Elder Abuse: Carers Told to Stop Restraints (Netherlands)

Care workers told to stop tying up patients
Carers ill-informed about alternatives to restraint
by Mike Wilcox
18-11-2008

An official report published today says that seven people died in the Netherlands between June 2007 and May 2008 after being restrained by carers. The Health Care Inspectorate (IGZ) carried out spot checks on 86 nursing and care homes after news of the seven deaths surfaced. It concludes that mentally disabled residents and those suffering from dementia are too often being sedated, locked in and even tied up.

Carers often resort to such measures to stop patients doing themselves harm, but the treatment can actually lead to mental and even physical injury. RestraintsThe IGZ report, Care for Freedom, particularly criticises the use of 'Swedish restraints', used to tie patients to beds or chairs. The restraints are described as inhuman and not belonging in the modern world. The report calls for the restraints to be banned by 2011.

Carers are often ill-informed about alternatives to restraint, and have come to view freedom-limiting options as routine. They no longer see secure units, locking some patients in their homes, sedation and enforcing strict daily routines as curtailing people's freedom.

Abridged
SOURCE: Radio Netherlands WorldWide
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