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and is organized according to an individualized approach. Events regularly
take place at the house in which residents are able to participate. During the
week, the children's play group of the municipality of Eschen also visits the
inner courtyard of the house.
The members of the NPM also gained the impression that St. Martin House is
strongly characterised by the right of the residents to self-determination. To
the extent their health permits, residents are able to move freely inside and
outside the house. If, in individual cases due to endangerment of themselves
or others, measures restricting the freedom of a resident are indicated, then
these measures are implemented in the gentlest way possible and
documented by the responsible nursing staff themselves in consultation with
the resident or the responsible physician. The members of the NPM were
informed that movement sensors have been used more frequently in recent
years. Only in a few cases are body straps or bed barriers used in order to
protect the resident. The Liechtenstein Elderly and Care Service, in
cooperation with qualified specialists, have developed a guideline for how
nursing staff are to implement measures restricting movement. Based on this
guideline, interventions in the freedom of movement of persons capable of
exercising judgment are always undertaken only in consultation with the
person concerned. In the case of persons not capable of exercising
judgment, the measure is undertaken in consultation with the treating general
practitioner and the person's legal representative (guardian). Only in
emergency situations can the responsible licensed nurse autonomously order
restrictive measures. These measures must be verified in accordance with
the guidelines mentioned above within 24 hours if possible, but at the latest
on the following work day, and discussed with the responsible persons. As a
matter of principle, the necessity of all measures restricting movement must
be reviewed within three months.
The NPM welcomes that the persons responsible for St. Martin House are
guided by the aforementioned guidelines of the Liechtenstein Elderly and
Care Service when undertaking measures restricting movement and thus
follow modern professional standards of quality. These standards are only
soft law, however. So far, there has been no legal foundation governing the
restriction of freedom of persons in retirement and nursing facilities in