Failure to Provide Consistent Access to Toilet Tissue in Resident Bathrooms
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that resident bathrooms were consistently stocked with toilet tissue, affecting four residents reviewed for personal hygiene equipment. Observations on multiple occasions revealed that several resident bathrooms lacked toilet paper, with no extra rolls available in the rooms. Residents reported going without toilet paper for days, and one resident expressed not knowing how to maintain personal hygiene without it. Additionally, dirty clothing was found on the floor due to the absence of plastic bags, and overflowing garbage cans with used adult incontinent diapers were observed in some rooms. Staff interviews confirmed that housekeeping was responsible for restocking supplies, but there were lapses in this process, and nursing staff did not have access to the necessary supplies to address shortages promptly. Housekeeping staff and supervisors acknowledged inconsistencies in stocking procedures, citing issues such as staff arriving late, budget constraints, and lack of access to storage areas for non-housekeeping staff. There was no standard policy or SOP provided by the company for housekeeping, and the only guidance available was a daily checklist. The Housekeeping Director admitted that sometimes only one roll was provided per room depending on the budget, and on weekends, supplies were left for staff to use in the absence of housekeeping. The lack of a clear policy and restricted access to supplies contributed to the ongoing issue of residents being left without essential hygiene items.