Autistic man locked up in LSS housing: "The whole thing is a scandal"

LSS activities are based on volunteering.

But at a municipal LSS residence in Växjö, an autistic man with communication difficulties has had a lock on his apartment door.

Something that Smålandsposten was the first to tell.

The Health and Care Inspectorate, Ivo, now demands, after an inspection, that the municipality immediately give the man freedom of movement.

The municipality, for its part, believes that they have taken protective measures that have been in the care recipient's best interests.

- How has it gone from an ordinary apartment to an isolation cell, a relative of the man wonders.

Forced care

According to the relative, the man had a tough childhood at home with his parents, before he had to move to his own apartment in an LSS home.

- He lived at home for quite some time.

They could not keep him at home anymore, he became strong, says the relative.

In 2016, the man received compulsory psychiatric care, after being outspoken at the accommodation.

The judgment from the Administrative Court states that the man is very difficult to communicate with and that he largely lacks language.

But he could still communicate that he wanted to go home.

After a couple of months in the psychiatric ward, the man was allowed to return to his home.

Since then, there has been no decision on compulsory care of the man in question.

Compulsory care of someone is a way of providing care against the person's will, with the help of legal support.

"It's important that it's right"

When the man was no longer in compulsory care, he returned to being cared for within the framework of LSS.

But within LSS, no coercive and restrictive measures may occur against the will of the individual.

Ivo was able to establish after his inspection that there were locked doors and that the man, among other things, needed to knock on the door to get somewhere.

- I think the protective measures are taken in such a way that is for the benefit of the care recipient and Ivo does not share our opinion, says Ewa Ekman, head of administration at the care administration.

The man's relatives also share the view that this is a complex case.

- I understand that they did as they did, but it is wrong and now it is important that it is right.