Physical Restraints on the Elderly

Nursing homes in Hollywood, Homestead, Miami, and south Florida have a number of tools and resources to help them keep residents safe. One of those tools is physical restraints, which may in rare cases be recommended by a doctor to prevent a patient from harming themselves. When Florida nursing homes have poor policies that lead to incorrect use or overuse of restraints, however, this situation can become a case of nursing home abuse and neglect.

If you have an elderly family member who has been harmed because of a nursing home’s use of restraints, speak with a South Florida nursing home abuse and neglect claims attorney. You can find out whether you have a claim that lets you seek compensation to pay for your loved one’s medical treatment and care.

To find out whether you have a claim, you can schedule a free accident consultation with an attorney at Flaxman Law Group by calling 866-352-9626. There is no obligation involved in talking to a member of our team about your situation, and it can provide you with some answers that can guide you towards next steps.

Physical Restraints on the Elderly

Research has shown that the use of physical restraints among elderly residents of nursing homes can be harmful to health. Despite this, many Hollywood nursing home abuse and negligence attorneys regularly deal with cases where physical restraints are used, sometimes with devastating consequences.

If your elderly loved one has been injured by the incorrect use of restraints, contact Flaxman Law Group at 866-352-9626 for a free, no obligation consultation with a nursing home abuse and negligence attorney.

Why Restraints are Used

While no one wants to see an elderly loved one restrained and while experts believe restraints are harmful, nursing homes may use physical restraints for a number of reasons:

• Understaffing can mean staff are not present to care for everyone at once
• Staff may want to punish a resident
• Staff may not have the training to deal with a more challenging resident
• To reduce liability in cases of wandering and elopement
• Staff may be using physical restraints as a form of abuse

Nursing homes will sometimes claim restraints are needed to help keep residents and safe and to protect them from falls. In reality, however, the right medical equipment and the right support can help prevent falls. And physical restraints are not without their dangers. They can cause abrasions and even infected wounds on the skin. They can cause severe injury and even fractures if a resident resists.

Restraints can also take a big toll on mental health. A senior who is kept in physical restraints loses their independence and dignity. They lose freedom of movement and may feel depressed, confused, anxious, or even traumatized.

Restraints have been linked to a number of negative outcomes , including:

• Bedsores
• Cardiovascular incidents
• Poor circulation
• Muscle atrophy
• Incontinence
• Isolation
• Agitation
• Sprains
• Physical Injury
• Fractures
• Fatalities

What You Can Do

If a loved one in a nursing home has been kept in physical restraints and has suffered an injury, contact a nursing home abuse and negligence attorney in Hollywood or your community. You may have a claim against the nursing home and may be able to seek compensation so you can pay for medical treatment and care so your loved one can recover from the abuse.

If you’d like to speak to an attorney with experience in nursing home abuse and negligence cases, contact Flaxman Law Group at 866-352-9626. Your initial consultation with us is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation. Our offices in Homestead, Hollywood, and Miami serve you no matter where you are in South Florida.

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