Failure to Provide Communication Board for Non-English Speaking Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident whose primary language was Arabic and who had severely impaired cognitive skills was not provided with a communication board to assist with communication. The resident required substantial to maximal assistance with activities of daily living, including eating, oral hygiene, toileting hygiene, and personal hygiene. The resident's care plan noted a risk for unmet needs due to communication difficulties and specified that the resident's main language was Arabic. However, during observation and interviews, staff were unable to locate a communication board at the resident's bedside, and a nurse was not aware of the resident's primary language. The Director of Nursing confirmed that staff should use a communication board to facilitate communication with the resident, especially given the language barrier. The facility's policy required meaningful access to information and services for individuals with limited English proficiency. Despite this, the lack of a communication board at the bedside prevented staff from effectively communicating with the resident, which could have delayed the resident's care and treatment.