Failure to Maintain Call Light Accessibility for Visually Impaired Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when staff failed to maintain a call light within reach for a resident diagnosed with legal blindness, diarrhea, age-related physical debility, and depression. The resident's care plan required that the call light and frequently used personal items be kept within easy reach, and that staff respond promptly to requests for assistance. During observation, the resident was found sitting in a wheelchair with a strong foul odor in the room, and the call light was located behind the wheelchair, attached to the side of the bed under the covers, making it inaccessible to the resident. The resident reported not knowing where the call light was and stated she had been looking for it because she needed to be changed, was very uncomfortable, and in pain. She indicated her bottom was burning from diarrhea and that she had been sitting in it since shortly after breakfast. Staff confirmed the call light was not within reach and acknowledged that the resident should not have been left in a soiled brief for an extended period. The facility's policy and the resident's care plan both required that the call light be accessible, but this was not followed, resulting in unmet care needs.