Failure to Provide Timely Incontinence Care for Dependent Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident who was cognitively intact but dependent on staff for toileting and repositioning was not provided timely incontinence care. The resident was frequently incontinent and required substantial or maximal assistance to roll and reposition in bed. On multiple occasions, the resident reported being left soiled and saturated with urine for extended periods, including one instance of 3.5 hours and another of over two hours. The resident expressed feelings of stress, frustration, and concern for safety due to being left in this condition and having to rely on a single staff member for care instead of the required two-person assist. Certified nursing assistants confirmed that the resident was found soiled and saturated with urine and bed linens on at least two separate occasions, with call lights left unanswered for over an hour. Documentation and staff interviews indicated that the resident was not a heavy wetter, and the amount of urine present suggested a lack of overnight care. Facility policy required incontinence care every two hours and appropriate skin care to prevent breakdown, but these standards were not met for this resident, as evidenced by the resident's own written complaints and staff observations.