Care home combination locks

We used to have to change our gate code frequently as helpful children would tell people total strangers trying to come into the playground what the code was. They have super sharp eyes and memories like elephants! In the end we went for lanyards with electronic thingies.

Unfortunately for the visitors that may struggle with this, care staff are giving care and cannot just stop in the middle of procedures, or rush people through them to let someone out.

I wonder how you would feel if your vulnerable relative were waiting or were left in a potentially dangerous or undignified way so staff could go and let someone out? That's far more unacceptable than someone waiting 10 minutes to be let out.

It's about balancing priorities and I'm afraid the needs of the residents in the home come first. There's no way I'd be leaving someone I needed to be with to let someone out of the building. Someone can tell me they can't wait 10 minutes and how unacceptable they find it, still not leaving someone swinging in a hoist, alone in the loo when they need help or half way through giving food/fluids to let someone out.

I can't actually believe someone would expect to be let in or out the moment they demand in such an environment, or claim their liberty is being deprived because they have to sometimes wait for the staff to let them out. Well I say I can't believe it but having faced this situation I know people genuinely think like this and the self absorbed attitude is baffling.

This is a very good point. There are several residents at my GMs home that could pass as being a visitor. They actually have dementia and would haven’t got a clue once they’d got out the door.
These systems are in place for a reason.

One care home my mum was in initially used a code to get out and would give visitors the code quite freely. Until,they found that the visitors were not closing the doors properly behind them or, even worse, holding the door open to let residents out as they thought they were visiting ( they had their coats on!) . After that, you had to wait for someone to let you out. Given my mum was a wanderer, I know which I preferred.

It’s not deprivation of your liberty if they open the door for you when asked

No one is depriving you if your liberty. Juts go and find someone to let you out.
You know why only staff have the code. It’s the same reason all the exterior doors at my school are locked and require a member of staff to let you out.
Its to keep the vulnerable people in and the undesirable people out. That code should not be given to you. You could be anyone, and you could share it with anyone. Thank it’s safeguarding procedures at my GM home that only staff know what it is.
We used to have a green button…. Until 3 4 yr olds worked out how to use it and escaped into the main road.
You can wait 5 minutes to go home.

Unfortunately the tone toward the OP has been very accusatory. More like an angry AIBU pile-on 😳. I can understand for some the locked doors scenario might cause feelings of concern and claustrophobia. I presume each care home has different practices re. fire for example - as a more thoughtful poster added. Perhaps you could enquire further OP? Sorry you got the sarcasm and unpleasantness here in this forum.

The other day I waited 10 mins for someone to come and let me out of the building it’s like being trapped .

It's not acceptable to wait for 10 minutes to be let out. For some people with claustrophobia that could cause a panic attack. What if you had an emergency to get to? Next time you go speak to them about it and tell them you need to leave on time - can you have the code or if not what do they suggest you do because you cannot wait 10 minutes.

To answer you question - it's not deprivation of liberty and if you want a real experience, go and visit a prison. That's another world of waiting to be let out! Lock and unlock gate by gate.

It's not deprivation of your liberty, it's having to be patient to ensure the safety of the residents.

You choose to go into the premises aware that it might take 10 minutes to leave. So not a deprivation of liberty.

If you’re concerned about a fire escape and risk to life, ask the home about the fire procedures. They will run regular drills and have a plan in place.

And you, my dear, sound like someone who should be resident in a locked care home!

If you know about deprivation of liberty why are you asking if you're deprived of your liberty?
This ^

I’m not stupid
Then maybe try you're, not your! 😉

Crikey OP ,who is throwing their toys out of the pram 🤷‍♀️?
You didn’t say that you had been refused the combination code ! Have you ever asked?

Oh and in the event of a fire, the fire alarm will sound and all the doors unlock automatically

@Moonblue87 If you know about deprivation of liberty why are you asking if you're deprived of your liberty?

Unfortunately some visitors to care homes choose to shout out the number, tell people the code who shouldn't be told or don't close the door properly and let people out after them. That's the reason. Nothing sinister.

We don't give the code to get out because I've known residents look over shoulders and take the code. Or people wedge the door open or accidentally let residents out.

People who don't have the capacity to consent to living in a keypadded establishment, have a dols in place.

Because twats don’t close the door properly. Or don’t bother to sign out. Or wedge the door open to get something from their car.

In my mums cars home there was an green button that let visitors out

Almost as of different homes having different residents makes the risk factors different…

I would expect it's there to stop the residents who roam from "escaping". I guess they must have had real problems in the past from visitors leaving doors ajar to implement such a measure

I’m curious to know what you think should happen OP?

How is that a depreciation of your liberty? You asked to leave, and someone lets you out. In the event of a fire, there would be an evacuation procedure.