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The IFP - Halton Hills | Thursday, July 22, 2021 | 16 Helping Families Weather the COVID-19 Storm COVID-19 put tremendous strain on hospitals, long-term care facilities and families. For Stephen and Anne Cooke, it was a triple whammy. Married for 55 years, the Georgetown couple have always been there for each other. So when Anne developed dementia, Stephen looked after her. In early 2020, it became clear she required more support, so she moved into a local assisted living facility. Soon, they couldn't meet her growing needs either, and Anne was transferred to (eT-To) ge l=} Kol ia) lalok) oxo] mong the Numbers Georgetown Hospital not long before the third COVID-19 wave took off. What should have been a short stay in the Complex Transitional Care department stretched on because of the pandemic. Long-term care facilities across the province were under immense pressure, and suitable places were simply unavailable. Dementia is particularly challenging because there are few options for treatment. And due to the pandemic, Stephen couldn't visit his wife for months on end. “You're powerless. That's basically the problem,” he DIAGNOSTICS 36,000 diagnostic im ) of these wer says, his voice catching as he talks about the helplessness he felt. “I still get emotional after all this time” Stephen is very appreciative of the hospital’s efforts during a difficult situation. “They did what they could, and they did it very well,” he says. “I’m full of praise for everything they did.” Having a local hospital means a lot to him, especially when he ended up in the emergency department himself with a heart attack in December. “They looked after me very well,’ he says. “Within 10 minutes I was in a bed having blood taken and all the rest.” Today, he’s fully recovered. Meanwhile, a spot for Anne finally opened up in long term care, where she has settled in nicely. As the pandemic eases up, he’s grateful for where they are now. And he believes in giving back to the hospital that helped him and his loved ones weather this storm — and get through other health challenges over the years. That's why he donated to the Georgetown Hospital Foundation. “The hospital has been good to us as a family. And I’ve got a son and two grandchildren who live in Georgetown. They've been occasional visitors as well? he says. “The least we could do was show our appreciation for all the care and attention we had as a family” 4 LABORATORY Over 260,000 lab