Failure to Ensure Resident Privacy Due to Lack of Window Coverings
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure personal privacy for a resident, identified as Resident 2, as required by federal regulations. The resident's room lacked a curtain or blind covering the window, which faced the facility's main parking lot. This deficiency was observed during a survey on December 26, 2024. The resident, who was cognitively impaired and required assistance for daily care needs, expressed concerns about feeling exposed while using the urinal, bedside commode, and dressing himself. He was unable to pull the privacy curtain around his bed due to its location and his physical limitations, and he preferred not to have the curtain closed at all times as he enjoyed watching TV and looking outside. An interview with the Director of Housekeeping revealed that blinds had been ordered for the windows of Resident 2 and another resident, but they had not yet arrived. The Director was unsure of how long the rooms had been without curtains or blinds. The facility's policy on Resident Rights, dated May 6, 2024, stated that the facility would protect and promote the rights of each resident, including the right to a dignified existence, which was not upheld in this instance.
Plan Of Correction
1. Window blind covering has been installed in Resident 2's room. Resident 2 interviewed and verbalized he no longer feels exposed to the parking lot and had no further concerns. 2. Any resident who resides in the facility has the ability to be affected by this alleged deficient practice. A whole house audit was completed to ensure each resident's room contained window blind coverings to ensure resident personal privacy. 3. Facility staff, including agency staff, were re-educated on the importance of ensuring residents are provided personal privacy. 4. Nursing Home Administrator/designee will randomly audit resident rooms to ensure presence of window blind coverings for personal privacy weekly times three weeks and then monthly times two months and then reviewed by the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement Committee for results, areas of improvement and/or continuation of audits. Results of these audits will be reviewed in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement times three months or until substantial compliance is noted.