Failure to Provide Adequate Nail Care to Dependent Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate nail care to residents who are dependent on staff assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Three residents, identified as R44, R47, and R485, were observed with long, untrimmed fingernails, some with debris underneath, and others embedded into their palms due to contracted hands. These observations were made over multiple days, indicating a lack of routine nail care as required by the facility's policy. The policy mandates that nursing staff or qualified activity team members perform routine nail care, including daily cleaning and regular trimming, to prevent infections and skin problems. Resident R485, who was moderately cognitively impaired and dependent on staff for personal hygiene, was observed with long, dirty fingernails and expressed a desire for nail care. Similarly, residents R44 and R47, both with self-care deficits due to left hemiplegia and other medical conditions, were observed with long, jagged fingernails embedded into their palms. Despite their care plans indicating a need for total assistance with hygiene and personal care, these residents did not receive the necessary nail care, compromising their comfort and hygiene.