When I was a CENA, once a year the state would come in and evaluate the facility. During that month (more if there were problems) the facility was REQUIRED to attempt to wean residents off of chemical restraints and attempt to go without physical restraints. Among these were drugs like ativan, xanax etc.

First, I’ve never been beaten so much in my entire life. It was not comfortable for the residents either. People that were “normally” mellow and even tempered became combative toward the staff and other residents.

Second, the “first” line of attack is physical restrains. Safety belts in wheel chairs are considered physical restraints. We had more falls in that month than in the rest of the year combined.

Let me just say, that I personally would much rather be chemically restrained rather than physically restrained. I understand that these rules are in place for the health and safety of the residents, but if I had to go into a nursing home tomorrow, I would NOT be a happy camper if they took my medication from me because that’s the way it is once a year. These people have pdocs, who is the state to come in and say that these meds are not required?

At the time I was doing the job, I did not fully realize how important these medications were. I’m not advocating turning people into zombies, but there needs to be more common sense involved in these blanket decisions. I do not consider mood stabilizers or anxiety medications as “flat line” medications. I can now fully understand what it must have been like for them. All of these strangers running around watching everything that you’re doing and you’re anxiety meds are taken from you… It makes my stomach turn; and someday that might be me. Hmm, maybe I’ll add that to my living will, I wonder if it’s legal.