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Elderly parents
Original poster

Care home combination locks

64 replies

Moonblue87 · 04/10/2023 15:38

Hi , if I visit a care home that has a combination lock on exit is that deprivation of my liberty
The care home that I visit has a combination lock & every time that I leave a member of staff has to let me out
What if there was a fire it’s like being imprisoned
Does anyone know my rights ?

OP posts:
BarryK3nt · 04/10/2023 17:00

No you’re not because you will be let out by staff or they’ll tell you the code. The residents under DOLS won’t be. Where I work if the fire alarm goes off then the key padded doors automatically unlock.

DahliaMacNamara · 04/10/2023 16:55

I had to reread your message as I thought I must have misunderstood, and you were concerned about a resident being wrongly deprived of their liberty. It's perfectly normal for visitors to need to ask be let out of this kind of place. I seriously doubt there's a conspiracy to lock you in for the night.

InDubiousBattle · 04/10/2023 16:37

When my dad was in a care home they had combination locks on several doors and the lifts. The ones for the external door changed very regularly because they wanted staff to let you out. When they let visitors just have the code some idiot would wedge the door open to fetch things from the car, nip outside to vape etc. You just have to ask to be let out, it's very obviously not depriving you of your liberty.

floofbag · 04/10/2023 16:29

What?? It's there to keep the residents safe . Why do dramatic ?

FloweryName · 04/10/2023 16:09

Whatever your rights are, they are not more important than an elderly person being kept safe at the place they live in.

If you don’t want to be locked in, don’t go in.

greenspaces4peace · 04/10/2023 16:08

You’re at liberty to not enter.

NerrSnerr · 04/10/2023 16:06

Are you talking about your rights as a visitor? If they refuse to let you out as a visitor they'll be breaking the law. If they let you out then your rights are not impeded.

Each resident should have been assessed. Some will be deprived of their liberty and will have a DOLs in situ which will state that the door is locked for their own safety due. Others will be able to make their own decision about leaving the home and if they don't have a DOLs and have capacity to make the decision about leaving the care home the staff need to let them out as and when they request.

SM4713 · 04/10/2023 16:04

Deprivation of your liberty!!! 🙄

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 04/10/2023 16:02

Yes. Far better to endanger all of the residents to prevent you being delayed for a minute or two…

Bloody hell.

JustTalkToThem · 04/10/2023 16:02

What? Deprivation of your liberty? Drama much?

Most modern buildings will have an AutoUnlock feature if the fire alarm goes off.

PermanentTemporary · 04/10/2023 16:01

You aren't being prevented from leaving so it's not a deprivation of your liberty.

I'd agree about asking if you can have the combination.

MrsRetriever · 04/10/2023 16:01

Do you understand why it’s there?

Canibearsed · 04/10/2023 16:00

Just ask what the code is 🙄It’s standard safeguarding for vulnerable residents.

IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 04/10/2023 15:58

My DM's home has a combination lock on the door. There is a note stuck above the door with the combination and there is a note of it in the visitors' book as well. Have you asked for the combination?