Couple married for 62 years forced to live separately because no nearby care homes are available

A couple who have spent 62 years together are being forced to live separately because they cannot get into the same care home.

Wolf and Anita Gottschalk from British Columbia, Canada, have been married since 1954, but have been forced to spend the past eight months apart because there are no spaces in nearby care homes that can accommodate two people.

The couple's granddaughter Ashley Bartyik appealed for help on Facebook and blamed the separation on "backlogs and delays by our healthcare system".

Wolf is on a waiting list to move into The Residence - a nursing home where his wife in being cared for. But the Fraser Health Authority is unable to say when the move can happen.

Every other day, the family drives Anita the 30-minute journey so the couple can see each other.

"They cry every time they see each other, and it is heartbreaking," Bartyik said.

"My grandma can't even kiss him goodnight now. He calls out for her when he sees her."

Wolf has been diagnosed with lymphoma and dementia, which adds to his keenness to spend his remaining years with his wife.

"His dementia is growing ever stronger each day, but his memory of my grandmother has not faded a inch...yet," Bartyik added.

"We are afraid however, that if they are living apart much longer, his memory of her won't stay."

Tasleem Juma, a spokeswoman for Fraser Health, told CTV News: "We certainly understand how heartbreaking this is for the family. It's upsetting for us as well.

"We continue to work to reunite this couple and hope to do so in the next few weeks."

Bartyik maintained that her family has not received any calls from Fraser Health in the eight months her grandparents have been separated.

She has launched a Facebook appeal for help from the public in reuniting Wolf and Anita.

"We want justice for my grandparents who after 62 years together deserve to spend their last moments in the same building," Bartyik said.