Failure to Provide Dignified and Respectful Care During Personal Assistance
Penalty
Summary
A resident with no cognitive impairment and a history of polyosteoarthritis and thyroid disease required assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), including bed mobility and toileting, due to physical debility and impaired mobility. The resident's care plan specified the need for one staff member to assist with a gait belt and walker for ambulation and transfers, and to provide assistance as needed for bed mobility. On one occasion, the resident experienced right shoulder pain after being assisted by a staff member during the night. According to interviews and documentation, the resident reported that a staff member on the overnight shift entered her room multiple times, woke her, and instructed her to roll over while she was lying flat in bed. The resident stated she was unable to turn without something to grab onto, but the staff member insisted and ultimately pulled on her right arm to turn her, causing pain in an arm that had recently been injured in a fall. The resident described the staff member's attitude as gruff and lacking compassion, and expressed concern for other residents who might not be able to speak up about similar treatment. The resident's daughter and other staff corroborated the resident's account, noting that the resident was upset and in pain following the incident. Further interviews with staff revealed that the staff member in question, an agency CNA, denied pulling on the resident's arm but acknowledged the bed was flat and that the resident had no side rails to assist with turning. Other staff who cared for the resident after the incident observed that the resident was upset, felt trapped, and complained of being handled roughly. The resident, who was not known to complain about staff, specifically described the care as rough and painful, prompting staff to report the incident. The facility's policy on resident rights emphasizes the importance of treating residents with dignity and respect, which was not upheld in this instance.