Failure to Provide Full Visual Privacy Due to Incomplete Curtain Coverage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide full visual privacy for a resident who was non-verbal, unable to follow commands, and dependent on staff for all activities of daily living. The resident's bed was positioned closest to the entrance of the room, with the right side of the bed nearest to the door. The ceiling-suspended privacy curtain track on the right side did not extend fully to the wall, leaving a gap that prevented the curtain from closing completely and ensuring privacy. During observations and interviews, both a maintenance worker and the director of maintenance confirmed that the gap between the end of the curtain track and the wall measured eight and a half inches, which did not allow for full privacy as required. Facility policies reviewed indicated that residents have the right to personal privacy, including accommodations, but the physical setup of the curtain track did not meet this standard for the resident in question.