Ombusdman’s Office says institutionalized patients suffering from dementia do not get proper care

An inspection into institutions for patients suffering from dementia has revealed serious lapses, according to the Ombudsman’s Office. An inspection into 14 such facilities revealed serious problems in more than half of them, newly-elected Ombudsman Anna Šabatová told journalists on Thursday. There is a lack of qualified personnel and a marked lack of respect for the dignity of these patients, Mrs. Šabatová noted, adding that there was a tendency to overuse tranquilizers and not enough attention was being paid to proper food intake, with many patients being undernourished. The Ombudsman’s Office has called for the matter to be addressed without delay.