Call Light Not Kept Within Reach for Dependent Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with a history of hemiplegia, hemiparesis, left hand and elbow contractures, and a need for extensive assistance with activities of daily living was found to have their call light out of reach on multiple occasions. The resident's care plan specifically included interventions to keep the call light within reach due to their decreased mobility, history of falls, and self-care deficits. Despite these documented needs and interventions, observations on two consecutive days revealed the call light lying on the floor at the foot of the bed, not accessible to the resident while she was sitting up in bed. Interviews with the resident, a CNA, and the Director of Nursing confirmed that the call light was not within reach and that it should have been accessible at all times when the resident was in her room. The facility's policy also required that each resident be provided with a means to call staff for assistance from their bed. The failure to ensure the call light was within reach represented a lack of reasonable accommodation for the resident's needs and preferences as outlined in her care plan and the facility's policy.