What Are Physical Restraints?
Any manual method or physical or chemical device, material or equipment attached or adjacent to a resident’s body that the individual cannot remove easily which restricts freedom of movement or normal access to one’s body. 42 C.F.R. ยง483.1(a). What Does The Federal Law Say? Nursing facility residents have the right to be free from ANY physical restraints imposed for discipline or convenience and not required to treat the resident’s medical symptoms. Before restraining a resident, the facility must demonstrate the presence of a specific medical symptom that would require the use of restraints and how the use of the restraint would 1) treat the cause of the symptom and, 2) assist the resident in reaching the highest level of physical and psychosocial well-being. What Are The Known Risks Of Using Physical Restraints? Everyday restraining devices, vests, belts, mitts, jackets and others, are used on as many as 500,000 frail aged and disabled persons. These devices are intended to protect t
