Failure to Provide Adequate Privacy Curtains for Residents
Penalty
Summary
Multiple observations revealed that several resident rooms were equipped with privacy curtains that were either too short or not fully functional, preventing residents from receiving full visual privacy during care. In one instance, a resident with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and vascular dementia was observed sitting in her wheelchair without a shirt, fully exposed to the hallway due to the absence of a privacy curtain. Maintenance staff and other residents were present in the hallway at the time, and the room door was open, allowing for direct visibility. The facility's policy required maintaining resident privacy, but this was not upheld in these cases. Additional observations found that privacy curtains in other rooms could not be fully drawn due to extra hooks in the curtain tracks, further compromising privacy for multiple residents. Interviews with staff, including the DON, RN Supervisor, and Maintenance Director, confirmed that they were unaware of the curtain deficiencies until brought to their attention. The lack of adequate privacy measures was noted in several rooms across two wings, affecting the dignity and privacy of the residents involved.