:

Are bed alarms legal in nursing homes? What you need to know about resident rights

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a 2017 revision to the State Operations Manual effectively classified audible bed and chair alarms near a resident as a form of physical restraint. This crucial update impacts the legality of bed alarms in nursing homes, meaning their use is highly restricted and subject to specific federal regulations to protect residents' rights.