US sheriff proposes shackling Alzheimer sufferers

on 21/03/2013 09:39:29

A Utah sheriff's office is floating a unique and unproven idea for keeping senior citizens with Alzheimer's disease and dementia safe - give them ankle monitors normally used on criminals on house arrest or parole.

Davis County Deputy Sheriff Kevin Fielding says the monitors would allow deputies quickly to find a person who has wandered off, saving lives and taxpayers' money by avoiding time-consuming searches.

The monitors would be offered to residents at a cost of about $4 (€3.10) a day, and while Alzheimer's Association officials praised the agency for working to keep people with dementia and Alzheimer's safe, they say using the bulky ankle monitors is not a realistic solution because people will not want to wear them.