Ruling favors Alzheimer's patients

In a decision that could transform the way nursing homes and law enforcement deal with vulnerable older adults who have dementia, the state Court of Appeals ruled that patients who have a diagnosis of only Alzheimer's disease cannot be involuntarily committed for treatment. "One way to measure the greatness of our society is to look at how we treat our weakest members, such as our growing population of people afflicted with Alzheimer's," the three-judge panel of the District II Court of Appeals in Waukesha wrote. (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 4/29)