Alzheimer's patient left 'homeless' due to care home delay

An Alzheimer's patient has been left homeless as he waits in hospital for a care home bed, his family has said.

Kirk Lindsay said his brother-in-law Keith Murray, 62, has spent the past four weeks in a critical care unit at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital and his health has deteriorated.

The family said they are concerned his condition could worsen further.

The Belfast Trust said it understood the anxiety and frustration that Mr Murray's family is experiencing but, "currently there is very limited availability of care home beds for older people with complex care needs, and we regret that this has created further delays".

Keith Murray from County Down was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's in 2021.

Speaking to Radio Ulster's Nolan Show, Mr Lindsay said doctors told the family that his condition would progress more quickly than it would in an older person.

In the lead up to his diagnosis, the family had become concerned about Mr Murray's health following a number of incidents which included a solo trip to England where he got "lost" hundreds of miles away from his intended destination.

He was initially given a care package that saw care workers attend his home twice a day.

He was later admitted to a care home for his own safety after being "found walking along the hard shoulder of the M1".

More recently, Mr Lindsay said his brother-in-law's behaviour started to change, including "erratic" violent outbursts towards staff and guests.

Mr Lindsay said this behaviour was "out of character" for Mr Murray.

One night police were called to the care home after Mr Murray had "attacked the staff".

On another occasion he "pulled a sink and a tap off a wall" in a toilet because he "thought the place was on fire".

This aggressive behaviour resulted in Mr Murray being taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in January.

"He ended up in a critical care ward and he's still there," Mr Lindsay told The Nolan Show.

"He's been there for four weeks."

Due to the complexity of Mr Murray's needs the Belfast Trust has said it is trying to identify a home that can provide the level of care he requires.

Mr Lindsay said the situation has been further complicated by his brother-in-law's age because some care homes do not take residents aged under 65.

The family have called on the Belfast Trust to "find somewhere for him to go home".

You can listen to the full Nolan Show interview on BBC Sounds here.