Hi, we are a nursing home with elderly residents. one of our residents keeps roaming through our fire exit door, we are having a keypad exit system fitted which will release on alarm sounding but as a temporary measure, would we be able to use a stairgate to prevent her from roaming but still accessible should there be a fire

You would need to be aware of the risks from tripping and a slightly narrower exit, but if evacuation is staff led then it is a manageable system - after all it doesn't require a key or code to release.