Til death do us part

By Moa Karlberg – During spring 2008, Arvid Anderssons wife Ingar got so sick she had to move to an elderly home. Arvid wanted to rent the room next to her, but the municipality said no. Arvid did not have “the required need of care”. Now he lives alone in a one-room apartment in the village. In Sweden, it is up to each municipality to organize the elderly care. Some parts of the country guarantee couples accomodation at the same home. Others, like in Gislaved where the Anderssons live, have decided that it is better for a healthy person to stay in their own home as long as possible. This case created a debate and a popular fury during the spring. It got so far that local government commissioners were threatened to death, and had guards protecting the town hall. Arvid appealed but lost in higher court. Now it is fall and he does not have the energy for taking the case further. ­ Life is different now. It did not turn out the way we expected, says Arvid.