Failure to Accommodate Resident Shower Preferences and Ensure Mechanical Lift Availability
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to accommodate the shower preferences and transfer needs of a resident who was fully dependent on staff for mobility and required a mechanical lift for transfers. The resident, who could not bend her knees, was unable to use the available shower chairs, including a reclining model that still required knee flexion. As a result, she only received bed baths instead of showers, despite her and her family’s expressed preference for weekly showers. Staff interviews confirmed that there were no shower gurneys available on the floor or in the facility to meet the needs of residents who could not sit up or safely use a shower chair. Additionally, the facility did not ensure the continuous availability of a mechanical lift for the nine residents on the floor who required it. There was only one mechanical lift on the floor, which was sometimes taken to other floors, leaving residents without access to necessary transfer equipment. Staff confirmed that the single lift was insufficient to meet the needs of all residents requiring mechanical assistance, and that the lack of equipment directly impacted the ability to provide appropriate care.