Husband, 93, moves into his wife’s nursing home after COVID lockdown haults his visits
By daisydoll
As nursing homes are being closed around the country in order to protect our most vulnerable citizens, it can be saddening for those family members who want to see the ones they love.
We all understand that this is best as older, sick people are at risk the most from this potentially COVID disease, however it goes against our instinct to want to be close to those we love during troubled times.
When 93-year-old Jack Eccles visited his wife Gerry at her nursing home in March, he couldn't see her as the center had gone into lockdown.
Instead of going home and accepting this situation, he came back the next day at the home in Durham, North Carolina, with some of his belongings asking to rent a room.
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“We’re married,” he told the The Wall Street Journal. “I want to be with her. She took care of me for 70 years, and now it’s my turn.”
Staff were accommodating and understanding of Jack’s predicament but to keep the other residents safe he could only be in his own room, his wife’s or the lobby occasionally.
He admits it can be lonely and he doesn’t get out much but looking after his wife, who has Alzheimer’s disease, is more important.
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Jack was concerned his wife might stop eating and he wouldn’t be able to help her. Now he feeds her every meal and the staff have noticed a change in Gerry.
“That’s something we can’t do,” one of the home’s dieticians Olivia Jacobs said. “We haven’t been with her for 70 years.
“He’s always having a good day, he’s always happy to see her. … He’s with his love, and that’s where he wants to be.”
In July the couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary and were able to do so together, even if some of their 9 children and 20 grandkids and 24 great-grandkids had to stand outside their window to send their love.
Everyone share this story if you too loved seeing Jack and Gerry together.
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