Failure to Provide Communication Assistance for Residents with Language and Communication Barriers
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that communication assistive materials were readily accessible for a resident who speaks a foreign language and did not provide appropriate communication tools for another resident with a communication deficit. In the first instance, a resident whose preferred language is Urdu was observed without any communication board or binder in their room, and staff relied on the resident's family member for translation. The LPN interviewed was unsure if any staff spoke the resident's language and did not provide an alternative method of communication when the family member was unavailable. In the second case, a resident with multiple medical diagnoses and a communication deficit was observed attempting to communicate pain to staff, but was not understood. The staff member left the room without resolving the resident's needs and did not return, later stating she could not find another staff member to assist. The resident was later found crying and was able to communicate his pain when approached by the DON. The speech pathologist confirmed that the resident could communicate his needs verbally, though softly, and emphasized the importance of staff paying close attention. The facility's policy states that language assistance services should be offered to all residents with communication barriers, but these services were not effectively provided in these cases.