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
![Figure 2.30. Chronic care nursing home residents with physical restraints, 2002-2004. Select [D] Text Description for details.](Figure-2-30.jpg)
[D] Select for Text Description.
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).
