Policy Name: Restraints Number: III-A-10.

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Manual: Resident Care Approved by: All homes

Attachments: N/A Date: October 2022

POLICY:
The home supports a policy of “No Restraints” recognizing that all restraints are potential of harm
and in keeping with the Retirement Home Act. No staff of the retirement home or external care
provider who provides care services in the home shall restrain a resident of the home in any way,
including by the use of a physical device or by the administration of a drug.

Definition of Restraints:

A restraint is a practice, device, chemical (drug) or product that limits or prevents a resident’s range
of motion or restricts his / her freedom to act, move or access an area.

Types of restraints include:

• Chemical (drug)
• Physical

Restraint by a Chemical (drug):

Definition: A chemical restraint is a pharmaceutical given with the specific purpose of inhibiting or
controlling behavior or movement. When a drug is used to treat “clear-cut”, psychiatric or medical
symptoms rather than socially disruptive behaviors, it should not be considered a restraint

Physical Restraints:

Definition: Shall mean and include devices, materials, or equipment that is attached or adjacent to
a person that prevent and inhibit free bodily movements to a position of choice.

Prohibited Devices:
Under the RHA and Regulation 51, there are several Prohibited Devices which limit movement and
are not to be used in the home. These are as follows:
 Roller bars on wheelchairs, commodes or toilets
 Any device used to restrain a person to a commode or a toilet
• Vest or jacket restraints
• Any device with locks that can only be released by a separate device, such as key or magnet
• Four point extremity restraints
• Any device that cannot be immediately released by staff
• Sheets, wraps, tensors or other types of strips or bandages used other than for therapeutic
purpose.
Policy Name: Restraints Number: III-A-10.30 Page 2 of 2

Common Law Duty:

Nothing in sections 68, 69 or 70 of the RHA affects the common law duty of a caregiver to restrain
or confine a person when immediate action is necessary to prevent serious bodily harm to the
person or to others. Refer to subsection 71 of the Act regarding Common Law Duty

Education & Policy Development:

The home shall develop and implement polices to ensure that the requirements and all staff,
volunteers, and contracted staff receive annual training in the policies. (Regulation 54 (4)).