Adult day care is an option for Alzheimer's patient

Adult day care is an optionfor Alzheimer's patient
EDITOR:
This letter is in response to the article Feb. 9 regarding a daughter fighting for the dignity of her mother who has Alzheimer's disease. She said the nursing homes she visited were worse than death. What a horrible thing to say about the many places in this area that care for loved ones, including my own.
The woman in the story said that bringing her mother home is not an option. If her mother does not need the level of care a nursing home provides, why doesn't she consider adult day care? I was in the same position a few years ago. I had my mother (also an Alzheimer's patient) at home with me. I dropped her off at an assisted living home near my home where she was in adult day care while I was at work, and I picked her up on my way home. Many assisted living and nursing homes offer this service, which is less than full price. If I needed to leave the house in the evening, I had paid sitters to come to the house.
When my mother's care became too much for me, I placed her in a nursing home in Struthers. At the time of her placement, she was still partially functional on her own. This facility has many activities for their residents who are able to participate, and they encourage the others to try, and they always include everyone. It was not long after I placed my mother that her condition declined dramatically. I am very thankful for the care my mother receives. The staff is very caring and loving, as I am sure they are in other facilities. The woman in the story should reconsider her mother's care and not look at nursing homes as "worse than death" but a place for her mother to get the care she will be needing.
SUE BRYANT
Poland
Support for Girard levywill continue first class education students need
EDITOR:
I am writing this letter to the voters of Girard in regard to the 7.4-mill operating levy that will appear on the March 2 ballot. I support the levy as parent of a school age student, a Girard taxpayer, and a school employee.
Every child deserves a first class education along with a full range of extracurricular activities. My child has benefited from the varied educational options our schools offer. He has also benefited from a variety of educational and athletic extracurricular activities. I want every student in the Girard schools to be able to have the same opportunities that have been available to my son. It is important that our children be given all of these experiences during their school days to fully develop their potential. Every Girard student deserves a chance to be involved in programs like robotics, prep bowl, speech, debate, band, and athletics just to name a few. These opportunities will not exist without passage of this levy.
The Girard schools have not had a new operating levy since 1988. While two bond issues for construction have been passed during that period, bond issue money can only be used for construction. No one wants to pay more taxes, but if Girard residents want to maintain property values and make our graduates competitive with others, new money will be required.
Finally, I have worked in two other school systems before deciding to come to Girard 21/2 years ago. I made the decision at that time because of the opportunities that the Girard schools offered students. I have always been proud to be a Girard graduate and resident.
It takes a village to raise a child. I ask for your support on March 2 for the school levy. If you need additional information on the levy, please contact Girard Intermediate School or send e-mail to david.leo@neomin.org.
DAVID LEO, principal
Girard Intermediate School