16 — Sunday, Cctober 13, 1991 - North Shore News HELP’S AT HAND HELP’S AT Hand, by North Shore Community Services (NSCS), is a forum for discussing government policies and pro- grams, besefits, consumer and legal rights, taxation and public services. Answers are intended only as a general guide and should not be applied to individual cases without further consultation. Question: I have an elderly neighbor who is very frail. She is caring for her husband who has ’ Alzheimer’s disease. He is in good physical health; he’s actually twice ber size and three times her strength. He gets very angry and I know he hits her. I’m afraid one of these days he’ il kill her. The family doctor says that the husband skould go into a care hospital, but he can’t be admitted: without patient consent. My neighbor will have to wait until her husband is considered totally mentally incapable before _ they caa force him to go into care. Although this man is not re- ally capable, he’s not legally in- - capable and may not be for another year or more. ~ Even so,.isn’t assault'a crime? If 1 called the police, what would they do? | Answer: This is an unfortunate _ situation ia which a law created to protect certain individuals ends up directly harming others. It is true -that-. your neighbor’s husband cannot be admitted to a hospital without his consent, and yet, as you describe, his actions are en- _ Gangering his wife’s very life. As “you will see, his medical condition -also tends to protect him from the law. _. AS. you probably know, Alzheimer's is a- progressive brain ' disease that. involves the loss of ~ intellectual functions as well as changes in mood and behavior. This could include aggression. On the other hand, it could be _ that he-was violent and abusive long before he got Alzheimer’s "disease. ve ; Regardless of why or when he ’ became violent, it is important to remember that it is simpiy unac- _ ceptable. ; Let’s begin by answering your question about what would hap- pen if the police were notified. ’ Any report of assault has to be fully investigated. Two police of- ficers will investigate the. report, so that the husband and wife may be interviewed separately. Normally. if there are signs of abuse, charges are laid against the woman’s husband, wife denies that she ‘has. been assaulted. In most wife-assault situations the officers will not leave the coupie alone, but wilt find alter- native accommodation for one of them until a hearing takes place. This may mean a night in jail for the husband. The next morn- CONSIDERING MOVE TO VANCOUVER ISLAND? § Outstanding opportunities await you. We Ff ‘have a wide Selection’ of ~ beautiful & properties, affordably priced, with and without acreage. Waterfront, sea-views and tranquil settings abound. Your timing could not be better. Call H now, without obligation, for fulf information on the island home of your dreams, BARBARA HOLLANDS BR Res. 1-656-2063, pgr. 1-477-2288 SUTTON GROUP FUTURE REALTY, & VICTORIA, B.C. even if the: ing a hearing would be held at which time a court order might be made in order to prevent the abuser from seeing his wife and possibly threatening or abusing her further. We've just described what would ordinarily happen if you were to report an assault. You have already guessed that your neighbor’s situation, because of her husband’s illness, does not fit into existing procedure. Before charging him with a criminal offense, there must first be evidence that he committed a crime and secondly that he was capable of appreciating the nature and quality of the act, or of Bringing people together- building better communities... ah Se British Columbia knowing that the act is wrong. The police would therefore have to use their discretion in deciding how to proceed in this situation. The RCMP in North Vancouver would probably involve their counsellor, who would work with your neighbor, to identify resources and options to help her make changes. She would be told shat people have the right to safe- ty, especially in their own home. In our next column we will ex- plore some of the choices avail- ot able to your neighbor. ; . 7 = . = ” — Thanksgiving Dinner for 2 This column is prepared with Sunday & Monday — Oct. 13 & 14 financial assistance from the Turkey & all the trimmings... $16°5 : Notary Foundation. For more in- Children 12 & under — % price 987-4610 formation call NSCS at 985-7138. "| Reservations Recommended 167 Chadwick Crt. (next to Quay) N. Vanccuver REO SEI tee eam GPR ANTES IS OIE ISO PE Association of Neighbourhood Houses of Greater Vancouver ionDay {ff ection b | There will be an important difference in this Provincial General Elec!ion: ° s As always, you will vote for the candidate of your choice. i But this time, you will also vote on other important issues. On Election - ’ Day, you will vote “yes” or “no” to the Referendum ‘questions shown below. Start thinking about these questions now. . The Referendum Questions: ii yam Should voters be given the right, by legislation, to vote iy between elections for the removal! of their member of the Legislative Assembly? Should voters be given the right, by legislation, to propose questions that the government of British Columbia must submit to voters by referendum? The 1991 British Columbia Provincial General Election & Referendum. To find out if you are registered to vote, contact your Registrar of Voters or the Elections British Columbia Information Line. 1-800-742-8683 Be Prepared To Vote on October 17, 1991. Chief Electoral Officer Province of British Columbia Remember: You cannot register on Election Day.