Call Light Not Kept Within Reach for Resident with Mobility and Cognitive Impairments
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a call button was within reach for a resident who required assistance, as observed during a survey. The resident, who was seated in her wheelchair in her room, was heard calling for help and expressing pain, stating she needed to get in bed. Upon observation, the call light was found to be approximately three feet away from the resident, making it inaccessible. An activity aide confirmed that the resident was unable to reach the call light. The Director of Nursing also acknowledged that the call light was not within the resident's reach during a subsequent observation. The resident's clinical record indicated diagnoses including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hemiplegia and hemiparesis, muscle weakness, and difficulty walking, with documentation of severe cognitive impairment and wheelchair use for mobility. The resident's care plan specifically required that the call light be kept within reach at all times while in the room. Facility policy also mandated that the call light be within easy reach for residents in bed or confined to a chair. No additional documentation or information was provided by facility leadership during the exit conference.