Failure to Provide Regular Showers or Baths to Dependent Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents requiring assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), specifically bathing or showering, received care according to their needs and facility policy. Three residents with significant medical conditions, including diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heart disease, and lymphedema, were identified as not receiving showers or baths as frequently as required. Documentation and resident interviews revealed that showers were missed or provided less than once per week, with some residents receiving only one shower in several weeks or none at all. One resident reported refusing a shower due to it being offered late in the evening, but was not offered another opportunity as expected. Another resident, dependent on staff for all ADLs, had not received a shower in over two weeks, and documentation confirmed the lack of regular bathing. Staff interviews indicated that insufficient staffing contributed to the inability to provide showers as scheduled, with CNAs reporting being overwhelmed and unable to complete all assigned showers. The facility's policy requires that residents be offered a shower, tub bath, or bed/sponge bath at least once per week or according to their preference, but records and staff statements confirmed that this standard was not met. The administrator acknowledged the lack of documentation for missed showers and confirmed that only the available records were provided.