Failure to Treat Residents with Dignity and Respect
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to treat two residents with respect and dignity, as required by resident rights regulations. One resident, a female with vascular dementia, agitation, and major depressive disorder, reported to the DON and ADON that she was afraid of a CNA, stating the CNA was mean to her and did not like her. The resident described an incident where the CNA dressed her in a manner different from other staff and expected her to assist, which made her uncomfortable. During an interview, the resident further stated that the CNA was verbally rough, telling her to stand up and that she could do things herself, which hurt her feelings and made her cry. The resident indicated that this verbal treatment occurred often and made her reluctant to get up when the CNA was working her hall. A second resident, a male with muscle wasting, vascular dementia, cerebral infarction, and hemiplegia, was also identified as having received care in a disrespectful manner. A family member, who resided in the same room, reported hearing the same CNA speak roughly or meanly to both residents, expressing that the CNA seemed irritated and tired when providing care. The family member stated that this behavior had occurred repeatedly over the past three months and that she dreaded when the CNA was assigned to care for her family member. The resident himself nodded in agreement with the family member's statements about the CNA's conduct. Interviews with other staff provided additional context, with one staff member describing the CNA as speaking to residents in rude and condescending ways and talking about residents in their presence. The staff member felt the CNA seemed overworked and took out her frustrations on the residents. The DON and Administrator confirmed that the resident had reported the incident and that the CNA was suspended pending investigation. The facility's policy affirms the right of residents to a dignified existence and to be treated with respect and dignity.