Colin Geraghty, 89, had told his family he is confident he would be able to look after his wife Claudette, 83, and the couple made a daring escape from their care home in Melbourne, Australia
A lovestruck elderly pair who absconded a care home they “hate” are still not back one week later.
Colin and Claudette Geraghty’s daughter has pleaded for her parents to go back to the home after they left the Ryman Nellie Melba Retirement Village in Melbourne, Australia. They vanished from the facility on Saturday July 11, and were found in Maryborough, some 118 miles away.
But now Colin, 89, and his 83-year-old wife are holed up in a motel and refuse to return to the nursing home, according to daughter Linda McKelvie. Speaking to reporters, she described her dad as “a very clever and intelligent man” well-equipped to keep steps ahead of the couple’s pursuers.
Linda said she is “proud” Colin and Claudette, who have been married for 65 years and have several children together, “look after each other” but stressed they need the support of the care home.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Linda said they are staying at a motel from which they are adamant not to leave after becoming enraged at their care home arrangements. Linda said: “Dad just doesn’t want to be without mum and mum’s a trooper. People are saying it’s a great love story and it is. In many ways and I am proud of them for looking after each other.
“I don’t know how they pulled it off to be honest with you – it was no easy feat. It’s a bit unclear what will happen next – I’m sure they would like to do another escape!” Ms McKelvie added that the two have tried to escape in the past, “not that long ago”, with her dad, a “
She added that the two had been transferred to an aged-care facility after medical practitioners for Claudette, who has had seizures and has vascular dementia, concluded she required round-the-clock care.
But the new arrangements had spooked the couple, who Ms McKelvie said “don’t want change really”. She said her dad, while still a driver who had enough of his wits about him to pilot a 2015 Mazda 2 and take them on a road trip. They were last seen in the car at The Glen Shopping Centre, where they bought their daily medication and visited their favourite cafe.
Their unexpected departure has left their family fearful for their safety, and they have repeatedly asked the couple via text to return to their care home.
The Geraghty pair have, however, decided to stay put, with Colin having even reassured his family they would be fine in a message sent on the day they vanished. Ms McKelvie said he had messaged her: “Don’t worry, thank you for your help. I’ll make sure I look after her.”
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