Trainer Accused of 'Kidnapping' Friend at Luxury Nursing Home

A New York City personal trainer has initiated a legal dispute, accusing a high-end Manhattan nursing home of "kidnapping" his wealthy 91-year-old friend. The trainer, Eric Houston, became concerned about his client, Diana Multare, after she suffered a heart attack last May and he discovered disarray in her apartment.

Concerned about her memory and medication, Houston assisted Multare in moving to The Apsley, a luxury nursing home costing $28,000 monthly. Despite Multare's initial agreement to stay as long as she wished, she soon decided to leave, finding the facility too extravagant.

Houston alleges that The Apsley staff prevented Multare from leaving, even suggesting she had dementia. This prompted a lawsuit accusing the facility of wrongful restraint, fraud, and defamation, which the nursing home denies.

A tense six-day standoff ensued, after which The Apsley waived charges for Multare's stay, though the lawsuit persists. Medical professionals offered differing opinions on Multare's cognitive state, with one doctor stating she showed signs of dementia and another confirming her mental competence.

Multare is now back in her apartment, and Houston continues to assert her cognitive abilities. She expressed concern that similar incidents could happen to other elderly New Yorkers, despite her own memory issues.