Television personality Jorma Pulkkinen became his wife’s caregiver

A well-known television face Jorma Pulkkinen82, has spent a year with his wife, who worked in the tourism industry Anna-Liisan82, full-time caregiver.

– My wife has a memory disorder, memory disorders and dizziness. It is difficult to move and he has also fallen badly. I dress, wash and take care of him when I myself have been able to be healthy. He can walk, but the danger of falling is constantly present, Jorma speaks and Anna-Liisa nods approvingly next to him.

Anna-Liisa regularly spends three days a month in the nursing home, and Jorma has that time off.

On Wednesday, the couple wanted a change and drove to Tampere to meet acquaintances from their home in Vantaa.

– For a long, long time, we wanted a change and we went on a trip when I could still bring my friend along. The only regular change in the weekdays for the wife is a weekly visit to the hairdresser. Hairdressing must be done last, Jorma says and gently strokes his wife’s curls.

– I am grateful that we can be together. At Allu’s grill, my wife and I go “eating out”. It brings variety to everyday life and routines, says Jorma.

Few jobs

Even though Jorma Pulkkinen is already retired, he is still sometimes offered motorsport announcing jobs.

– But a person over eighty years old has already completed his working career. Now I’m making another video for the Senior Association, I’ll talk about Spain as a place to live, among other things, Jorma gets excited.

The Pulkkis had a second home in Spain for decades, but they sold it some time ago. Jorma no longer longs for the warmth of the south.

– The wife’s mobility difficulties are one reason, but yes, Spain got to be experienced. It was wonderful there, but I don’t miss it. We were there for 36 years regularly, so we don’t feel like going to the sun anymore. Croatia might have been another option, where you could have gotten a small apartment, but now there is only a home in Vantaa. It’s good this way.

The traveling man’s journey has also been limited by the expiration of his flight license, but the man who has been on the move takes a realistic approach to that as well.

– Each in due time. However, I can still control the machine if there is a teacher or license holder with me. But there has been enough of it in the sky, as well as behind the wheel of a car on gravel roads and as a map reader for over 25 years.

Jorma’s father was one of the founders of Jyväskylä Suurajaje in 1951, the owner of Hotel Jyväshov and the father of the races Pentti Barckin alongside.

– By the way, I was almost raised by women. The father already left the family during the wars. We lived in a small apartment on Mannerheimintie with my mother, grandmother and uncle, says Jorma, who grew up in Helsinki.

The connection to Sirpa Viljamaa was broken

Jorma was popular in the 1980s and 1990s Your screen– quiz program. Jorma reminisces and praises the co-workers and time in the popular program together with his co-presenter, the 1980 Miss Suomen Sirpa Viljamaan with.

– Sirpa was a fair and nice guy, but when she moved with her husband to Germany and Central Europe and became a mother, the connection somehow broke. Apart from a few Christmas cards, we haven’t been in touch. We ran together for years. In addition to television work, we had gigs in different places in department stores.

After talking, Jorma brings his wife something to drink, improves her clothes and starts the car towards the Vantaan home. The visit to Tampere ends. The Pulkkins are still smiling before they leave in a rare joint photo for Iltalehti.