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The appropriate use of chemical and physical restraints for older adults

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Restraint use remains common (and often overused) in older adults. In the Canadian healthcare system, 1 in 4 medical inpatients are physically or chemically restrained. Given the limited benefit and serious harms associated with restraint use, the decision to restrain a patient or not demands strong ethical and clinical justification. This review operationalizes the least restraint principle, synthesizes restraint practice recommendations, and provides a framework to support clinicians in determining the appropriate use of restraints and finding potential alternatives to their use.

Source: Canadian Journal of General Internal Medicine

DOI: 10.3138/cjgim.2026.0008

Authors: Shehraz Riar, Justin Lee

Institutions: McMaster University, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton Health Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Healthcare Decision-Making and Restraints

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W7204276994

FWCI:

Cites: 27

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