Failure to Provide Necessary Assistance with Personal Hygiene (Shaving)
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses, including dementia, anxiety, depression, muscle wasting, and unsteadiness, did not receive necessary assistance with personal hygiene. The resident required substantial to maximal assistance for personal hygiene tasks, as documented in her care plan, which included interventions for assistance with hair care, shaving, and oral care. During an observation, the resident was found with facial hair along her chin approximately 1 cm in length. The resident expressed that the facial hair bothered her and could not recall the last time it had been shaved by staff. Interviews with staff revealed that shaving was typically performed during shower times, but could also be done outside of those times. A CNA reported difficulty recalling the last time the resident was shaved and noted that razors had not been available in the memory care unit. The facility's policy indicated that shaving should be part of daily personal hygiene or at least every other day, depending on beard growth. The failure to provide regular shaving assistance as required by the resident's care plan led to the resident not being well-groomed, as observed during the survey.