Failure to Ensure Resident Access to Call Bell and Lighting Controls
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors determined that the facility failed to provide reasonable accommodations to maintain residents' independence by not ensuring access to call lights and lighting controls. Specifically, one resident was observed on two separate occasions seated in a wheelchair at the bedside with the call bell tied to the left side bed rail, making it inaccessible to the resident. On both occasions, staff members confirmed that the call bell was out of reach and repositioned it closer to the resident only after being prompted by the surveyor. Additionally, the issue of inaccessible lighting controls was noted in all rooms observed, though the report focuses on the repeated failure to ensure the call bell was within reach for the resident in question. The Nursing Home Administrator confirmed that the expectation is for the call bell to be accessible to residents at all times, but the deficiency was observed multiple times during the survey period.