Resident's Religious Rights Not Honored During Hair Care
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a certified nursing assistant (CNA) cut a resident's hair without obtaining her consent. The resident, who had been admitted following a stroke and had diagnoses including chronic kidney disease and dementia, required assistance with daily hygiene tasks such as bathing and hair care. The incident report documented that the CNA cut approximately an inch to an inch and a half from the resident's hair after encountering resistance while brushing out knots. There was no documentation indicating that the resident was asked for her consent prior to the haircut. The resident and her representative both stated that she does not cut her hair for religious reasons, a preference that was communicated to the facility upon admission. The resident became visibly upset during the interview, expressing that cutting her hair was against her religious beliefs. The care plan did not reflect her preference to keep her hair long or her religious beliefs regarding hair cutting. The administrator confirmed awareness of the resident's religious beliefs but stated the CNA was unaware of them at the time of the incident.