72-year-old Vancouver senior reclaims his independence after health scare

Andrew Renton was a “healthy chap” for a 72-year-old man.

He regularly traveled to farflung places around the world, and had a fulfilling independent life.

One day he met a friend for lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, being an active guy, he walked home alone. But he never made it.

Before he got home, he collapsed on the street. A stranger called 911 and Andrew was taken to the hospital.

He woke up two weeks later, then spent the next three-and-ahalf months in the hospital.

“It was difficult to go from being an independent person, to being in a bed at the hospital where nobody expected me to leave. It felt like they were waiting for me to die,” said Andrew of his experience in the hospital.

“Nobody seemed to know what happened to me. They thought it might have been a stroke. I never got a straight answer—there were so many people giving their opinion.”

One of the opinions they gave was that Andrew should be sent to a nursing home. But this was the last thing he wanted to do.

It took some convincing, but Andrew did eventually get discharged from the hospital and went home.

Unfortunately, due to his health problems, his driver’s license was taken away, which was another significant blow to his valued independence. He was determined to get his life back to normal again.

He found a new doctor, but had to wait at least 90 minutes every time he visited. When Andrew finally got to see the doctor, he didn’t feel listened to.

After a couple months an acquaintance recommended that he contact Copeman Healthcare.

Andrew made an appointment and met with Dr. Peter House.

“He was really interested in getting me back together again,” said Andrew. “He understood my frustrations and he explored my health complaints —he gave me his attention. I just wanted my health back and my independence. Dr. House listened to all my concerns.”

One of the recommendations made by Dr. House was for Andrew to engage in a brain fitness program at Copeman’s Brain Health Department. The program is administered by Gabrielle Ciquier, Psychometrist and Brain Health staff member, and supervised by Registered Psychologist Dr. Shawnda Lanting.

Brain fitness programs are an evidence-based approach that is fully customized for each client depending on specific areas of cognition that have changed such as memory, attentional skills and processing speed.

Gabrielle Ciquier says, “we help our clients choose which exercises to perform and offer guidance and support as they work through their program.”

Through a regular brain fitness program and consistent visits with Dr. House, Andrew saw the much needed health improvements he was looking for.

“I needed to feel that someone was behind me, and I got that with Dr. House and with my entire team at Copeman. They’re so efficient and warm. When I walk in, they know who I am,” he says.

“And I’m happy to say that since my health has improved I was able to get my driver’s license back.”

With his independence and his health back, Andrew is grateful for his experience at Copeman.

“My health was well worth the investment.”