Deficient Call Light System in LTC Facility
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident had a call light they could use, and another resident had a working call light, resulting in a delay of care and services. Resident 80, who was admitted with severe cognitive impairment and was dependent on all activities of daily living, had a mitten on their right hand and was unable to move their left hand. Despite having a push button call light placed on their chest, Resident 80 was unable to use it due to their physical limitations. The Infection Prevention Nurse acknowledged that Resident 80 would benefit from an adaptive call light. Resident 30, who had intact cognitive skills but required assistance with various activities, was observed to have a non-functional call light. Despite signaling for help, the call light did not activate, and Resident 30, who had a tracheostomy and was unable to vocalize, mouthed that they had been trying to get assistance for almost an hour. The Registered Nurse Supervisor and Maintenance Supervisor confirmed the importance of a working call light for residents who cannot verbalize their needs, and the Maintenance Supervisor noted that the call light for Resident 30 was not working and needed replacement. The facility's policies and procedures indicated that assistive devices and equipment should be provided to ensure resident safety and independence, and that call lights should be answered immediately. However, the facility failed to adhere to these policies, as evidenced by the non-functional call light for Resident 30 and the inappropriate call light setup for Resident 80. The Director of Nursing emphasized the necessity of a working call light for residents to communicate their needs, especially in emergencies.
Penalty
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Surveyors found that multiple residents had non-functional call lights in their bathrooms and bathing areas, with some call lights failing to activate outside the room and others not signaling at the nurses’ station. A DOM and an RN confirmed these failures during testing, and a maintenance staff member reported that malfunctioning call lights were an ongoing issue. Review of work orders showed that these specific call light problems had not been reported, despite facility policy requiring staff to immediately report call system issues and ensure residents have access to a working call system.
The facility failed to maintain a call light system that stayed active until staff responded and to ensure timely responses to resident calls. A resident’s daughter reported that her mother waited an extended time for assistance despite using the call light and that she repeatedly observed CNAs not performing 2-hour checks as expected. In another case, a surveyor tested a resident’s call light and found it automatically reset after about 16 minutes, requiring the resident to reactivate it, with staff not answering until several minutes after the initial activation. Maintenance staff confirmed the automatic reset feature, and a staff member acknowledged that call lights were not answered promptly and that residents had complained, contrary to the facility’s call light policy.
Surveyors found that three residents with dementia, impaired cognition, mobility limitations, and other comorbidities did not have call lights within reach while in bed. In one case, a resident’s call light was attached to a privacy curtain across the room; in another, both call lights in a shared room were attached to the roommate’s bed, leaving the other resident without access. A third resident’s call light was wound up over the actuator box near a recliner and could not be reached from the bed, and the bed controller was on the floor out of reach. These conditions occurred despite a facility policy stating that call light or bell access will be within reach as a method for residents to communicate needs to staff.
Surveyors found that staff failed to keep call lights within reach for two cognitively impaired, ADL-dependent residents who were care planned as fall risks. In one case, a resident seated in a Broda chair had the call light lying on the floor beside the bed, despite a care plan requiring it to be within reach and a sign to prompt use; a CNA confirmed it was not accessible and noted a loop on the cord intended for the resident’s wrist due to blindness. In another case, a resident lying in bed had the call light positioned behind a refrigerator, also out of reach, which a CNA verified. These observations showed the facility did not follow its own policy requiring call lights to be easily reachable when residents are in bed or confined to a chair.
Surveyors found that two residents did not have their call lights within reach as required by their care needs and the facility’s nurse call policy. One resident with MS, lack of coordination, and epilepsy was observed in a wheelchair with the call light on the floor and no Velcro strap attached as specified in the care plan, and repeated attempts to use the call light with the chin caused it to fall from the hand. Another resident with ALS, respiratory failure with hypercapnia, and Parkinson’s disease was observed in bed with the call light placed on a nightstand out of reach until an LPN moved it onto the resident’s stomach. Facility leadership confirmed the expectation that residents be provided with accessible call lights and appropriate assistive tools after care and ADL assistance.
A resident with multiple chronic conditions was unable to reliably use the call system in the bathroom due to a known malfunction, resulting in staff providing a handheld bell as an alternative. Facility staff confirmed that a specific issue with the bathroom call system prevented signals from reaching the nurses' station, and resident council minutes documented ongoing concerns about call light response.
Non-Functional Call Lights in Resident Bathrooms and Bathing Areas Not Reported or Repaired
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure that resident call lights in bathrooms and bathing areas were functional and operating as required. During an observation period with the Director of Maintenance (DOM), call lights for four residents were tested and found not to activate outside the rooms. For two of these residents, the call lights did not light up outside the room when tested, and the DOM stated he thought the light bulbs had gone bad. For the other two residents, their call lights did not activate outside the room and also did not ring at the nurses’ station when pressed, which was confirmed by both a Registered Nurse (RN) and the DOM. Further interviews and record reviews showed that these non-functioning call lights had not been reported through the facility’s work order system. A Maintenance Assistant stated that non-working call lights were an ongoing issue and that he was sure some were outstanding. Review of electronic work orders for the relevant period did not show any entries for the rooms where the call lights were found to be non-functional. The facility’s policy on call lights states that staff are educated on proper use of the call system, including ensuring resident access, and that staff will report problems with call lights or the call system immediately to a supervisor and/or maintenance director and provide immediate or alternative solutions until the problem can be remedied. This policy was not followed for the four residents identified in the complaint investigation.
Failure to Maintain Functioning Call Light System and Timely Response to Resident Calls
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure a functioning call light system that remained active until staff responded, affecting resident bathrooms and bathing areas and potentially all 37 residents. A resident’s daughter reported via email that her mother’s visitor had to ask someone in the hallway to check on the resident after waiting a long time for a response to the call light; the person who checked stated the resident was dry, but the visitor could smell urine and knew this was not accurate. The resident was later taken to the bathroom by others, including a physical therapist, who stated that because the resident was not bearing weight on her legs, they would not be able to continue taking her to the bathroom. The daughter expressed concern that her mother would be incontinent of urine and stool and remain so for hours before being changed, and that even when calling out for help, it took an extended time for assistance to arrive, if at all. She also stated that CNAs were supposed to check residents every two hours but did not, and that she had observed this pattern on each of her visits. During the survey, a state surveyor activated a resident’s call light and observed that it remained active for 16 minutes and 15 seconds before resetting, requiring re-activation by the resident. The surveyor activated the call light at 2:22 P.M., again at 2:33 P.M. while it was still red, and again at 2:38 P.M. after the red light disappeared, with staff not answering until 2:40 P.M. The CNA who responded confirmed she was alerted via walkie talkie but could not state when the call light was first activated. The maintenance director and assistant verified through the call system computer that the call light had been on for 16 minutes and 15 seconds before resetting and then was activated again, confirming the system automatically resets after that time. An anonymous staff member also confirmed that call lights were not answered timely and that residents had voiced concerns. The facility’s call light policy stated that call lights would be silent only after residents’ needs were met, which was not followed in these instances.
Failure to Keep Call Lights Within Reach for Multiple Residents
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure resident call lights were within reach for multiple residents, contrary to facility policy stating that call light or bell access will be within reach as a method for residents to communicate needs to staff. One resident with dementia, depression, high blood pressure, impaired cognition (BIMS score of 3/15), and a self-care deficit related to language barrier and impaired mobility was observed lying in bed asleep with the bed positioned against the wall while the call light was attached to the privacy curtain across the room, out of the resident’s reach. A RN confirmed that this resident’s call light was attached to the privacy curtain across the room rather than being accessible from the bed. Another resident with Alzheimer’s disease, depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, impaired cognition (BIMS score of 5/15), functional incontinence, impaired communication related to dementia, and impaired mobility requiring staff assistance was observed sleeping in bed with no call light in reach; both call lights in the room were attached to the roommate’s bed. The RN confirmed that this resident’s call light was attached to the roommate’s bed and not within reach. In a separate observation, a third resident’s call light was found wound up over the call light actuator box near the recliner, not reachable from the bed, and the bed controller was on the floor at the foot of the bed, also out of reach. These observations showed that three residents reviewed for call light use did not have accessible call systems as required by facility policy.
Failure to Ensure Call Lights Were Accessible to Dependent Residents
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to maintain a call light system that was readily accessible to residents in accordance with its policy requiring call lights to be within easy reach when residents are in bed or confined to a chair. For one resident with Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder, the care plan identified a risk for falls and included interventions to ensure the call light was within reach and a sign was in place to remind the resident to use the call light for assistance. The quarterly MDS showed this resident was moderately cognitively impaired and dependent on staff for ADLs. On two separate observations the resident was seated in a Broda chair next to the bed while the call light was found on the floor beside the bed, not within reach. A CNA confirmed the call light was not accessible and explained that a loop was placed around the call light cord to go around the resident’s wrist because the resident was blind. A second resident, admitted with dementia, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus, also had a care plan identifying fall risk with an intervention to ensure the call light was within reach. The quarterly MDS indicated this resident was severely cognitively impaired and dependent on staff for ADLs. During observation, this resident was lying in bed while the call light was located behind the refrigerator, out of the resident’s reach. A CNA verified that the call light was not accessible to the resident. These findings were identified during the course of a complaint investigation and showed that, for two of three residents reviewed for call light accessibility, the facility did not ensure call lights were positioned so residents could use them as required by facility policy and care plan interventions.
Failure to Maintain Accessible Call Lights for Two Residents
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency in the facility’s failure to ensure that call lights were within reach of residents who were able to use the call light system. For one resident with multiple sclerosis, lack of coordination, and epilepsy, the care plan specified that the resident could use the call light when it was placed in the right hand with a Velcro strap attached to the call light cord and wrapped around the hand, allowing activation with the chin. During observation, this resident was seated upright in a wheelchair with the call light lying on the floor out of reach. A CNA confirmed the call light was out of reach and placed it in the resident’s right hand, but there was no Velcro strap attached. Subsequent observation showed the resident making multiple attempts to press the call light with the chin, but the device fell from the resident’s grasp onto the floor, again without any Velcro strap visible. An RN unit manager and a psychiatric nurse practitioner both verified that the call light had been out of reach on arrival and that the Velcro strap, which was supposed to be in use, could not be located in the room. A second resident, with diagnoses including ALS, respiratory failure with hypercapnia, and Parkinson’s disease, was observed in bed with the call light placed on the bedside nightstand, out of reach. An LPN confirmed that the call light was not within the resident’s reach and then moved it onto the resident’s stomach. In interviews, the DON and the Administrator confirmed that the facility’s expectation was that residents returning to their rooms after care and ADL assistance would be provided with a call light using the tools required per their individual care plans. Review of the facility’s Nurse Call System Policy stated that the facility would provide a means for residents to make staff aware of care needs at all times, including use of modified devices when needed. The observations and interviews showed that, for these two residents, the call light system was not maintained within reach or in the manner required by their care plans and facility policy.
Failure to Maintain Functional Call System in Resident Bathrooms
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that resident call systems were functioning properly in bathrooms and bathing areas, as evidenced by the experience of one resident who reported that her call light was not answered on multiple occasions. The resident, who had multiple diagnoses including chronic respiratory failure, diabetes, dementia, and other serious conditions, stated that staff provided her with a handheld bell due to the malfunctioning call system. Medical record review and interviews confirmed that the resident required assistance with activities of daily living and had ongoing health concerns. Observation and interviews with facility staff, including the Administrator and Maintenance Director, revealed a known issue with the call system in double rooms with shared bathrooms. Specifically, if a metal lever or switch in the bathroom was left partially engaged, the call light above the resident's bed would illuminate but would not send a signal to the nurses' station or outside the room. Review of Resident Council meeting minutes also documented ongoing resident concerns about call light response. There was no facility policy specifically addressing call lights, though staff were expected to respond in a timely manner.
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