Failure to Ensure Resident Dignity and Respect During Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that staff treated a resident with respect and dignity, as required by resident rights regulations. One incident involved a CNA providing care to a resident while wearing earbuds, which was confirmed by a witness statement and staff interview. The CNA was reportedly inattentive and did not engage with the resident during care, which was identified as a respect issue by both the witness and the Director of Nursing (DON). Facility policy and staff expectations prohibit the use of earbuds or cell phones during resident care, and random spot checks are conducted to monitor compliance. Another incident involved a different CNA speaking to the same resident in a disrespectful manner. According to a witness statement and staff interviews, the CNA told the resident she would no longer be friendly because the resident was allegedly trying to get staff in trouble. This interaction made the resident feel awful, as reported during an interview. The DON and Administrator both acknowledged that such behavior constitutes a failure to treat residents with respect and dignity, and emphasized the importance of staff treating residents as they would their own family members. The resident involved had a history of rheumatoid arthritis and PTSD, with intact cognition and dependence on staff for various activities of daily living. The care plan noted a history of the resident making complaints about staff, and interventions included having two staff present during care when possible. Despite these measures, the facility did not prevent the incidents of disrespectful behavior and inattentive care, as documented in staff and resident interviews and witness statements.