Inaccessible Bathroom Facilities for Wheelchair Users
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents who required the use of a wheelchair for mobility had access to a bathroom in or near their rooms that could be quickly and safely accessed. For two residents, the bathroom doorways in their rooms were narrower than the width of their wheelchairs, preventing direct entry. One resident, who was cognitively intact and required moderate assistance for transfers, had to position their wheelchair at an angle in the doorway and pull themselves up using a grab bar inside the bathroom, while staff stood outside the bathroom and out of reach. This resident reported difficulty accessing the bathroom and often had to wait to use a more accessible bathroom in the hallway, which was frequently occupied. Another resident, who had moderate cognitive impairment, neuropathic bladder, a colostomy, and chronic kidney disease, was unable to fit their wheelchair through the bathroom door and sustained a minor injury when attempting to enter. This resident was provided with a container to empty their urinary catheter bag because they could not access the toilet or sink in the bathroom. Staff interviews confirmed that the bathroom doors on certain units were too small for most wheelchairs, and the facility attempted to place only ambulatory residents in those rooms due to the limited doorway size.