Safe to wander - Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland

2Those consideringthe use of wanderingtechnologies have to beaware of the potential forthis to constitute restraint.What do we mean by‘wandering technology’and why is it an issue?The term ‘wandering’ canhave negative connotations.For the individual concernedhowever ‘wandering’ isusually a positive experiencewhich can provide physicaland psychological benefits.The Commission recognisesthat this term is oftenmistakenly used to describea wide number of differingtypes of behaviour and canbe considered unhelpful,particularly in relation topeople with a learningdisability. After a long debatehowever, we have decided torefer to ‘wandering’ in thisdocument as it remains,rightly or wrongly, the termmost commonly used indementia care settings.‘Wandering’ sometimessuggests aimless walking.This is sometimes the case,but it is more likely that thebehaviour has meaning forthe person with dementia.It is important to try tounderstand where theperson is trying to go andto recognise that walking todestinations of interest willbe of benefit to the person.We need to recognise that‘wandering’ is not necessarilybad and that the personshould be able to walk freelyand safely.In ‘Rights, risks and limitsto freedom’ the Commissionset out its definition ofrestraint. ‘restraint is takingplace when the planned orunplanned, conscious orunconscious actions of carestaff prevent a resident orpatient from doing what heor she wishes to do and asa result is placing limits onhis or her freedom.’ Basedon this definition, thoseconsidering the use ofwandering technologiesclearly have to be aware ofthe potential for their practiceto constitute restraint and totake this into account in theirdecision making.There are many examples ofthe creative use of technologyto support safe movementin care homes and hospitalsand technology is increasinglybeing used in individuals’own homes. Wanderingtechnology that can be putin place could include:• Sensor pads(beds, chair, floor)• Nurse/carer call systems• Panic buttons• Fall and movement sensors• Electronic tagging andtracking systems• CCTV/video surveillance• Intruder alertsThis document will focusexclusively on the use of‘tagging’ and trackingdevices. The term taggingis often associated withcriminal activity andsurveillance, shoppingand the prevention of crime.It can involve the use ofsatellite technology to alertthe police or probationservices that a person is inbreach of parole conditionsor a curfew. The use ofelectronic tagging in thisdocument is only in relationto care settings and hasno criminal component.To avoid confusion, the term‘wandering technologies’ willbe used in this document,nevertheless thoseconsidering its use shouldstill be sensitive to theperceptions that serviceusers, carers and staff mayhave of the technology.The use of wanderingtechnology is primarilyused for individuals who areconsidered to be at risk fromleaving a care environmentunescorted. It mainlyinvolves the use of boundary