Nursing home bed finally secured for man after year-long wait

After about 15 months in hospital, Fredericton-area man Doug Forbes, who has Lewy body dementia, was moved into a nursing home in October and his wife reports noticeable health and mood improvements.

A Fredericton-area man who spent more than a year in hospital has been moved into a nursing home, and his family says the change has had a positive effect. His wife, Nancy Anderson, spoke to CBC and local radio about the time her husband spent between Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital and Oromocto Hospital while awaiting placement. The man, Doug Forbes, has Lewy body dementia, a condition that affects memory, behaviour and communication. Anderson said the move to a nursing home in October brought visible improvements in his weight, colour and demeanour. Key facts: - Doug Forbes spent about 15 months in hospital before being placed in a nursing home in October. - Forbes has Lewy body dementia, which the article notes can include loss of memory, judgment and changes in mood and communication. - His wife reported he lost roughly 65 pounds in hospital and regained about 25 pounds after entering the nursing home, and that staff appeared attentive and cheerful. - A doctor who visited Forbes described him as more docile than earlier reports suggested. - Horizon Health Network CEO Margaret Melanson told a legislative committee that alternative-level-of-care patients occupy about 40 per cent of beds in the health authority, and said there has been little marked improvement since last October. - Anderson said many people contacted her after her interview, reporting similar long waits for nursing home placements. Summary: Family members say the nursing home placement coincided with clearer signs of physical and emotional improvement for Forbes, while health officials report that long-term patients still occupy a substantial share of hospital beds. Undetermined at this time.