Failure to Provide Showers and Proper Hygiene Care for Dependent Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident, who required a two-person assist with a mechanical lift for all transfers and had a body weight between 362-375 pounds, did not receive showers since admission. The resident, who was alert and able to communicate needs, reported not having a shower due to the facility lacking a chair large enough for use in the shower room. Documentation review confirmed that only bed baths were provided on specific dates, with no record of showers being given or refused. The resident's care plan and Kardex lacked instructions or documentation regarding bathing or shower preferences and concerns. Interviews with facility staff revealed uncertainty about the availability of appropriate equipment, with one nurse stating that the facility did not have a suitable chair and another suggesting a shower bed might have been available but believed the resident refused it, though no refusal was documented. The facility's policy required provision of care to maintain personal hygiene for residents unable to perform activities of daily living independently, but this was not followed in the resident's case.