Today there is summary proceedings about smoking in the Alkmaar court. Jurjen Sietsema from Alkmaar states that his 83-year-old mother is not allowed to buy cigarettes from her administrator. Hilda lives in a care home for people with dementia in Bergen and cigarettes ‘are the only thing she enjoys anymore’.
“She is there in a waiting house for death. She is not coming there to recover. Don’t take that cigarette away from her,” Sietsema told NH prior to this afternoon’s hearing.
His mother suffers from late-stage Alzheimer’s. Due to past debts and no social network, Hilda’s money has been managed for about fifteen years by administrator Finaid BV – represented by Joris Poll.
He has also been appointed as her mentor, which means that he deals with non-financial matters, such as caring for the elderly lady.
Son Sietsema, who has only been back in his mother’s life for a year, claims that the administrator follows the smoking discouragement policy in the nursing home and that she is therefore no longer allowed to purchase cigarettes.
“While she has been addicted for seventy years. Other people who can buy cigarettes themselves are allowed to do so,” says Sietsema, who now gives her a butt from his own packs during his visits.
He describes smoking as ‘a human right’ and wants to enforce in court that she gets it with her own money.
Physical complaints
The administrator in question has a completely different interpretation of the situation. Poll from Finaid BV says that he does not prohibit 83-year-old Hilda from smoking at all. “We would never do that. But we have decided that she will no longer be actively offered cigarettes.”
Together with the employees of the residential care location and a doctor, it was concluded in a consultation that the physical complaints that the lady suffers from smoking are very serious. “If she doesn’t smoke, she’s doing much better. And besides, she doesn’t ask for cigarettes at all. She doesn’t seem to realize that she doesn’t smoke.”
Poll was surprised when he received the summons from his son. “But I also think it’s good that a judge will take a look at this and make a decision.”
The son and administrator will face each other in summary proceedings in court today at 1 p.m. It is not yet clear whether there will be an immediate ruling.
A report on the case will follow later today.