Use of physical restraints and psychotropic medications in Alzheimer special care units in nursing homes

Objectives. This study analyzed the use of mechanical restraints and psycho tropic medication in Alzheimer special care units (SCUs) in nursing homes. Methods. We analyzed 1993 data for mole than 71 000 nursing home residents in 4 states, including more than 1100 residents in 48 SCUs. The dependent v ariable in multinomial logistic regression was use of physical restraints o r psychotropic medication. Models contained covariates representing facilit y and resident characteristics, and multivariate matching strategies were u sed to protect against selection bias. Results. Residents in SCUs did not differ from similar residents in traditi onal units in their likelihood of bring physically restrained. Residents in SCUs were more likely to receive psychotropic medication. Conclusions. With regard to the measures used in this research thr findings indicate that residents in the SCUs in the di study states did not receive quality of care superior to that provided to similar residents in traditio nal units. in fact, the results related to drug use raise the question of w hether some may have recieved poorer care.