Call Light Not Accessible to Resident with Complex Medical Needs
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with multiple complex medical conditions, including end stage renal disease, heart failure, diabetes, respiratory failure, dysphagia, dementia, and impaired mobility, was found to have their call light cord on the floor behind the head of their bed while they were sleeping. The resident's care plan specifically required that the call light be within reach due to their high risk for falls and need for assistance. During observation, the call light was not accessible to the resident, and this was confirmed by a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) who acknowledged the call light was on the floor and not in the correct position. The LPN then repositioned the call light to be within reach. Interviews with multiple staff members, including LPNs and the Director of Nursing (DON), confirmed that the facility's expectation and policy is for call lights to be within easy reach of residents at all times. The facility's written policy also states that all residents capable of using a call light should have it available and accessible at the bedside or another reasonable location. The failure to ensure the call light was within reach for this resident constituted a failure to reasonably accommodate the resident's needs and preferences as outlined in their care plan and facility policy.