Love Finds a Way: Bob & Juliet Discover Romance in Long-Term Care

Love has a way of finding us when we least expect it. For Bob and Juliet, that moment came in the back garden of Extendicare Laurier Manor in Ottawa, Ontario, where a simple conversation turned into a lifelong connection.

In the spring of 2017, Bob moved to Laurier Manor. Shortly after settling in, he celebrated his birthday, unbeknownst that this milestone would later hold even greater significance.

Juliet, naturally introverted, kept to herself when she first arrived at Laurier Manor. That all changed one warm July day in 2021 when she met Bob while enjoying some time outside.

“He was charming, talkative, and had an infectious enthusiasm for life,” she says.

From that very first conversation, she knew this was someone special.

For Bob, the feeling was similarly instant. “I saw her, and I just knew,” he says. It was love at first sight. They talked, laughed, and soon, meeting in the backyard became a daily ritual. As the months passed, their friendship deepened, and then, on a warm summer’s day Bob asked, “Can I kiss you?” That moment changed everything.

Realizing she had found the person she had been waiting for, Juliet embraced their unexpected romance. Always a man of action, Bob wasted no time. He began searching for a ring, knowing he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. When he finally told Juliet he wanted to marry her, she was surprised but didn’t hesitate.

On the day of his birthday in 2022, a date specifically chosen by Juliet for the meaning she knew it held to Bob, they said their vows, surrounded by love and support from their community at Laurier Manor. The chapel at the home was transformed into the wedding hall of their dreams . “My children accepted her immediately,” Bob says. “She was meant to be part of my life.”

Together, they’ve built a beautiful life within the long-term care home. They spend as much time as possible outside on the home’s grounds, where their story began. They visit local shops when the weather is warm. On cozy nights, they treat themselves to pizza and wings.

Each night before bed, Bob makes sure that he tells Juliet how much he loves her, and his words bring her comfort and joy.

“Before I met Bob, I was quiet and reserved,” Juliet reflects. “He’s helped me open up and truly make this place my home.”

Perhaps the most touching part of their story is their unwavering appreciation for one another. “I’m grateful for all the support he gives me,” Juliet says. “I’m proud of everything he does.” Their love story is proof that romance can blossom anywhere, at any stage of life. Juliet offered one piece of advice for anyone still waiting to find their person:

“Don’t give up on love. You never know who you’re going to meet, or where.”