Failure to Provide Consistent Bathing and ADL Assistance
Summary
The facility failed to provide consistent bathing and assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) for several residents over a four-day period. Clinical record reviews and resident interviews revealed that multiple residents who required substantial or maximal assistance with bathing did not consistently receive scheduled showers or bed baths. One resident, who was cognitively intact and required two staff for bathing, reported missing multiple showers over a two-month period, resulting in feelings of being unclean. Another resident with moderate cognitive impairment primarily performed sink baths independently, expressing dissatisfaction with the quality of staff-assisted showers and noting that staff often did not wash his hair or ensure he was clean. A third resident, bedbound after a medical procedure, reported not always receiving scheduled bed baths and sometimes refused care when staff attempted to use wet wipes instead of soap and water, preferring to wait for staff who would provide care according to her preferences. Audit sheets for the month indicated significant lapses in the completion of scheduled baths and showers. On several days, the majority of residents scheduled for bathing did not receive their baths, and there was no documentation of make-up baths on subsequent days. In one instance, a single staff member was assigned an unusually high number of baths in one shift and documented that all assigned residents refused, with no evidence that the required protocol for repeated offers and nurse notification was followed. The Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed the accuracy of the audit sheets and acknowledged the lack of records for completed baths on the specified days. Facility policy required that residents unable to perform ADLs independently receive necessary services to maintain hygiene, including regular bathing, in accordance with their care plans. However, care plans were not always updated to reflect current bathing needs, and documentation practices were inconsistent. The failure to provide scheduled bathing and to follow established procedures for refusals and documentation resulted in unmet hygiene needs for several residents.
Penalty
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