Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity and Respect
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to honor residents' rights to dignity and respect, as evidenced by multiple incidents involving three residents. One resident with severe cognitive impairment and a history of dementia, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD was repeatedly denied timely assistance to use the bathroom. Staff instructed the resident to sit down and dismissed her requests, leading to increased anxiety and agitation. Observations showed staff raising their voice and refusing to assist, despite the resident's clear indications of need and distress. Another resident, who was cognitively intact and dependent on staff for all mobility and self-care, reported that a staff member used discriminatory language and was rude, refusing to assist both the resident and other staff members. The resident stated that these actions made her feel bad and that she had reported the concerns to previous facility leadership. A third resident with severe cognitive impairment and dementia was observed sitting in a common area with her shirt pulled up, exposing her breast, while other residents and staff passed by without addressing the situation. The exposure was only corrected after several minutes when a staff member entered the room and assisted the resident. Facility leadership acknowledged that staff are expected to be aware of their surroundings and ensure residents' needs are met, but this expectation was not met in these instances.