Call Light Not Accessible to Resident After Return from Activities
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident's call light was not within reach, preventing the resident from being able to request assistance from nursing staff. Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and the Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that call lights should always be accessible to residents. On observation, the resident was found sitting in a reclining chair at the foot of the bed, with the call light placed at the head of the bed, out of reach. The resident was heard calling out for help and expressed a desire to go to bed. Staff interviews revealed that the resident had been returned to the room by an Activity Assistant (AA) after group activities, who activated the call light to notify nursing staff but did not wait for staff to respond or ensure the call light was within the resident's reach before leaving. The Activities Director (AD) stated that activity staff are required to hand off care directly to nursing staff when returning a resident to their room, a process that was not followed in this instance. The resident's care plan indicated a need for assistance with activities of daily living and encouraged the use of the call light for help. Facility policy also required that call lights be within easy reach of residents when in bed or confined to a chair. The resident involved had a history of diabetes mellitus, hemiplegia, and hemiparesis, and was at risk for decline in mobility and activities of daily living.