87-year-old dementia patient with head injury spends days in ER hallway

The family of an 87-year-old woman says she is still waiting for a hospital bed days after suffering a brain bleed. Jeff Keele reports.

Angela Thibeault says her 87-year-old mother, who has advanced dementia and a head injury, spent nearly five days in the hallway of Grace Hospital’s emergency department.

“This is inhumane, it really is—this is heartbreaking,” Angela said.

Angela says her mother fell at home and was brought to Grace Hospital on Saturday. Angela then travelled from British Columbia to be by her side.

“She has a massive, massive [contusion] on her forehead — a huge bruise, black and blue,” Angela said.

She says it was determined her mother had a brain bleed. Due to her age, surgery was ruled out. Because of her condition, Louise can’t go home and needs a spot in a personal care home. In the meantime, a hospital bed is her only option.

But Angela says she was placed in a hallway at the Grace Hospital until Wednesday morning, waiting to be admitted.

Angela says the experience has been terrifying and agonizing for her mother, as the lights in the hallway are always on, not to mention the noise that comes with an emergency room.

“The sirens, the announcements, you know the code red, the doctors, there’s people screaming, people crying, and there’s these horrible fluorescent lights above her head.” Angela said.

She said her mother is now in a small examination room, still waiting for a hospital bed.

“She’s having a real hard time putting thoughts together, basically on repeat is what am I doing here, I want to go home,” Angela said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara says they are working with the family to make sure Louise gets the care she needs.

“This is a distressing situation; the Minister’s office has connected with the patient’s family and is working with the WRHA to ensure the patient is admitted as soon as possible.”

In a statement, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority says patient numbers can vary, and that high volumes can impact the flow of patients leading to blocked treatment spaces in the emergency departments until those patients can be admitted to a unit.

“Currently, Grace Hospital is seeing a surge in patients in the [emergency department] needing admission,” reads the statement. “To help address the situation, temporary beds have been added, and coordinated efforts across the system are ensuring patients receive the right care in the appropriate environments for their needs.”

Angela says the health-care staff are doing their best but adds that something with the system must change.

“I’m pushing for people to wake up because this is your future people, I mean I’m 60 and I don’t want to be 87 and be in that position,” Angela said.