Policies on restraint use at the organization and system level, as part of a comprehensive fall
program strategy, should promote use of alternative approaches to the use of restraints. Use of
least restraint for a minimum amount of time, if no other options are available, can be
employed to avoid harm to self/others until non-restraint alternatives are implemented.101 102
Provincial and territorial legislation should be reviewed to ensure restraint policies reflect the
jurisdiction’s expectations (e.g. Ontario has the Patient Restraint Minimization Act and Long
Term Care Homes Act which define and outline parameters for the use of restraints; and laws
in Quebec outline that two different professionals (OT, PT, RN, MD) must order the use of
restraints and prior to use, alternative measures must have been attempted with appropriate
documentation).