Yet they can also have many side effects. Reactions from drugs, improper doses, drug combinations, can cause serious impairment, falls, or even death. Staff need to be trained to notice undesirable side effects and know who to report them to. Monitoring psycho-tropic drug use is important to determine if a drug is working or not and what are its side effects. Written records should be available to the attending physician.
Restraints are a failure of treatment.
Make sure that the facility has a written policy on restraints and that it is monitored. Restraints should never be used as punishments or because the facility is short staffed. The state keeps statistics on the use of restraints and you could compare the facility with others. Wanderguard programs are designed for residents with dementia. It helps prevent people from wandering away from the facility and locating them if they do.