Call Light Accessibility Deficiency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the call light devices were within reach for two residents, leading to a deficiency in accommodating the needs and preferences of these residents. Resident R103, diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Abnormalities of Gait and Mobility, and Muscle Weakness, was observed with a call light cord hanging from the wall on the floor, out of reach. R103's care plan emphasized the importance of using the call light for assistance, yet the device was not accessible. Similarly, Resident R301, with diagnoses including Metabolic Encephalopathy, Pyothorax, Sepsis, Retention of Urine, and Hypertension, was found with the call light hanging behind the bed, also out of reach. R301 expressed unawareness of the call light's location and a need for instruction on its use. Interviews with facility staff, including a Registered Nurse (V26) and a Certified Nursing Assistant (V9), confirmed that the call light cords should be within reach of the residents. The Director of Nursing (V2) also stated that the call light device should be clipped to the resident and accessible. The facility's call lights policy, revised in January 2019, mandates that residents capable of using the call light should have it accessible within reach. The observations and staff interviews indicate a failure to adhere to this policy, resulting in the deficiency noted by the surveyors.