Failure to Promptly Respond to Resident Call Light
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when staff failed to promptly respond to a resident's call light. The resident, who had diagnoses including type II diabetes mellitus, fibromyalgia, and chronic kidney disease, required maximal to total assistance with activities of daily living and was assessed as cognitively intact. The resident's care plan included an intervention to ensure the call light was within reach and to encourage its use for assistance. During an observation, the call light was seen blinking outside the resident's room and the alarm was audible at the nursing station. The resident reported having pressed the call light over 30 minutes prior and was waiting for help to put on underpants, remaining in only an incontinent brief during this time. Staff interviews revealed that the LVN responded to the call light after the extended wait and then sought out a CNA to assist the resident, as the CNA was occupied with another resident. Both the LVN and the DON confirmed that call lights should be answered immediately by any available staff, and the facility's policy required call lights to be answered immediately, with requests fulfilled within five minutes if possible. The failure to respond promptly to the call light resulted in the resident not receiving timely assistance for personal care needs.