As a specialist consultancy for the health and aged care industry, our Security Reviews often deal with the protection of Dementia residents. Although there are some 'purpose built' facilities for Dementia sufferers with varying built in safeguards, most older facilities were not designed or built with Dementia residents in mind. However, there are a number of things the operators of the older facilities can do to improve the security and safety of residents. Over the next several issues of "INsite", a range of important security issues will be discussed. This first issue covers Security Technology which, at times, has been found to be inadequate. To assist operators, the following minimum standards and approaches are well worth considering.

Security technology should be performance based, it must be professionally designed by security system specialists. It must have the following minimum benefits:

• Integrated (e.g. door alarms, closed circuit television [CCTV], staff emergency/duress and intruder detection as part of the one system).
• Supervised (i.e. each security point continuously monitored to advise of a fault or tampering).
• Capable of expansion for future requirements (e.g. nurse call).
• Exit doors opening out onto internal or external fire escapes, electronically locked to reduce the risk to residents who may egress before staff can respond to a door alarm. (The locks are released on removal of power by the fire detection system).
• Selected access doors (e.g. main entry) programmed to automatically lock and unlock at pre-set times.
• Key external doors electronically access controlled.
• Be programmed to provide a 'door open too long' alarm advising a door has been either held open longer than a pre-programmed time, or 'chocked' open.
• A duress/panic alarm for staff, e.g. in the event of a physical threat.
• Closed circuit television (CCTV) to monitor entry doors, foyer and other selected locations, as well as providing visual confirmation of people wanting to enter after hours.
• Intruder detection for selected locations, e.g. records room, where the safe is located and isolated locations.

Operators should be aware of their Legislative obligations, e.g. in NSW there is the Workplace Video Surveillance Act 1998 (NSW) for video surveillance.

There are also a couple of Australian Standards which should be referred to:

• AS 2201.1 - 1998 Intruder Alarm Systems - Systems installed in client's premises
• AS 3811 - 1998 Amdt/1-1998 Hard-wired patient alarm systems

The Australian Communications Authority — Cabling Providor Licencing Regulations should also be considered.

It is important to ask your Security Consultant to advise you of any relevant Legislation for your state or territory before proceeding.

This is but a sample of what can be undertaken with appropriate security technology to ensure the safety and security of residents. Taking this approach will also greatly assist in showing the facility is serious about its 'duty of care' obligations.

Back to Articles Overview Page