Making decisions about restraints The preferred choice is to use
no restraints. A physical, chemical or environmental restraint
should not be used as a substitute for safe and well-designed
environments or for the proper care and management of a person
with dementia. One of the most successful strategies for dealing
with difficult behaviours without using restraints is to use a
problem-solving approach. - Identify the problem: Take a step
back and objectively pinpoint the problem. - Analyze the
problem: Is the person trying to communicate something? What
factors might be contributing to the person's reaction? What is
happening and why? Could the person be reacting to something or
someone in the environment? - List possible strategies: Think of
all the ways to possibly solve the problem. - Choose a strategy:
Weigh the pros and cons of each strategy. Select one. - Take
action: Put the chosen strategy into effect. - Assess the
results: Did the chosen strategy work? If not, why not? Should
another strategy be tri