Call Light Not Kept Within Reach for Dependent Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident's call light was not kept within reach, as required by the facility's policy and the resident's care plan. The resident, who had a history of falls, severe cognitive impairment, and required maximal assistance for most activities of daily living, was observed asleep in bed with the call light found on the floor. This was confirmed by a Certified Nursing Assistant during the observation. The resident's care plan specifically included the intervention to keep the call light within reach and encourage its use for assistance. The Director of Nursing confirmed that call lights should be accessible to residents. The facility's policy also required staff to ensure call lights are within reach and secured as needed. The failure to keep the call light accessible represented a lack of adherence to both the care plan and facility policy.