Once a week, Gisele DeVito climbs into a van and heads over to the Westshore adult daycare program at The Priory care facility in Colwood.

Her active participation in the program once prompted a Priory staffer to mistake her for a volunteer.

The truth is, DeVito, 58, was diagnosed about two years ago with early onset Alzheimer disease and attends the program to keep her body and mind active.

B次元官网网址淚 could go more, but I like my time,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚 like walking.B次元官网网址�

The Colwood resident frequently makes the trip between her home on Wishart Road to Esquimalt Lagoon and back.

DeVito, with the help of husband, Buddy, and her neuropsychiatrist Dr. Mohamed Gheis, is among those who are being proactive with their health after receiving a dementia-related diagnosis.

Lori McLeod, executive director of the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation, which helps fund the centre, says in years past the options were more limited for such patients.

B次元官网网址淏efore, youB次元官网网址檇 put them in the hospital and that was that,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淣ow people want to stay at home as long as possible and (this program) is a way to help do that.B次元官网网址�

Buddy DeVito has personal experience with the former scenario. B次元官网网址淪even years ago my mother died of AlzheimerB次元官网网址檚 disease, and she had been in the hospital for seven years,B次元官网网址� he says.

He and Gisele feel blessed that her situation has not paralleled that of his mother and other dementia patients who have suffered through the stages of the degenerative disease.

"Gisele's life is very structured most days," Buddy says, noting that having a rigid schedule helps keep her mind active. "But she knows what she wants and what she doesn't want. I don't mollycoddle her."

The adult daycare centre is just one of many resources the Eldercare Foundation steers people toward as a way of enhancing the quality of life of older adults or those needing health monitoring.

Many families arenB次元官网网址檛 quite sure where to begin searching for such help, McLeod says. B次元官网网址淥ur dream is that people, as theyB次元官网网址檙e aging, start looking for resources in the community B次元官网网址� they learn whatB次元官网网址檚 out there and get connected. Online resources can be overwhelming. We want to make it easy.B次元官网网址�

For information about the adult daycare centre, call the foundation at 250-370-5664. For other resources visit gvef.org or call Island HealthB次元官网网址檚 general inquiry line at 250-388-2273.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com

Swing the clubs, swing your partner

Buddy DeVito is pulling out all the stops to raise money for the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation-funded Westshore adult daycare centre.

To do it, heB次元官网网址檚 come up with the Buddy DeVito 9 Holes, Dinner and Dance, a fun tournament set for Friday, July 11 at Olympic View where singles and couples can play a relaxing round of golf, enjoy dinner then dance the night away.

The full meal deal: nine holes of golf, a power cart, buffet dinner, prizes, a silent auction and dancing to the Tom Morrisey Band, is $95 per person. For the dinner and dancing only, itB次元官网网址檚 $49 per person.

B次元官网网址淚t was a real coup to get the likes of Bob Saunders on board B次元官网网址� heB次元官网网址檚 putting up a car as a hole-in-one prize B次元官网网址� and Tom Morrisey and his band,B次元官网网址� DeVito said.

The shotgun start is at 4 p.m. To sign up, call 250-370-5664, visit gvef.org or call Ken Langdon at the pro shop, 250-474-3673 ext 231.