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Is The Use Of Restraints On Florida Nursing Home Residents Illegal?

The use of restraints on nursing home patients is illegal, unless there is a direct order from a doctor for the patient’s own safety. This typically involves a doctor prescribing some type of prescription drug that helps subdue a resident due to a medical condition. However, nursing home workers have been known to overuse prescription drugs on residents, which is now known as chemical restraints.

It used to be that physical restraints were the only method of controlling the movement of residents; however, many nursing homes now use prescription drugs as chemical restraints to restrict residents’ mobility and confine them to their beds. The use of physical and chemical restraints in nursing homes is increasing as the number of patients increase. This is because staff levels aren’t typically increasing. In fact, many Florida nursing homes are understaffed.

When there are understaffed nursing home facilities, workers are busy, overworked, and tired. For their own convenience, workers might use restraints on residents as a way of not having to check on them as much. Unfortunately, nursing home staff members get used to using physical or chemical restraints to make their jobs easier and don’t realize they are abusing residents in the process. However, there are other employees who use restraints to sexually or physically abuse residents.

Whatever the reason an employee uses physical or chemical restraints on an elderly resident, it is almost always considered nursing home abuse in Florida. If you believe your loved one is being restrained or medicated to restrict his or her movements, he or she may be a victim of abuse. To speak with a skilled South Florida nursing home abuse attorney about the situation, contact the Law Office of David Benenfeld for a free consultation at 954-677-0155.

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