Restraints in Dementia Care

Your best tool to optimize patient care by minimizing restraint use. Frontline nurses face fraught decisions every day about whether and how to use restraints in dementia care. They need to consider many complicated issues: legislation governing the use of restraints, the policies of health-care facilities, the expectations of families, and—most importantly—the well-being, dignity, and safety of patients and care providers. Frontline nurses need the right support to navigate decisions about restraint use. Dr. Atul Sunny Luthra and his colleagues have developed an algorithm to provide that support. Their work comes from focus-group consultations with frontline staff, a review of current literature on restraint use, and a clear summary of key legislation. The algorithm’s systematic approach ensures restraints are a last-resort measure, and puts the right steps in place when restraints are necessary.