Anne’s family faces delays in guardianship as mother’s dementia worsens in Denmark

Once, the bright eyes of Anne Risom’s mother sparkled alongside her pearl necklace. Back then, she balanced a career as a social worker, a home with two young daughters, a husband who traveled frequently, all while participating in sports and keeping her hair styled. “A life in full swing,” Anne recalls of her mother, who was once quite adept at managing life.

Today, however, her mother is so severely demented that she should reside in a care facility—a reality acknowledged by both family and local authorities. The complication arises from the need for an approved guardian to apply for care home placement on behalf of the afflicted woman. The processing times for guardianship applications have nearly tripled, now exceeding ten months, leaving Anne and her father waiting for their severely impaired spouse and mother to receive the necessary help.

Despite attempts to prioritize cases within the guardianship sector, processing times continue to rise, creating a helpless situation for families. Against this backdrop, Anne’s mother, who had spent most of her life in her family home, began resembling a child in her demeanor, leading her husband to take charge of household responsibilities and her care.

In spring 2024, Anne’s mother disappeared one morning, prompting a frantic search by the family. Fortunately, she was found wandering and was safely returned home. The experience pushed the family to urgently seek assistance, but they were told once again that none could be provided without a guardian’s consent.

Eventually, the local authority offered a temporary space in a care home, a solution that, while legally ambiguous, provided the needed support for Anne’s mother. After ten months of uncertainty, the guardianship arrangement was finally secured, ensuring her ongoing care and enabling the family to make decisions on her behalf. Despite the ordeal, the family remains committed to acting within the bounds of legality.