Resident's Right to Medication Timing Not Honored
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident diagnosed with insomnia, who had no cognitive impairment, was not allowed to receive his melatonin medication at his preferred time of 11:00 p.m. or 12:00 a.m. Despite the resident's repeated requests to nursing staff to adjust the timing of his melatonin to help him sleep through the night, the medication continued to be administered at 9:00 p.m. This led to the resident experiencing ongoing sleep difficulties since admission, as he would awaken during the night due to the early administration of his sleep aid. Interviews with staff confirmed that the resident's request was communicated to a nurse, but no action was taken to change the medication schedule. The facility's policies indicate that residents have the right to participate in decisions about their treatment, and staff acknowledged the importance of honoring the resident's preferences. However, the failure to follow up on the resident's request and adjust the medication timing resulted in the resident's right to make choices about his healthcare services not being honored.