands delivered free to area residences, set out at local venues, and posted online at www.villagerpublications.com Publisher: Barb Botten P.O. Box 134, Lambeth Station Ontario N6P 1P9 Barb@villagerpublications.com 519-282-7262 Managing Editor and Ad Sales: Gloria Rae Gloria@villagerpublications.com (519) 495-4564 Graphic Artist: Cathy Wood All articles by Gloria Rae unless indicated otherwise. We’d love to hear from you. Contact Gloria@villagerpublications.com Copyright @ 2015 Villager Publications. A ll rights reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the Publisher. Information presented has been compiled from sources believed to be accurate at the time of printing however the Publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Symptoms of dementia can vary depending on the cause. For example, people with Lewy body dementia often have long-lasting visual hallu- cinations. Some forms of dementia also tend to affect people younger than others and progress faster. Treatment and Prevention Treatment of dementia may depend on the specific cause. Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease usually involves treating the declining memory and gradually worsening behavioural symptoms with a range of medications (which may also be used in other forms of dementia), including: cognitive enhancing agents tranquilizers antidepressants antianxiety medications anticonvulsants
There is no treatment that can “cure” Alzheimer’s disease, nor are there medication that can halt or reverse the brain damage caused by it. How- ever, there are medications that can relieve symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease. Medications such as donepezil*, riv- astigmine, and galantamine may be used to slow down memory loss. Prevention of stroke is important for vascular dementia. If you have high blood pressure or cholesterol, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), or have had a stroke, you should seek continued treatment for these conditions to prevent future strokes. The key to caring for and helping people with dementia is to focus on the many activities the person can still do safely. Encourage a person with dementia to continue daily routines and maintain social relationships as much as possible. Help them maintain a healthy lifestyle through exer- cise, proper nutrition, and fluid intake. Special diets and supplements are generally unnecessary. If you are caring for someone with dementia, the following may be help- ful: reminders: Provide written lists of things to do including times, places, and phone numbers to help the person complete the task. structure and stability: Minimize undue noise and disturbances to re- duce anxiety. establish routines: Daily and bedtime routines can reduce disorientation and anxiety. speaking slowly and calmly: Present one thought or instruction at a time. information card: Reduce the risk of wandering and getting lost by pro- viding a pocket card with the person’s name, address, and phone num- ber. safety: Make your home environment as safe as possible by keeping furniture in the same place, removing clutter, installing locks on medi- cine cabinets, and setting the water heater at a low temperature to avoid scalding. driving: Don’t allow someone with dementia to drive a vehicle. Drive them or arrange for rides wherever they need to go. Caring for someone with dementia can be difficult. It requires under - standing, patience, and compassion. Joining an Alzheimer’s disease caregiver’s support group in your community may be helpful. Be prepared for the eventuality that your loved one’s condition will dete- riorate over time and additional full-time personal care may be needed. In some situations, placement in a nursing home is in the best interests of the individual and their family. Peter Semchism is a Pharmacist at Greenhills Pharmacy in Lambeth. Take care of one another, and may you and your family enjoy a warm and happy Thanksgiving season.
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Page 4 Lambeth Villager • October 2025 To advertise here, please contact Gloria@villagerpublications.com Open House and Outtdoorr Concerrtt iin ourr courrttyarrd on Jully 17 ffrrom 1pm tto 4pm.. To advertise here, please contact Gloria@villagerpublications.com Lambeth Villager • October 2025 • Page 11
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