Failure to Provide Communication Tool for Non-English Speaking Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a communication tool or device that translated to a language understood by a resident whose primary language was Spanish and who did not speak English. This resident, admitted with diagnoses including prostate cancer and anemia, had moderately impaired cognition and lacked the capacity to understand and make decisions. Observations and interviews revealed that there was no communication board or translation material present in the resident's room, despite the facility's policy requiring such tools to be available at the bedside for residents who do not speak English. Certified Nursing Assistants confirmed the absence of translation or communication tools in the resident's living area and emphasized the importance of these materials for residents to communicate their needs, especially during activities of daily living (ADLs). The Director of Nursing also acknowledged that every resident room should have a communication board posted to assist residents in expressing their needs, and that the lack of such a board could negatively impact the delivery of care. The facility's policy and procedure specified that communication boards with universally known drawings should be supplied and kept at the resident's bedside, but this was not followed for the resident in question.