Couple married 69 years forced to separate days before Christmas

Members of a New Brunswick family say they're being unnecessarily ripped apart days before Christmas.

Herbert Goodine, 91, was removed Monday from the special-care home where he haslived with Audrey Goodine, 89, hiswifeof 69 years.

The move a week before Christmas follows anassessmentby the Department ofSocial Development, which determined Goodine needed more care than the home he was living in could provide.

Goodine'sdaughter,Dianne Phillips, said she's outraged her parents were separated afteronly a fewdays' notice and just before the holidays.

"And at this time of year, the way things took place, I feel that is abuse to seniors," said Phillips."It's emotional abuse. It might not be physical, but I do believe it is emotional."

Phillips said her father's dementia has been getting worseand he has broken some of the home's rules, includingturning off a door alarmto step outsidetoretrievehiswife'sChristmas ornamental plant.

But she said her request to keep her parents together forfive more days leading up to Christmaswas denied by the Department of Social Development.

TheGoodines'story went viralover the weekend even before they were separated, after Phillips posted on Facebook her feelings about learningher father would be moved.

In an email to CBC News, a spokesperson said the Departmentof Social Development wasaware of the situation and the family's concerns, but couldn't comment on the details ofthis case.

"If it's determined that a senior needs additional care or that their safety is potentially in jeopardy, the department works with the resident and family members to facilitate a move to an appropriate home," wrote Anne Mooers.

"Individualswho require a higher level of care than what can be provided in special care homes are moved to where their needs can be more appropriately met, such as in a nursing home or a memory care home."

Herbert and Audrey Goodine shared a room at the Victoria Villa Special Care Home in Perth-Andover.

"Well,wehad abeautifulroom, two rooms, really," said Herbert Goodine from the sparsequarters he was moved into on Monday morning.

The former farmer from Tilley shed a tear hugging his daughter after the relocation, but he tried to keep a sense of ofhumourwhen asked about his wife.

"Well, if nothing happens to her, it'll be good," he said, "because she'll be rid of me for a little while."

Phillipssaid social workers assessed her father last week and decided he needed more care than was offered at Victoria Villa.

He is now attheTobiqueValley Manor in Plaster Rock, a 30-minutedrivefromhis wife.

Phillips said her father will stay therefor the next 30 days until the family can find a newpermanent livingarrangementfor both her parents.

You don't know how close we are. And always was.- Herbert Goodine, husband of Audrey Goodine

"They won't be in the same bed tonight," Phillips said. "And that is because my dad did have anassessmentdone. He needs ahigher levelof care, which certainly we accept that, and we had hoped to keep them together untilChristmas, but that didn't happen."

Jennifer Eagan, the owner and operator of HerbertGoodine'sformer home, said the decision to move a resident is alwaysdonewith the safety of theresident in mind, as wellas according to provincial laws.

"I know that when someone is reassessed at a higher level, legally I have to comply with the rules andregulationsof Social Development and the government of New Brunswick.

"It doesn't matter what time of year it is. It's the way it happened this time, which I agreeis unfortunate. It's right before Christmas."

After decision, fast action

Eagan said the time between the heightened new assessment and the required move is almost always just a few days.

"Itnormallydoesn't take very long because once a resident is beyond our care we're notequippedto look after them.

"So,it becomes a big safety concern for thatresident."

Despite beingseparatedin the days leading up to Christmas, the Goodines will spend ChristmasDay together at theirdaughter'shome in Fredericton.

Herbert, who has never spent more than a few days apart from his wife inseven decades, is already looking forward to their reunion.

"You don't know how close we are," he said."And always was."

Facebook post widely shared

Phillips's weekend Facebook posthad gathered more than 11,000 shares as of early Monday evening andprovoked anger from readers.

Eagansaid her special-care homehas a good reputation for taking care of residents, so the online reaction has been rough.

"I would hope that anyone passing judgment on any home, in any situation, would get all their facts straight before spewing information," she said.