Failure to Provide Hearing Services for Resident with Hearing Impairment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide necessary care and services to meet the needs of a resident with hearing impairment. The resident, who had diagnoses including encephalopathy, acute pulmonary edema, and chronic kidney disease, was readmitted to the facility and was noted to have severely impaired cognition and require substantial assistance with daily activities. Despite clear indications of hearing difficulty—such as the resident stating he could not hear, needing to read lips, and expressing a desire for a hearing aid—there was no evidence that the resident was scheduled for an audiology consult or provided with hearing aids. Staff interviews confirmed that the resident had no hearing aid, had difficulty hearing, and required staff to speak loudly or slowly and be positioned in front of him to communicate effectively. A review of the resident's belongings inventory did not indicate possession of a hearing aid, and facility staff consistently reported the resident's ongoing hearing challenges. The facility's policies required assistance in obtaining assistive devices like hearing aids and mandated that recommendations for such devices be based on comprehensive assessment and documented in the care plan. However, these steps were not taken for the resident, resulting in continued communication barriers and unmet needs related to hearing assistance.