Is safe to keep an otherwise healthy person with dementia locked in the bedroom at night?

I am in a split level and my Mom was in the bottom floor. She had a back door. I put a childs safety cover on the door handle. There were six steps up to the kitchen. At the bottom, I put a baby gate. High enough she could not climb over it. It deterred her.

Also, maybe a black oval or circular throw rug in front of the door, they think its a hole and won't go over it. But I do think locking someone in a room, with no means to get out, maybe against the fire code.

It may be against the law to lock a person in a bedroom overnight. That’s due to safety issues.

If there’s a fire, they couldn’t get out. If they have the privacy to set the fire, that’s even worse. If they somehow want to climb out the window, that’s a catastrophe.

They can become very intent on carrying out ideas originating in their broken brains. If they succeed and hurt others, you may be legally at fault.

Time for memory care.

My mom was trying to walk out of the front door in the middle of the night.

It’s terribly disturbing and concerning when a parent is roaming around at night.

My mom’s doctor prescribed Seroquel and Ativan this behavior stopped. You may want to check with the doctor to see if they feel meds will help.

Keep in mind that drugs affect everyone differently so it’s all trial and error.

A better solution might be to consider placement in a facility.

Best wishes to you.

For me, if someone with dementia needs to be locked in a room it is time for MC, they are free to roam within their confines and there are staff members there 24/7.

There is no other safe way to keep them confined.