Restraints

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) defines a physical restraint as “any manual method or physical or mechanical device, material, or equipment attached or adjacent to the resident’s body that the individual cannot remove easily which restricts freedom of movement or normal access to one’s body” (42 CFR 483.13(a)).Although the use of physical restraints is not prohibited, CMS continues to encourage nursing home providers to reduce their use.

Research shows that the belief that physical restraints ensure safety is generally unfounded. Restraints have many negative side effects and risks that far outweigh the possible benefit derived from their use. There are many negative consequences associated with physical restraint use including urinary incontinence, increased agitation, circulation problems, skin breakdown, decreased mobility, physiologic stressors, social isolation, and reduced sensory input. Benefits of refraining from restraint use have been well documented and include improvement in quality of life, greater autonomy, reduction in use of anti-psychotic medications, less skin breakdown and a reduction in seriousness of injuries due to falls.

Restraint Toolkit

Restraint Reduction Web Links

Restraint Reduction Articles