Question

CASE

The door from the aged care facility has a PIN number lock on the door as a security measure to stop clients from wandering onto the street.

The PIN number pad has malfunctioned and the door can no longer be opened except from the outside.

Staff and visitors need to leave by this door frequently, and there is not always someone on the outside available to open the door.

The door is propped open so that people can come and go easily. Staff put up a large sign so that residents will not go through the door. The sign reads in large letters:

NOTICE TO RESIDENTS

YOU MUST NOT LEAVE THE RESIDENCE UNLESS ACCOMPANIED

BY A STAFF MEMBER OR FAMILY MEMBER

1. Has the organisation met its duty of care to the residents? Why/Why not?
2. Suggest an alternative strategy that could be used until the PIN pad has been fixed.

Answer 1

a. Duty of care:

Duty of care is the legal or moral obligation to ensure the wellbeing or safety of others. It is a responsibility of a person, organisation or an entity to avoid acts or ommisons that may harm others.  

In the above given scenario , the organisation has not met its duty of care of care to the residents. An Aged Care Facility is an establishment or center for old age people to provide care and services to them   to maintain the quality of life of elderly. The Facilty is responsible for the health and safety of its residents . A ' PIN' locked door was a safety measure that they maintained in the above said Care home . But keeping a sign board " must not leave the residence , unless accompanied by a staff or family member " , and leaving the door unattended and open all time , is not a correct act in an Aged Care Facility.  

Many type of elderly people , who has various type of acute , chronic or long term diseases may be there in an Aged care facility. Some may have visual problems, they may not be able to  read the sign board and there may be patients who may have mental impairment like Alzheimer's disease or any other kind of Neurodegenerative disorders. Some may have problems with orientation and memory or may not be able to follow instructions. So the ' sign board' option is not suitable in this situation and the Aged care facility has not met its Duty of care.

b. Alternative strategy:

The organisation can appoint a security officer or give it as an additional charge for an existing security officer to guard the door or supervise and allow the entry and exit of residents and family members to and from the Facility.