Organizers call for Vernon to become ‘dementia-friendly’ by removing barriers, adding signage

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“For example, clear, legible signage, unobstructed walkways and open areas for both activity and rest,” she said.

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Val Trevis is a member of the Vernon Walk for Alzheimers committee.

Her father Jesse Travis, was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2009 and moved to Vernon’s Heron Grove last year.

“One of the simple pleasures we had was to go to our very beautiful Polson Park, which my dad also refered to as ‘the place where his ducks lived.’ He would sit in his chair and slowly feed these ducks.

“All the time at the back of my mind was ‘What’s going to happen when a bylaw officer shows up and says you’re not allowed to feed the ducks,'” she said.

Trevis said that never happened, and her dad enjoyed many days at the park feeding the ducks, but she said that type of incident was something she would dread, knowing it could be an issue.

She said, as with many diseases, our society is guilty of trying to hide dementia.

“We’ve put it in a box, we’ve shoved it away, we’ve locked it up behind closed doors and we’ve even put it in the basement of public facilities. Many diseases have been this way, and it’s time to open the doors to dementia in our community.”

Her husband’s father died of Alzheimers 35 years ago after spending his final six months in hospital bed, most of the time restrained.

“Fortunately, we have moved way forward from those days,” she said.

Trevis says she made her dad’s illness very public, taking him to Vernon Vipers games, for walks, and out for fish and chip dinners.

“I used to carry a sign in my purse that said ‘My dad has dementia. Please be patient.’ And when my dad was sitting there frustrated and no one could understand what he was trying to ask for, I would just hold up the sign and immediately people would calm down and help him,” she said.

Trevis says she also posted about her dad on social media which helped with local connections, where he would be welcomed with open arms at Vipers games, even getting a fist bump from Sniper, the Vipers mascot.

Her father even joined the Lions Club, knowing he couldn’t make a contribution, but because it was a club that did good things in the community.

“He felt fabulous, he felt included and he felt important, which is really all that we want, and all that really matters,” she said.

Her dad passed away on Christmas night 2019.

She said one small example of how to help is restaurants need to carry plastic straws.

“Yes I know, bad words, but metal straws rip the roofs of mouths open of some seniors, and paper straws get too soggy in the drink for somebody who can barely muster up enough suction,” she said.

“It isn’t just seniors being diagnosed with this illness. It’s people in their 50s, some people as early as 30 as one study I read,” she said.

Trevis invited councillors to attend the annual Walk for Alzheimers May 3 at the Greater Vernon Athletic Field.

Coun. Kelly Fehr said his grandmother suffered from similar issues, and Coun. Brian Quiring said both of his parents had Alzheimers at the same time.

“Thank you for everything you do,” Quiring said to the committee members.