Failure to Treat Resident with Dignity and Respect
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to treat a resident with respect and dignity, as required by facility policy and federal regulations. During an observation, a CNA told a resident not to use the call light anymore because she was busy. The CNA later confirmed to the surveyor that she made this statement and acknowledged it was rude. The resident, who has moderate cognitive impairment and multiple medical conditions including congestive heart failure, diabetes, and dementia, reported that this was not the first time the CNA had told her not to use the call light. At the time of the incident, the resident was observed sitting in her wheelchair with her head down and expressed that she did not want to be told not to use her call light. The Director of Nursing confirmed that it was not the expectation for any staff member to instruct a resident not to use the call light, regardless of how busy they were. The facility's policy on dignity and respect requires staff to display respect when speaking with and caring for residents, and to promote the rights of residents to a dignified existence and self-determination. The actions of the CNA were inconsistent with these requirements and resulted in a failure to ensure the resident was treated with respect and dignity.