A heartbroken husband has told how his wife "doesn't understand" why he won't hold her hand amid ongoing coronavirus restrictions in care homes.
When care homes finally opened their doors to visitors on Monday, Peter Williamson, 87, was overjoyed at the prospect of being reunited with his wife Valerie.
But despite the easing of restrictions as part of the Government's road map, not all homes are permitting in-person visits - which has left relatives like Peter in limbo.
Valerie, 85, was diagnosed with dementia two years ago, but her health deteriorated last spring and she was admitted to a Sale, Manchester.
Since then the pair, who met in 1959 at a dance while on holiday in Llandudno and have been married 61 years, have only been allowed one outdoor meeting.
In the last three months, Peter has suffered two strokes and he believes the 'only cure' for his stress would be to see his wife once more.
Peter says during his one visit to the home they could not touch, and the months apart have had a devastating impact on them both.
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Visits in a pod with a glass screen have proven too upsetting for Valerie and on their regular video calls, she pleads with Peter to visit, believing he stays away by choice.
Peter told the Manchester Evening News: "She finds it deeply upsetting, she thinks I don't want to come and see her. She doesn't understand.
"Going into the pod distressed her, she thought she was going into prison.
"The home says they can't safely accommodate visits.
"Initially they said that was because of Government guidance but that can't be the case now."
Peter has suffered two strokes this year and says the stress of separation from his wife his affecting his health.
He added: "The doctor said to me ‘I can give you tablets, but the best thing for you would be to be able to see your wife’
But for Bradley House nursing home in Sale, the option to follow Government guidance allowing visits and hand-holding, under strict infection control conditions, is not clear-cut.
As is the case for many care homes across the country, the pandemic has been a stressful and painful ordeal for residents.
Tragically, the home lost 17 residents in just the first six weeks of the pandemic.
This dramatic loss has left owner Mike Bange facing a dilemma when it comes to allowing in-person visits.
Describing their 'extremely vulnerable residents', he said: "It has been very difficult to put measures into place to allow the newly permissible visiting policy.
"Most of our residents have been advised to shield until the end of March 2021."
He added: "Given the above, to have visitors in the building whilst residents are advised to shield, and not fully vaccinated, would pose a huge risk."
Meanwhile, Peter and Valerie pine for each other's company.
