Failure to Provide Timely Personal Hygiene Assistance
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with a history of cerebral infarction, unspecified dementia, and palliative care needs was not provided adequate assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), specifically personal hygiene. The resident's Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment indicated upper extremity impairment and a need for assistance with personal hygiene, with care plan interventions to check and clean fingernails daily. Despite these documented needs, the resident was observed lying in bed with a dried, brown, stool-colored substance coating her right hand, fingers, and underneath her fingernails. Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) responsible for the resident's care admitted to not checking on her at the start of their shift, prioritizing other tasks such as assisting residents in the dining room. One CNA stated she had not checked the resident since starting her shift, and another reported feeding the resident without checking her hands or incontinent brief. Supervisory staff confirmed that CNAs were expected to check all residents at the beginning of their shift and before breakfast, but this was not done in this case, resulting in the resident remaining uncleaned for an extended period.