Failure to Provide Functional Wheelchair for Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a functional wheelchair for a resident whose wheelchair lock had been broken since admission. The resident, who had mild cognitive deficits and required a wheelchair for mobility, was observed during multiple meal times to have difficulty remaining at the dining table due to the wheelchair rolling backward. This resulted in the resident having to reach further for food and spilling food during attempts to eat. Staff were observed repositioning the resident, but the issue persisted as only one side of the wheelchair could be locked, and the other lock was broken and nonfunctional. Therapy staff confirmed awareness of the broken lock since the resident's admission, with the usual therapist stating that maintenance was not available to fix the issue. The therapist also indicated that while she could repair wheelchairs, her caseload took priority. The broken wheelchair lock was directly observed by surveyors, and staff interviews confirmed the ongoing problem and lack of timely repair.