I need suggestions in preventing my 88 yr old mom from getting out of chair the minute I go answer door or prepare a meal. Any ideas?

Not sure if there are any laws that you can't restrain in your own home. Those laws are for ALs and NHs where they are considered residents and you can't make them do anything. I saw seatbelts being used in Moms NH. My daughter says that the person it is being used on has to be able to get out of it if they want to. She also feels that some of these laws are impractical. They only consider the rights of the resident not their safety.

I see no problem in having a seatbelt in your own home. You do it with a small child to protect them in highchairs, etc. Its not like you are leaving Mom to go shopping. Your there if a problem arises.

It would need to be something like a heavy table, something that she just cannot move herself or push down and attempt to step over. My 98-yr old aunt with advanced dementia had broken her kneecap and even in a cast kept trying to stand up from the wheelchair. I don't think it's legal to have an actual restraint (like a seatbelt). If you can contact a geriatric physician or a PT they might have some good and safe suggestions for you.