Failure to Provide Scheduled Showers to Dependent Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide scheduled showers or baths to three residents who were dependent on staff for activities of daily living, specifically bathing. One resident with moderate cognitive impairment and total dependence on staff for bathing received only four showers or baths over a period when at least six were scheduled, as confirmed by both documentation and interviews. Another resident, also totally dependent on staff, received only one shower or bath and refused one, despite being scheduled for at least six during the same period. A third resident, requiring maximal assistance and use of a Hoyer lift for bathing, received only three showers in a month when more were scheduled, and expressed a desire for more frequent showers, noting staff availability as a barrier. Record reviews, interviews with the residents, and confirmation from the DON and Executive Director all indicated that the scheduled showers or baths were not consistently provided as per the residents' care plans and facility policy. The facility's own policy defined routine care, including bathing, as necessary for quality of life and dignity, yet the documentation and resident reports showed a pattern of missed or insufficiently provided showers for residents who were unable to perform these activities independently.