Failure to Provide Scheduled Showers for Dependent Resident
Penalty
Summary
A resident with dementia and dysphagia, who was dependent on staff for activities of daily living (ADLs) including bathing and personal hygiene, was not provided showers as scheduled. Facility policy required showers three times a week, and the resident's care plan did not indicate any exception to this schedule. Observations revealed the resident's hair appeared oily and greasy, and interviews with staff confirmed the expectation for regular showers, even for residents enrolled in hospice care. Record reviews showed inconsistencies in documentation, with point of care records indicating only one shower provided over a month, while weekly skin evaluation forms listed several shower dates. Staff interviews and policy review confirmed that showers were to be provided unless contraindicated, and the resident was still expected to receive them. The failure to provide scheduled showers was acknowledged by both the licensed nurse and the infection preventionist.