Dementia and door locking

KxMx

A thumbturn lock as already mentioned would suit OP & trailingspouse.

No matter the position of the thumb turn on the inside, entry can always be gained from the outside with a key.

They also require no keys to open from the inside so would suit trailingspouse.

One was installed on outer porch door by our LL specifically so no key was needed to exit in the event of a fire.

wellynever

Heads up on thumb locks which we have one because of fire safety, the OP is taking about a person with dementia if the person forgets to turn the thumb lock and the last person to leave forgets to lock the door from the outside then it remains open for anyone to get in without a key,

We left our door open yesterday because my partner forgot to turn the thumb lock.

PasturesNew

I'd be wary of anything that requires things to be pressed in - e.g. keypads, or a child safe lock. When you're a bit elderly and, especially with dementia, you might just not be poking the right bit, or realising your poking didn't "engage" the unit.

I'm fully functioning, mentally and physically - and I've struggled to get a keysafe open at times - it works OK, but they can be temperamental to how they're poked... and then you have to start again.

What izoomzoom describes would work - except mother is likely to leave the key in the lock on the inside... from habit/it's what people do.

Savvy_Sue

trailingspouse wrote: »

I've been reading this with interest. My mother (88) doesn't suffer from dementia, but due to poor eyesight is struggling to unlock her front door - between finding the right key on the keyring and then getting it into the keyhole, it can take her a while. Which is fine under normal circumstances, but I worry that if there was a fire she wouldn't be able to get out.

And I agree with Savvy Sue - Mum is pretty set in her ways, and suggesting that she either doesn't lock the outer porch door (which is the one that causes the problem - the main front door is easier), or keeps that key separate from the others, wouldn't go down very well.

It is possible to get key covers to distinguish one key from another, or to get keys cut on a coloured blank. Would either of these be acceptable to Mum?

74jax

Rambosmum wrote: »

So if we had a key pad, could if be locked from the inside making the key pad unusable from the outside?

No. The door closes and is locked. You then turn handle to get out.

Mum has dementia and has one. 999 services have the code as does her doctors.

sazdes

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B018505VDM/ref=asc_df_B018505VDM56069589/?!!!!!googshopuk-21&creative=22146&creativeASIN=B018505VDM&linkCode=df0&hvadid=223237768057&hvpos=1o5&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17782373142068833363&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006476&hvtargid=pla-315040023721

this sort of thing, my previous landlord had one to prevent boyfriends staying over as easily. normal door handle from the inside that self locks, finger print or code entry from outside