What should be the state of items stored in a self-contained unit used only for medications?

The correct answer is that items stored in a self-contained unit used solely for medications should be secure. This ensures that medications are protected from unauthorized access, reducing the risk of misuse or accidental ingestion—critical in any assisted living setting where residents may have varied levels of cognitive and physical ability.

A secure unit helps to maintain the integrity of the medications, preventing tampering and ensuring that they are administered only to the residents for whom they are intended. Regulations often mandate that such medication storage complies with safety and security standards, emphasizing the importance of keeping these items under lock and key.

In contrast, having medications unlocked or open for resident access can lead to serious safety issues, as residents may inadvertently access medications that are not prescribed to them or misuse medications. Similarly, while surveillance can be helpful in monitoring medication access, it does not replace the necessity of keeping the medications themselves in a secure state; surveillance alone does not provide the physical barriers needed to protect medications from potential abuse or accidents.