2011: Legislation relating to restrictions of freedom Completed
AE projects This project focused on legislation relating to
various forms of restriction of freedom sometimes experienced by
people with dementia. Three main themes are covered, namely
involuntary internment, coercive measures (including
mistreatment and abuse) and restrictions linked to the right to
drive. Involuntary internment is the term used to describe the
situation whereby a person is obliged by law to reside in some
form of institution. Usually, the grounds for this restriction
of liberty are that the person has a mental disorder and is
considered as a danger to him/herself or others. National laws
are often ill-suited to the needs of people with dementia. In
some countries, it only concerns internment in a psychiatric
institution or ward which is not the ideal place to provide
appropriate care and support for people with dementia. The term
“coercive measures” denotes methods that are used to restrain a
person which involve restraint, for