@Hyolobrika @hidden @diceynes I agree with you. There is no perfect solution. I think the state should be involved as little as possible which means private companies and charitable organizations have to pick up the slack if we want to help people who can be helped. I'm not suggesting the 1950s approach of dropping Sue off at the mental hospital because she didn't do the dishes 3 days last week. I think there is middle ground from there to doing nothing.

This discussion started because we were talking about people with dementia or temporary confusion in the hospital. I don't think anyone should be able to point at someone else and say 'send them to the nuthouse' because of their beliefs or the way they talk and behave is different. My family who work in the hospital with people who are sometimes full dementia patients but sometimes just disoriented has led me to believe that in those cases disregarding a person's will to leave is acceptable. Those who's mental faculties return will be quite happy they weren't pushed out before they were ready.