Failure to Notify Correct Resident Representative After Fall
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to notify the appropriate resident representative, specifically the Power of Attorney (POA), following a fall incident involving a resident with dementia, cognitive communication deficit, and schizoaffective disorder. The resident, who was at risk for falls and had interventions in place to mitigate this risk, experienced a fall resulting in a forehead laceration. The incident was documented by nursing staff, and the resident's daughter was notified of the fall, despite the medical record indicating that the resident's wife was the designated POA. The facility's policy required that the resident's physician and responsible party be notified after a fall. However, the correct representative was not informed until the day after the incident, as confirmed by staff interviews and record review. This lapse in timely notification of the POA constituted non-compliance with facility policy and regulatory requirements for notification of changes affecting residents.