Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity and Hygiene After Meals
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to provide timely assistance with grooming, hygiene, food clean up, and linen changes for two residents, resulting in unclean conditions and emotional discomfort. One resident, with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses including leukemia and hemiplegia, was observed with dried food stains on the face, food particles on the gown, chest, and bedding. Another resident, with moderate cognitive impairment and diagnoses including COPD and dementia, was repeatedly observed with food stains on the face, crumbs on the chest, gown, bed linens, and soiled bed rails. These observations occurred over multiple days and shifts, indicating a pattern of neglect in post-meal care. Interviews with staff and the unit manager confirmed that it was expected practice to clean residents' faces and areas as meal trays were collected, but this was not consistently done for the affected residents. The residents themselves expressed feelings of embarrassment and discomfort due to being left unclean after meals. The facility's policy required staff to uphold residents' dignity through proper hygiene and grooming, but this standard was not met, as evidenced by the repeated failures to clean the residents in a timely manner.