Physical Restraints In Nursing Home Care Essay

In today’s society people are living longer and the healthcare of the geriatric population is becoming a concern especially with the baby boomers beginning to reach the age of 65. According to the Nursing Home Data Compendium 2013, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) there are approximately 1.3 million residents residing in Nursing Home facilities. The residents who require nursing home care for gerontological and psychiatric problems can be very challenging.
Nursing care is enforced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) based upon the regulation found in the Nursing Home Reform Act which governs the quality of care, provision of services and Bill of Rights for the Residents in nursing homes. The Department of

The regulation specifically states, “The resident has the right to be free from any physical or chemical restraints imposed for the purposes of discipline or convenience and not required to treat the resident’s medical symptoms” (42 CFR 483.13(a)). There are many types of physical restraints. The various types of physical restraints that can be used are: mittens (used if patients scratch themselves or pull out tubes), lap restraints/or belts in chairs (used if patients are at risk of falling or sliding off of chairs), bed rails (used if patients are at risk of falling during transport or after being administered certain medications), chair with locked table (used for patients at risk for falling or wandering), abdominal belt (used for patients at risk of falling or at risk of self-harm), wrist restraint (used for patients at risk for pulling out tubes), and elbow immobilizer (used for patients at risk for pulling out tubes. Training regarding restraints usage in any nursing home facilities is monitored through the CMS standards. Professional training for healthcare practitioners whom take care of the elderly is a key factor when addressing inappropriate physical restraint