On 28 November 2017, we visited Dr Janko Benedik Retirement Home in Radovljica. This was the second visit to this social care institution in the context of implementing the duties and powers of the NPM. The first visit was made as part of a thematic visit in 2016. During this (regular) visit, 17 recommendations were made. We are still waiting for the retirement home’s answer and the deadline has not yet expired. In addition to the recommendations which are explicitly stated below, the NPM recommended that the halls and common areas be additionally decorated, as this would provide the residents with a (even) greater feeling of homeliness and warmth, and that the possibility of allowing residents direct passage to external fenced areas be examined. We also recommended that in order to help the residents find their way in the facility, the retirement home include not only the room number and the name of its resident on or next to the door, but also a photo of the resident and a photo of their favourite things, hobbies, their past job or similar, and that it study the possibility of setting up a system which would allow residents of the secure department to call the staff from their room or bathroom if required. The NPM further recommended that the residents and their family members (continue to) be encouraged to bring personal items and to furnish the room to their liking, and that night lights should be installed next to the beds for the residents of secure departments. It recommended that with regard to the verification of secure departments, the retirement home again contact the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities and notify it of the obstacles regarding verification, and inform the NPM of the Ministry’s answer. Continuous presence of staff should be ensured at night in the secure department, as well as additional aids for monitoring people in secure departments. We recommended that (in consideration of the fact that residents do not have direct access to external areas) special attention and effort be paid to residents spending time outdoors daily, with regard to the weather. Continuous monitoring of the satisfaction levels of residents and their family members, as well as of employees, should be considered as an effective way to recognise the (dis)satisfaction of these groups of people, and measurements of the satisfaction levels of these three categories should be continued in the future. For each individual case, the help of a psychiatrist should be used to assess whether it is necessary to submit to the court a proposal to admit a person to the secure department under the ZDZdr. The List of Measures Implemented against the Will of the Resident should be sensibly updated with a column on implemented measures prior to the implementation of precautionary measures (e.g. talks, de-escalation techniques, additional drug therapy), and a column for the detailed circumstances of implementing the measure. It was recommended that after the precautionary measure has been implemented, a discussion be held with the resident to inform them of the reasons for the implemented measure, and to note this on the form. The procedure for filing complaints and the house rules should be published in a visible location in the secure department. Dr Janko Benedik Retirement Home in Radovljica Department furnished to feel like home On 29 November 2017, we visited the Muretinci Unit of Ptuj Retirement Home. At this year’s (review) visit, it was established that of the 13 recommendations made in 2015, 7 recommendations have been accepted and implemented. The unit was objectively unable to implement two of the recommendations due to renovations; however, the answers they provided allow us to conclude that they plan to implement these recommendations in the future. The unit will undoubtedly try to implement the remaining four accepted but not yet implemented recommendations. At its visit, the NPM made five new recommendations and we are still awaiting the answer of Ptuj Retirement Home with regard to their acceptance or implementation. The NPM recommended that residents be repeatedly reminded of the existence and purpose of call buttons and shown how to use them; that the possibility of moving the dining table so that all seats are available be examined; that one copy of the activity schedule be put on the notice board; that statutory deadlines under the ZDZdr be observed and that admission records be managed consistently and contain all required IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE NPM IN 2017 NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM UNDER THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT 45

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