A new bill from the government that gives employees in elderly care and in residential care facilities expanded powers to use force against the elderly and disabled has caused great concern and criticism. The bill includes possibilities to confine and monitor individuals with permanently impaired mental capacity, including elderly individuals with dementia. The Danish Institute for Human Rights has strongly reacted to the proposal and expresses deep concern over the proposed powers. According to the institute’s director, Louise Holck, the proposal represents a “broadened increased use of coercion against defenseless elderly and citizens with disabilities.” Holck emphasizes the importance of treating these citizens with dignity and respect and warns against unnecessary use of physical force.
The bill includes measures such as allowing staff to restrain, detain, or escort a citizen back to their own home, lock residents in their homes for up to ten hours, as well as the possibility of using camera surveillance and other forms of monitoring. Moreover, it is proposed to ease the requirements for reporting and registering the use of force, which the government argues will ensure care and increase security, as well as free up resources for staff. The criticism from the Danish Institute for Human Rights is based on a 21-page long consultation response, where the institute describes in detail their concerns regarding the numerous coercive measures. “We are talking about elderly individuals with severe dementia and other vulnerable citizens. Yet, it is being suggested to expand the possibilities to restrain and confine citizens,” says Louise Holck.
Attempts to get a comment from the Minister for Social Affairs and Housing, Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil, as well as the social spokesperson for the Social Democrats (Socialdemokratiets), Camilla Fabricius, have so far been unsuccessful. This bill sharpens the focus on the tension between the need for security and care in elderly care and residential care facilities, and the risk of abuse and violation of citizens’ rights. The debate on the bill is expected to continue as the further political process unfolds.