ABANDONED

NSHA looking for home for woman

The Nova Scotia Health Authority continues to look for a home for a woman who has been in a Bridgewater hospital since last summer.

Elaine Flemming, 73, has been at the South Shore Regional Hospital since early July. She was under the care of her husband at home but Mike Flemming told The Chronicle Herald on Thursday that he could no longer deal with the situation after providing personal care for her for about 20 years.

Flemming has a range of chronic health problems including a broken back from a fall in February that has left her in a wheelchair.

The Chronicle Herald wanted to speak with officials about how they help people in this situation but the NSHA wouldn't provide an interview Friday.

“Every person's situation is different and we are continuing to help this patient to find an appropriate home with the right care to meet her needs,” spokeswoman Carla Adams said in an email. “We can't elaborate without seeming to comment on the individual situation, so we have to decline your request for an interview.”

On Friday, there were 59 people in acute care beds in Nova Scotia without an appropriate place to live because their needs are too complex for current facilities outside of acute care. Adams emphasized that's not the number of people left or abandoned at hospitals.

In some cases, the family will give up decision-making control and the province's adult protection department becomes the decision-maker. Other times the family will continue to make decisions.

ERIC WYNNE • THE CHRONICLE HERALD Elaine Flemming reads in her room at the South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater last week. She's been at the hospital since July 2 because she has no place to go after her husband dropped her off there to stay.