Are Florida Nursing Homes Overusing Physical and Chemical Restraints?
Every resident in every nursing home in Florida should be treated with respect and should be free from any type of nursing home abuse, which includes the use of restraints. Unfortunately, some nursing homes overuse restraints n patients—typically without consent—which is absolutely abusive.
While some staff members use restraints to keep patients from injuring themselves, others use them to make their jobs easier; however, some employees use restraints to get away with physically or sexually abusing elderly residents. Yet, the main reason why nursing homes use restraints on patients is due to the growing number of residents and understaffed facilities. No matter the reason, the use and overuse of restraints is sadly abusive.
Not only are physical restraints used at nursing home facilities but chemical restraints have been used in Florida nursing homes. The use of both physical and chemical restraints on nursing home patients is being used more excessively, causing many elderly residents to suffer this type of abuse.
Physical Restraint Abuse
Many nursing home employees use physical restraints to keep elderly patients in their bed. They often use ropes or anything else that will restrict the movement of a resident. When physical restraints are used, a resident may be tied up at the hands and legs. Some of the symptoms of physical restraint abuse include rope burns, sores, and bruising on the ankles and wrists.
Chemical Restraint Abuse
When nursing home staff members decide to use sedative drugs to subdue elderly residents because they don’t want to have to deal with them, it is considered chemical restraints and outright abusive. Chemical restraints can involve the use of anti-psychotic, anti-seizure, and any other powerful psychotropic drug used to sedate people. Nursing homes are not supposed to use drugs to treat people unless there are medical reasons. This means that they would have to be ordered by a doctor to treat a resident with a certain prescription drug to help the resident; however, they are not supposed to overuse the drugs or up the frequency and dosage.
Sadly, the use of chemical restraints in nursing homes in Fort Lauderdale and nationwide has become widespread. While the use of physical restraints is easier to spot and the symptoms are more apparent, the use of chemical restraints is typically harder to detect. While both types of restraints are abusive, the use of chemical restraints can actually lead to serious injuries and even death.
If your loved one has been harmed by physical or chemical restraints, you may have a Florida nursing home abuse lawsuit. Contact the Law Office of David Benenfeld to find out how you can hold the nursing home liable. You can reach us for a free consultation at 954-677-0155 to speak with an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer in South Florida today.
