Toronto Long-Term Care Homes and Services
Quality Care & Service
Least Restraint Practice
Restraint of a resident may be considered for use and/or used only after all available alternatives have proven to be inadequate.
Restraint of a resident applies to physical, chemical, PASD (Personal Assistance Services Device – a device used to assist a person with a routine activity of living i.e., wheelchair), and environmental restraints. When necessary to use a restraining device, the home shall always use least-restrictive measures assessed as being necessary.
Toronto Long-Term Care Homes and Services believe that the resident has the right to be free of any restraining device. Regardless of its intended purpose, the use of a restraining device carries a potential risk to the physical safety and psychological well-being of the resident to whom the restraint is applied. Limiting a resident’s freedom of movement in any way carries with it a responsibility on the part of staff to exercise a high degree of caution and care.
Physical restraints are to be used only in circumstances where there exists an “imminent risk” of harm to the resident or others, only after careful assessment by a regulated health professional, and only after determining that available alternatives would prove inadequate.
In all cases, only the least restrictive device shall be used on a resident.
Recognizing risk management and legal liabilities inherent in the use of restraining devices, Long-Term Care Homes Services has developed policies and procedures which define the use, criteria and management of restraining devices.
Procedures have been developed to implement and support this approach. It is acknowledged that changes in the physical plant can result in the promotion of resident's physical movement and independence in a way that minimizes restraint use.