An elderly member of the Cochrane community wishes to extend her deepest thanks and gratitude to her neighbours in Glendale and a couple of local organizations for supporting her and her husband over the last three years.
Renate Hoogstraten, an 84-year-old Glendale Way resident, has lived in Cochrane for over 25 years with her 94-year-old husband Pete. The couple has been married for 64 years, and their 65th anniversary is approaching next month.
As a brain tumour survivor, Hoogstraten still receives an MRI scan once a year as the tumour still partially remains, and cares full-time for her husband. They currently reside in the home of their son Eric.
Just up the street from their residence, 73-year-old Carol and Al Newtona have been supporting the Hoogstratens however possible for the last three years, whether by grocery shopping, cleaning, or even going to the bank to help the older couple pay their bills.
“They are an unbelievable couple,” Hoogstraten said. “And [Al] always cleans at 7 a.m.”
Hoogstraten said even as recently as two weeks ago, the Newtonas helped clear ice from their residence and assisted Pete after he suffered a fall in their home that broke his collar bone.
Although they assisted however they could, the Newtonas said the situation became too much for them to handle. Hoogstraten eventually learned that Cochrane Fire services offer citizen assistance for such situations.
“There are many [services] in Cochrane, but we didn’t know about them,” Hoogstraten said. “And Alberta Homecare never told us, or anybody [else].”
She also added the Helping Hands Society of Cochrane and Area offers similar valuable support for residents like herself. In Hoogstraten’s case, the organization's assistance was invaluable during the winter months, when her porch needed to be regularly cleared from snow.
“I talked with Melia [Hayes] – she’s with Helping Hands – [and] I let her know I needed help because I have bad arthritis in my hands, and people just came,” Hoogstraten said. “There would be someone shovelling the deck so I could get to the garbage cans.”
With services in the community and neighbours who are always available to assist elderly Cochranites like herself and her husband, Hoogstraten said she is incredibly thankful to be living in a community that cares so much about its older population.
“It’s an incredible community. I love Cochrane,” Hoogstraten said.
Hoogstraten feels many of the people who perform good deeds or services in town often go unnoticed. But she will be forever grateful to her neighbours and others who have worked to make Cochrane a great place to call home.
“Thank you is probably not good enough, but a big tremendous thank you,” Hoogstraten said. “And my love to all of them for their help.”