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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:
Soontobe60 · 04/10/2023 18:06

Moonblue87 · 04/10/2023 17:22

Omg your all throwing your toys out of the pram over a simple question
i know all about deprivation of Liberty and dols as I’ve dealt with them
I’m not stupid and understand that there’s vunerable people in the home but why won’t the staff give the combination number to get out it’s a secret as every time that I leave they hover over it so as I can’t see the pass code
The other day I waited 10 mins for someone to come and let me out of the building it’s like being trapped .

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

you lot make me laugh I think you’ve got nothing else better to do than rant at people and be rude ha ha sad really

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

SmokedCheese · 04/10/2023 18:13

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.

ApolloandDaphne · 04/10/2023 18:19

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

Schadenfreudunsure · 04/10/2023 19:09

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.

TextMeToro · 04/10/2023 19:33

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.

Smartiepants79 · 04/10/2023 19:40

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.

User63847439572 · 04/10/2023 19:43

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

spanieleyes · 04/10/2023 19:54

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.

Smartiepants79 · 04/10/2023 21:11

spanieleyes · 04/10/2023 19:54

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.

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.

Original poster
Moonblue87 · 04/10/2023 21:13

I’d like to know why all the replies have been repeated I think the first couple of messages had been registered .

OP posts:
Original poster
Moonblue87 · 04/10/2023 21:16

There’s always somebody on reception and believe me she clocks the goings and comings of everyone . The book has to be signed in and out

OP posts:
Maverickess · 04/10/2023 21:31

Schadenfreudunsure · 04/10/2023 19:09

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.

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.

viques · 04/10/2023 21:41

Smartiepants79 · 04/10/2023 19:40

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.

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.

Original poster
Moonblue87 · 04/10/2023 21:46

Do You work in care home ? Your very opinionated , I asked a straight forward question and your all like a load of parrots who clearly have a lot of time on their hands 🤣🤣

OP posts:
Original poster
Moonblue87 · 04/10/2023 21:47

To date 38 replies which are all the same , maybe instead of waffling you should all read previous posts .

OP posts:
CheersToMe · 04/10/2023 21:48

Moonblue87 · 04/10/2023 21:16

There’s always somebody on reception and believe me she clocks the goings and comings of everyone . The book has to be signed in and out

So there is always someone on reception - yes or no?

The care home is not there for your convenience, staff gave work to do.

Original poster
Moonblue87 · 04/10/2023 21:50

Now if you don’t mind move on and gripe at someone else 🤣🤣
If anything thanks for the entertainment & for those of you that were polite instead of down right rude Thankyou

OP posts:
Original poster
Moonblue87 · 04/10/2023 21:51

It’s like I’m being interrogated ha ha

OP posts:
WetBandits · 04/10/2023 21:53

The code can’t be shared outside of a ‘need to know’ basis for two reasons.

  1. To keep vulnerable residents in
  2. To keep unwanted visitors out

The staff have no idea who a visitor might share the code with and what they might be planning to do with the information, so the rule has to be that nobody else can have the code. I visit care homes when I do a district nursing shift and even I don’t know any of the codes!

DontGiveMeThatOldCrap · 04/10/2023 21:55

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.

Edited

This.

The locks are there for the safety of the residents. God forbid OP should have to wait to get out of the place

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 04/10/2023 21:56

Moonblue87 · 04/10/2023 21:16

There’s always somebody on reception and believe me she clocks the goings and comings of everyone . The book has to be signed in and out

So why didn’t you ask her to let you out instead of waiting 10 minutes?

LouLou198 · 04/10/2023 22:00

I visit care homes most days in my line of work. I can't think of one that doesn't have a key pad to get out. Never even crossed my mind that it was a deprivation of my liberty. I just ask a member of staff to let me out, and they do. It is for the safety and security of residents. Many who lack mental capacity could potentially abscond if there was no keypad.

Original poster
Moonblue87 · 04/10/2023 22:00

CheersToMe · 04/10/2023 21:48

So there is always someone on reception - yes or no?

The care home is not there for your convenience, staff gave work to do.

Show quote history

Interrogation 🤣🤣get a life

OP posts:
LouLou198 · 04/10/2023 22:03

Oh and I volunteer in a school too - it is just the same there but a fob thing that gets scanned that the staff carry.

Smartiepants79 · 04/10/2023 22:08

Moonblue87 · 04/10/2023 21:16

There’s always somebody on reception and believe me she clocks the goings and comings of everyone . The book has to be signed in and out

So they’ll always be someone to let you out then?
You started this. No one is ‘griping’. Merely pointing out that there are excellent reasons for you having to be let out by a staff member. Good reasons that protect the person you’re visiting.

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