Failure to Ensure Resident Dignity During Personal Care
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to maintain a resident's dignity during personal care by not closing the window blinds before beginning peri-care. The resident, who had a diagnosis of dementia with severe cognitive impairment and was always incontinent of bowel and bladder, was dependent on staff for toileting and wore incontinent products. During the care, staff removed the resident's cover and incontinent brief and turned her toward a window that faced the front parking lot, with the blinds raised approximately 12 inches. One staff member requested that the blinds be closed before continuing, at which point the administrative nurse acknowledged that the blinds should have been closed prior to starting care. Another staff member admitted to not thinking about closing the blinds before initiating care. Facility policy states that residents have the right to be treated with respect and dignity, and staff interviews confirmed that the expectation was to close blinds before providing care.