Call Light Inaccessible to Bedbound Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident's call light was found to be inaccessible from her bed. Observations on multiple occasions showed that the call light was hanging on the wall and could not be reached by the resident while she was in bed. The resident, who had recently undergone a total knee replacement and was receiving therapy, was mobile in her wheelchair but could not safely ambulate independently. Interviews with staff confirmed that the call light should have been accessible to the resident at all times, especially when in bed. Further investigation revealed that the resident had moved rooms about a month prior, and administrative staff were unaware that the call light was not properly installed at the bedside in the new room. The facility's policy required that call lights be accessible at each resident's bedside and that staff ensure accessibility during every interaction. Despite this policy, the resident did not have access to a call light from her bed, as verified by both administrative and nursing staff.