The word on the street is that the term ‘absconding’ will soon be as obsolete as ‘insane asylum’ and ‘typewriter’. As well as being offensive and stigmatising, it’s also inaccurate. It implies that the (dangerous) patient is legally required to be on the ward. Does that mean that it doesn’t matter about patients who aren’t legally detained?
I’ve been trying to come up with alternative terms and the best I’d managed was something about ‘off the ward without agreement’. But while chatting to the wonderful Malcolm Rae yesterday, he used a word that completely captures (oops) the concept. Missing. That’s the point. The patient is meant to be on the ward or somewhere else that the staff know about, but they’re not. It conveys the conern about the patient’s absence, is easy to say and doesn’t make us sound like criminals or naughty school-kids.
A helpful range of terms are being used to replace ’seclusion room’. (In due course, rooms with this function will be as obsolete in non-secure units as the term ‘absconding’. But in the meantime….) Chill-out room, de-escalation room etc. I read about a facility for fire-fighters, or judges or vets. I can’t remember. But the name was good! Rest room. Does this constructively suggest what the purpose of the room is about and provide helpful implications for its use, support, design and contents?
Sussex Older People’s service are constantly innovating and looking for ways to further improve their services. I loved the alternative name for their ladies’ lounge – pampering room. Even if the room isn’t continuously used for pampering sessions, the fact that it sometimes is and the term carries over to other times helps reinforce its identity as a very nurturing space.
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