Failure to Respond to Resident Call Lights Within Required Timeframe
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide timely responses to resident call lights, as evidenced by interviews with residents and staff, review of Alarm Response Report forms, and facility policy. One resident reported timing her call light and found it was not answered for over 15 minutes on multiple occasions, with documented delays ranging from 17 to 26 minutes over several days. Another resident reported her call light was left unanswered for up to two hours on an evening shift, particularly when agency staff were present, and the Alarm Response Report confirmed several instances where her call light was not answered within the required 15-minute timeframe. Staff interviews confirmed that call lights were not answered within 15 minutes due to staffing shortages and issues with agency staff refusing to respond to call lights. The facility's policy requires timely responses to call lights, but the documented delays and staff admissions indicate this standard was not met for at least two residents during the review period. The facility had a census of 28 residents at the time of the deficiency.