Locked bedroom doors at nursing home?

I know that the section they are in is locked, but not their bedroom doors... I would feel just like you.... I would ask a million questions..... what do they do in an emergency? How can they monitor the person inside.... I personally would not be in agreement with this..... hope Pam finds you some answers...

vstefans is on the right track. If the home simply locks everyone in all the time, it is abuse. Michigan specifies "short term" and "monitored" but fails to define whether short-term is five minutes or five days. They also fail to define monitored, whether it is by camera or with an aide standing by.
If the patient is aggressive and assaultive, certainly, seclude them to protect the other patients until they are calmed down, the hallucination is over and the meds have kicked in. But to lock them in as a matter of policy sounds more like a correctional facility.

Thank you for your comments. They reflect my feelings. I think I'll look elsewhere.

Wow! things we learn here? i can understand locking doors if they are violent? but this is NUTS!

Per Michigan: "Involuntary seclusion is a type of mental or emotional abuse that
involves separation of a resident from other residents or from his or
her room against the resident's will, or the will of the resident's legal
representative. Emergency or short term monitored separation
from other residents is not considered involuntary seclusion and is
permitted if used for a limited period of time as a therapeutic
intervention to reduce agitation until professional staff can develop
a plan of care to meet the resident's needs."

I have only nominal experience with AZ units here in Michigan. One wing was locked but rooms were not. In another, the entire floor was open, but it was well monitored. Rooms were not locked.

I would contact various other homes and ask about their policies.

I don't think it's wise to lock someone in his/her room. Whether it's legal or not, it creates an escape issue if a fire breaks out. I can't imagine any fire department would approve of such an arrangement, so if it exists, it may be in violation of fire safety laws.

PM me if you like with the name of this place and I can tell you if I know anything about it. I wouldn't write anything publicly, however, because of liability issues.

There are a couple that definitely should be avoided. One in particular has the reputation of taking in residents who don't come out alive. The conditions there are terrible.

FIND A DIFFERENT HOME. I don't care how nice it looks, it isn't. That is an inhumane cookie-cutter policy and makes no sense except to an administrator who completely prioritizes CYA for the facility and staff over the well being of the patients.

When you have these little niggling doubts about something, listen to your instincts. I would be VERY uncomfortable with that. Keep looking.

Checking for you...

Worse, than that Kazzaa, let's say you are locked IN, but the door can be opened from the hall. That means a hallucinating person can get IN, and now you are stuck in your room with someone talking to holes in the wall. And good luck with that pull cord.