Failure to Accommodate Resident's Mobility Needs in Shared Room
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when the facility failed to reasonably accommodate the mobility needs and preferences of a resident with hemiplegia, aphasia, and diabetes, who used a motorized wheelchair and required assistance with activities of daily living. The resident was previously in a private room without mobility concerns but was moved to a shared room, where the arrangement of the roommate's bed and dresser created a barrier, preventing the resident from independently exiting the room. The resident reported feeling confined due to the inability to leave the room without staff assistance to move furniture. Staff interviews confirmed awareness of the issue, with the social worker acknowledging that staff needed to move the roommate's bed each time the resident wanted to exit. An observation with the DNS showed that even after adjusting the furniture, it was unclear if the new setup provided sufficient clearance for independent wheelchair access. The facility did not provide a policy on accommodation of resident needs when requested.