Failure to Provide and Document Restorative Care for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide and document restorative care for four residents who were identified as needing such services to maintain their activities of daily living (ADLs). Each resident had documented diagnoses such as muscle wasting, weakness, unsteadiness, repeated falls, or stroke, and their care plans included restorative programs to maintain or improve their functional abilities. Despite these documented needs and care plans, restorative care was either not provided as scheduled or was provided infrequently, as evidenced by restorative care flow records and weekly reviews showing little to no restorative care delivered over a 15-day period. Resident interviews confirmed the lack of restorative care, with residents reporting that they only received therapy or restorative interventions once or twice a week, or not at all. Some residents expressed concern about the potential for loss of function due to the lack of regular restorative therapy. Family members also voiced dissatisfaction, noting that the restorative program was not being implemented as expected and expressing concern about the residents' declining abilities. Staff interviews revealed that the restorative aide was frequently reassigned to direct resident care due to staffing shortages, preventing her from performing restorative duties. The DON acknowledged that restorative care was not consistently provided, attributing this to staff turnover and the need to reallocate the restorative aide to cover other care needs. The facility's own policy required that residents receive restorative nursing care as needed to promote optimal safety and independence, but this was not followed for the residents reviewed.