Failure to Provide Scheduled Showers for Dependent Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide scheduled showers to two dependent residents who required assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). According to the facility's Bath/Shower Policy, all residents are to receive a bath or shower at least weekly, with nursing assistants responsible for providing the care and charge nurses responsible for ensuring the schedule is followed. Record review showed that one resident with severe cognitive impairment and significant physical limitations missed multiple scheduled showers over a two-month period, with no documentation of refusals or alternative hygiene measures such as bed baths. Another resident, who was cognitively intact but dependent on staff for ADLs, also missed several scheduled showers, and similarly, there was no documentation of refusals or alternative care provided. Interviews with staff confirmed that showers should be provided and documented according to the schedule, and that refusals or alternative care should also be recorded. However, both the charge nurse and nursing supervisor acknowledged that the affected residents did not receive all scheduled showers and that there was no documentation of refusals or bed baths in the residents' charts. One resident reported rarely receiving scheduled showers and stated that staff often provided excuses for not assisting with bathing.