Failure to Inform Residents of Their Rights Upon Admission
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that two sampled residents were informed of their rights, as required by federal and state regulations. Resident 60, who was admitted with diagnoses including respiratory failure, osteoarthritis, and atrial fibrillation, was found to have the capacity to understand and make decisions. Resident 75, admitted with conditions such as hemiplegia, hemiparesis, cardiac arrest, and heart failure, was also assessed as able to express ideas and comprehend information. During interviews, both residents stated they were not aware of their rights, with one resident specifically mentioning not knowing her rights and expressing concerns about changes to her shower schedule without her input. Staff interviews revealed that shower days were predetermined and not flexible, with residents not allowed to shower on Sundays unless specially requested. The Social Worker acknowledged that she had not explained resident rights to one of the residents and stated that residents should have received a copy of their rights upon admission. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the Social Worker was responsible for this process and that residents should be informed of their rights at admission and during quarterly meetings. Review of facility policies supported the requirement to inform residents of their rights, but this was not consistently done for the sampled residents.