BOSTON: A court ordered settlement will forever change dementia management and care.
A 91-year-old man who was separated from his beloved cat and consigned to a locked dementia unit against his will has won $110,000 damages in a landmark case.
The Second World War veteran was wearing his dressing gown and no trousers when social workers removed him from his home of 50 years without a shred of authority.
Despite his repeated requests to be allowed to go home, he was ‘detained’ in a skilled nursing home for up to 17 months.
Had a churchgoing friend not rallied round and demanded his release, he would have ended his days deprived of his cherished liberty, said the judge.
Now, in a damning ruling, the judge has blasted the council’s “reprehensible” behavior and for “ignoring” the retired civil servant’s rights as a human being.
He said: “It is hard to imagine a more depressing and inexcusable state of affairs.”…