Sixty years ago my parents, Ray and Delia Will, met by chance on a riverbank in England. Together, Delia and Ray raised six children and contributed greatly to their community. They now live in a personal care home in St. John's, where Ray suffers from Parkinson’s Disease and Delia has mild dementia.

Unfortunately, Ray's condition has now deteriorated to the point where he must move to a long term care facility. However, because Delia does not need this extra level of care, government policy dictates that she will be left behind when Ray moves. The effects on both of them will be emotionally devastating, harming them mentally and even physically.

This is wrong. And it does not have to be this way. One year ago, Nova Scotia introduced the Life Partners in Long-Term Care Act, which ended the inhumane practice of separating couples who live in that province's care homes.
But in Newfoundland & Labrador, couples such as Ray and Delia are routinely separated—unless they have substantial financial resources to pay for their own care.

Now is the time for the Government of Newfoundland & Labrador to follow the example of Nova Scotia and put an end to the separation of couples living in long term care. Please add your support to ending this policy.