Management: Use of Restraints Among Chronic Care Nursing Home Residents

A physical restraint is any device, material, or equipment that keeps a resident from moving freely. A resident who is restrained daily can become weak and develop other medical complications. The use of physical and chemical restraints can result in a variety of emotional, mental, and physical problems. According to regulations for the nursing home industry, restraints should be used only to ensure the physical safety of a nursing home resident. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services encourage gradual restraint reduction because of the many negative outcomes associated with restraint use.

Figure 2.30. Chronic care nursing home residents with physical restraints, 2002-2004

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Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Minimum Data Set, 2002-2004. Data are from the third quarter of each calendar year.

• On average, the proportion of residents who are physically restrained decreased by 23% between 2002 and 2004-from 9.7% to 7.4% (Figure 2.30).

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