Failure to Involve POA in Care Plan Development for Cognitively Impaired Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident’s designated Power of Attorney (POA) was invited to participate in the development and implementation of the resident’s person-centered care plan. The resident, who was admitted with Alzheimer’s and dementia and had severe cognitive impairment as indicated by a Brief Interview for Mental Status score of 04, had a care plan that included interventions requiring family involvement, particularly in nutritional evaluation. Despite this, the POA reported never being invited to a care plan meeting since the resident’s admission. Interviews with facility staff revealed that care plan meetings were supposed to be held quarterly, upon admission, and with changes in condition. However, the MDS Coordinator confirmed that no care plan meeting had been conducted for the resident since admission. The Nurse Manager stated there was no one available to conduct care plan meetings at the time, and the Administrator was unsure if the POA had been contacted, noting that two of the resident’s family members worked at the facility. The DON also acknowledged that care plan meetings should have occurred but could not explain why they had not been held for this resident.