Experts shocked by safety spray use in disability housing units

The use of safety spray on residents at a housing unit for people with intellectual disabilities in Kainuu has shocked experts, Yle reports. Severe use of force is rare in such facilities, but less serious physical restraints occur relatively often, according to Tanja Salisma, a lawyer for the Finnish Association for People with Intellectual Disabilities.

Anne Nylund, an expert at the Finnish Union of Practical Nurses SuPer, told Yle’s Aamu programme that she had never previously heard of such sprays being used.

“I had not heard of this before, that these kinds of sprays are used,” Nylund said.

Salisma confirmed that the use of safety sprays was also new to organisations representing people with intellectual disabilities.

The spray is not a gas spray but a licence free product containing menthol. It is sprayed towards the eyes and causes stinging and impaired vision. The Kainuu wellbeing services county has justified its use on workplace safety grounds.

Force should only be used as a last resort

Legislation on the use of force in housing units for people with intellectual disabilities is clear, Salisma said. Restricting residents is always a last resort, after all other measures have been tried.

“The legislation is very clear on this. All other means are used first, and restricting someone is absolutely a last resort,” Salisma said.

Nylund also said that the use of force should not be the first response to difficult situations.

“It is the last resort. It is not the first thing that is brought into use,” she said.

While serious incidents involving force are uncommon in facilities for people with intellectual disabilities, less severe physical restraint situations occur frequently in housing units, Salisma said.

Changes to routines can trigger difficult situations

Situations that lead to the use of force can escalate for many reasons. Routines are often very important to people with intellectual disabilities, and disruptions can cause anxiety.

“The day does not go as it should from the client’s perspective. Routines are the most important thing in preventing these situations,” Nylund said.

Other problems can result from staff being rushed, insufficient staffing, new employees or a resident’s inability to make themselves understood. Many people with intellectual disabilities also have an autism spectrum diagnosis, which can make changes particularly difficult.

Employees at care facilities have reported staffing problems to their trade union. According to Nylund, a recurring issue in contacts with the union is that there are too few staff members to manage the workload.

Substitute workers are not always hired, and when they are, they may receive no proper induction.

“The substitute is handed the keys and told to go to work,” Nylund said.

Training is available but staff lack time

Nylund said a lack of training was a key problem in the care sector. Staff often do not receive enough further training to deal with challenging situations, she said.

Salisma said training was available, including free courses offered by organisations. The Finnish Association for People with Intellectual Disabilities provides training on which forms of restraint are permitted and which are not, as well as on situations involving challenging behaviour.