Failure to Provide Assistance with Personal and Oral Hygiene
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with Parkinson's Disease and Dementia, who was bedbound and dependent on staff for all activities of daily living (ADLs), did not receive necessary assistance with personal and oral hygiene. The resident, who primarily spoke Spanish and had moderate cognitive impairment, reported that she was unable to get out of bed and required help with all ADLs. She stated that on the day in question, staff did not assist her with washing her face or brushing her teeth, leaving her feeling dirty and unwell. She also noted that it sometimes took staff an hour or two to respond to her requests for help. Interviews with CNAs revealed that while it was their responsibility to assist residents with morning hygiene tasks such as wiping faces and brushing teeth, these tasks were not completed for this resident on the day observed. One CNA admitted she did not provide care because she was attending to another resident, and acknowledged that not brushing a resident's teeth could lead to infection. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the resident required total care and that CNAs were expected to provide assistance with personal hygiene as part of their duties. Review of facility policy supported that CNAs must attend to residents' needs at all times.