Failure to Honor Resident's Right to Unrestricted Visitation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to honor a resident's right to receive visitors of her choosing at the time of her choosing, resulting in restricted family visitation for one resident. The resident, who was cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 15, had a family member who regularly visited during evening and nighttime hours to ensure her safety and assist with her needs. The family member reported that he was told by staff he could no longer visit at night due to the presence of a roommate, despite there being no complaints from the roommate and no documentation of any disruptive behavior. The facility posted recommended visiting hours and staff informed the family member that he would not be allowed to visit outside these hours, at one point threatening to call the police if he did not leave. Interviews with staff, including the administrator, DON, LPN, CNA, and social services, revealed inconsistent understanding and communication regarding visitation policies. While some staff stated that 24-hour visitation was allowed with recommended hours, others enforced restrictions specifically against the family member's nighttime visits. There was no evidence in the resident's records of any issues caused by the family member, and the roommate had not raised any concerns. The facility did not have a formal visitation policy in place at the time of the incident.