Wife Betty surprises husband by moving into his care home because she 'couldn't live without him'

When 91 year old Betty Meredith became separated from her husband Kenneth because of coronavirus restrictions, she could not bear being apart from him and decided to move into his care home and surprise him.

Kenneth aged 96, who has dementia, didn't know when he would see his wife Betty again due to the coronavirus restrictions after he moved into Bourn View Care Home in Birmingham five weeks ago.

After spending 71 years of married life together, Betty was determined a global pandemic would not get in the way of her marriage and decided to move into his care home without telling him.

Despite having already moved in, Betty continued making phone calls to her Ken from her new bedroom in the care home where she was isolating, as she waited for a negative COVID-19 test result.

Care workers at the care home run by Avery Healthcare helped Betty arrange a romantic surprise reunion meal for the couple in the care home’s restaurant, complete with red roses, heart-shaped balloons and scattered petals.

The moment Kenneth spots Betty seated in the restaurant is captured on film.

In the clip, 96-year-old Kenneth can be seen walking through the door with his zimmer frame but he soon bursts into tears as he sees his devoted wife sitting at a table.

When Kenneth spots the love of his life Betty sitting amongst red roses and heart-shaped balloons, he breaks down and cries as he tries to get to her.

'We're together forever'

As they finally embrace after over a month apart, she tells him "Just you and me".

He asks her: “Can you take me back?"

Betty is quick to tell him they would not be apart again, with the words: “No. Not taking you back. I have come to live with you. Alright? I've moved in."

She then asks: "Are you alright, are you happy? We're together forever".

Tearful Kenneth replied: "Now I see you it's better".

‘Everyone was in tears’

The clip which has gone viral on social media, was posted on Twitter by great granddaughter Charlotte who tweeted: 'My granddad went into a care home five weeks ago and my nan couldn't live without him so he decided to move in, and the care home did this for them - my actual heart.'

She revealed that the health of both her great grandparents had deteriorated since their daughter had died last year.

The emotional clip of the couple reuniting is peppered with emojis and messages from tearful care workers.

Rosie Boshell, well-being and activities co-ordinator at Bourn View care home, run by Avery Healthcare, said: “When I heard Betty was moving in and her family had asked for a video of their reunion, I wanted to make it extra special for them, decorating our restaurant and arranging a romantic meal.

“It was so emotional and heart-warming to see; everyone was in tears of happiness and full of joy for them.”

click here for more details or to contact Avery Healthcare Group