Failure to Assess and Address Resident's Hearing Concerns
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to act upon and assess a resident's voiced complaints and observed difficulties with hearing. The resident, who had impaired memory and was identified as hard of hearing, was observed struggling to hear during interactions and did not use hearing aids. The care plan acknowledged the resident's hearing issues and included interventions such as minimizing background noise and offering an audiology appointment. Despite these interventions, there was no evidence in the medical record that a comprehensive hearing assessment was completed or that the resident was evaluated for potential reversible causes of hearing loss, such as earwax buildup. Staff interviews revealed that hearing assessments were only performed if a complaint was made and not on a routine basis, and there was uncertainty about the availability of necessary equipment for ear examinations. Additionally, although a family member requested an audiology appointment and documentation indicated that one was scheduled, there was no evidence that the appointment was completed, refused, or rescheduled. The facility's documentation lacked follow-up regarding the outcome of the scheduled audiology appointment, and no policy on hearing evaluations was provided when requested. These inactions resulted in the resident's hearing concerns not being adequately addressed, despite both family and staff noting ongoing hearing difficulties.