Failure to Provide Nail Care for Dependent Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide necessary assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) for a resident who was totally dependent on staff for personal care. The resident, a male with severe cognitive impairment due to dementia and other medical conditions, was observed to have long fingernails with visible brown matter underneath. Despite being unable to perform self-care, his fingernails had not been trimmed or cleaned as required by his care plan, which specified that nail care should be performed on bath days and as needed. Interviews with staff confirmed that both CNAs and charge nurses were responsible for nail care, except in cases of diabetes where only nurses should perform the task. Staff acknowledged that the resident's nails were long and dirty, and recognized the associated risks. The facility's policy emphasized the importance of nail care for cleanliness and infection prevention, but this was not followed for the resident in question, as evidenced by the observations and staff statements.