Call Light Not Within Reach for Dependent Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident's call light was within reach while the resident was in bed, as observed on 04/21/2025. The resident, a female with hemiplegia and hemiparesis affecting her left side, type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic neuropathy, and anxiety disorder, was found to have her call light hung over the foot of the bed, out of her reach. The resident requested assistance from the state surveyor to retrieve the call light so she could call for help with repositioning. The resident stated she did not know who placed the call light there and that it had been out of reach for too long. Her comprehensive MDS assessment indicated she was cognitively intact and dependent on staff for several activities of daily living, with functional limitations on one side of her body. Interviews with staff, including an LVN, CNA, DON, and the Administrator, revealed that staff were unsure why the call light was not within reach and acknowledged the importance of ensuring call lights are accessible to residents. The facility's policy required that each resident be provided with a means to call staff directly for assistance from their bed. The failure to ensure the call light was within reach was not in accordance with this policy and could prevent the resident from being able to request assistance when needed.