Failure to Provide Adequate Nail Care and Grooming
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide necessary care and assistance with activities of daily living, specifically in maintaining good grooming and nail care, for three residents who required help due to generalized muscle weakness and the need for personal care. Observations revealed that all three residents had long, jagged, and dirty fingernails, with some nails having brown debris underneath. One resident was noted to have multiple scratches on her forearm caused by scratching herself, and staff confirmed that nail care had not been provided as needed. Interviews with staff, including a CNA and the DON, confirmed that nail care was not consistently performed and was often deprioritized when staff were busy. The facility's own policy required regular cleaning and trimming of nails to prevent skin problems and injuries, but this was not followed. The lack of proper nail care was directly observed and acknowledged by staff, and records confirmed the residents' need for assistance with personal care.