Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity by Not Covering Unclothed Resident
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to promote the dignity of a resident with severe cognitive impairment, who was dependent on staff for lower body dressing, by not intervening when the resident was observed uncovered in bed with underwear briefs visible from the hallway. Multiple staff members, including two CNAs and a nurse, walked past the resident's room, looked in, and did not take action to cover the resident, despite being able to see that the resident was uncovered. The resident had diagnoses of dementia and neurosyphilis and was known to frequently remove covers. Staff interviewed at the time acknowledged that the expectation was to cover or offer to cover residents observed to be uncovered, regardless of the resident's tendency to remove blankets. The deficiency was identified through direct observation, interviews, and record review.