I was told that if old people start acting senile in public and appear to be a danger to themselves and others, you can call social services and have them forcibly taken to a home or something, where they’re monitored for no less than 72 hours so the home can decide whether they can be released into the world again. Is this true? If so, can someone give me a cite?
What state do you live in?
In Wisconsin in falls under Chapter 51 of state statutes. A peace officer can take a person into custody if he resonably believes the person is a danger to themselves or others. The person is transported to a mental health facility.
Just acting goofy does not in itself cover this. Every case is truely unique, though.
What state do you live in?
i think it depends on your state. however, if anyone in public appears to “be a danger to themselves and others”, they can be taken away (again, depends on the state).
jb
I’m not that impatient, just a “cranky server” double post
sigh
Laws vary from state to state, of course. In Washington State, a law enforcement officer can place a person in protective custody and have them evaluated for a few different reasons, including drug use, extreme intoxication and mental illness. In the case of mental illness, the person is then evaluated by a mental health professional, who can commit them for observation for 72 hours.
All of these require that the Officer have probable cause to believe at least one of the following:
- The person is a danger to themself or others;
- The person is damaging private property;
- Hi, Opal!
- The person is “gravely disabled” (i.e. unable to care for themselves).
Uh-oh - I do hope that nobody saw that approach shot of mine that hooked into the parking lot last week…
Hijack! – “themself”? Eh?
Thanks everyone - this is GREAT news! One thing, though - I was hoping that I could personally call some number and have them picked up - it seems like only a cop can do it. I live in Texas - maybe their laws are different? I can’t seem to find anything on the Web about this.
You have an extraneous grandparent or something?
http://www.advocacyinc.org/IR2.htm
Basically, a judge must order emergency commitment, unless a police officer witnesses immediately dangerous behavior himself. If a doctor judges that the patient’s mental condition does not require commitment, the patient must be released immediately.
http://www.advocacyinc.org/IR2.htm
Basically, a judge must order emergency commitment, unless a police officer witnesses immediately dangerous behavior himself. If a doctor judges that the patient’s mental condition does not require commitment, the patient must be released immediately.
This is exactly why I stay at home most of the time. 
Hmm well, actually, it doesn’t have to be by a peace officer or any other kind of officer. Your state laws may vary, but here in GA, 2 people can go to the probate court and have a third person involuntarily committed for an evaluation. They have to have swear out an affidavit that the person to be committed has shown themself to be a danger. This is time sensitive though. You would need to make the report within 48 hours of observing the behavior which justifies making the involuntary committment. There may also be a small fee involved for the processing.
Keep in mind that anything of this ilk that can be done to “old senile” people can be done to you too.
Raise your hand if you can’t imagine a situation in which a couple of more or less upstanding citizens might not consider you to be incapable of managing your own affairs. I could tell you some tales, believe me.
AHunter3, who is an escaped mental patient
Having been placed under observation a few times, I can say that yes, “they” can take you away and keep you–in my case, once for thirty damn days. While I am old and (maybe) senile now, I no longer do drugs or alcohol, so my behavior doesn’t attract as much attention as it sometimes did back in the old days. As AHunter3 points out, one doesn’t have to be “old” to be taken away for observation.
Well, one of my good friends, who lives in Dallas, is a Nursing Home Administrator. He has the authority to call social services, or whatever they were called, and have a senior citizen placed under observation for 72 hours. I know b/c he did that very thing to one of his neighbors, who he determined was clearly a danger to herself and others. So, in your home state, if you know someone who runs a nursing home, you can ask them to do it.
SERIOUSLY?? I also live in Dallas. Do you suppose you could send me some email with your friend’s name? Maybe I could drum up some business for him!! AWESOME!!!
You did notice, didn’t you Uekte, that age is not one of the criteria for hauling the old fart away?
Now, an irrational fixation on old people might be. 
So could living in Texas. That’s two.
Peace,
mangeorge