Failure to Provide Assistance with Personal Hygiene (Facial Hair Removal)
Penalty
Summary
Nursing staff failed to provide necessary assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) for a resident who was dependent on staff for self-care. The resident, who had diagnoses including Parkinson's Disease with dyskinesia, major depressive disorder, and dementia, required partial to substantial assistance for all self-care activities according to the most recent Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment. Facility policy required staff to assist residents with personal hygiene, including grooming, when residents were unable to perform these tasks themselves. Despite these requirements, the resident was repeatedly observed over several days with facial hair on the upper lip and chin. Review of care records showed that the resident's care plan included assistance with personal hygiene, but there was no documentation of the resident refusing facial hair removal. The shaving care card indicated the last time the resident was shaved was nearly a month prior to the observations. Interviews with the resident and staff confirmed that shaving had not been provided as expected, and there was no documentation of refusal or attempts to provide the care.