Failure to Involve Responsible Party in Care Planning
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to inform and accommodate a resident's responsible party (RP), who is also the legal guardian, in the development and implementation of the resident's person-centered care plan. The resident, who has diagnoses including unspecified dementia, major depressive disorder, and schizoaffective disorder, was readmitted to the facility from a psychiatric hospital. The care plan indicated that the RP should be kept informed of changes in health and medical status to assist with ongoing care planning and decision-making. However, the RP reported that communication from the facility had declined since a change in ownership, and she was not being given the opportunity to participate in care planning as required. The RP had arranged to attend a scheduled care conference in person, but was told by the facility's social worker to cancel, with the promise of a phone call at the scheduled time. The social worker called earlier than scheduled, and when the RP missed the call and attempted to return it, she received no response. The care conference was documented as attended by the RP, but the RP stated she did not participate and was not contacted afterward despite leaving messages. The facility's policy requires advance notice and participation of the resident or RP in care planning, which was not followed in this instance.