ABSTRACT
The failure of behaviour management techniques that manipulate environmental antecedents and/or consequences to bear rich fruit may implicate the profound learning deficit that characterises dementia and interferes with the acquisition of new information, despite efforts to make it relevant to 'case profiles'. The locking of doors is not to be encouraged in continuing care establishments, but if the person with dementia lives at home the security of the front door does not constitute an infringement of personal liberty. A distressing feature of dementia care is to see people banging on windows, persistentiy pulling at door handles or forlornly standing at a gate they cannot open. Secured doors can be integral to effective dementia care, but they should be employed judiciously and at all times the use of locks or similar barriers must be compatible with the requirements laid down by fire and safety regulations. The addition of aromatherapy to psychosocial interventions is a modern development in dementia care.
