Call Light Accessibility Deficiency
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident's call button was found on the floor at the head of the bed, out of the resident's reach, while the resident was awake and receiving breakfast assistance from a staff member. The resident had the capacity to use the call button, as confirmed by an LPN, but was unable to access it due to its placement. The staff member assisting with the meal did not ensure the call button was within reach during or after the assistance. The facility's policy requires that call lights be accessible to residents at all times, and the care plan for this resident specifically included encouraging the use of the call light for assistance. The resident involved had a history of atrial fibrillation, morbid obesity, and hemiplegia/hemiparesis following a cerebral infarction affecting the right dominant side, but no impairment of the upper extremities was documented. The care plan also identified the resident as being at risk for falls and injury, with interventions including the use of the call light for assistance. Despite these documented needs and interventions, the call light was not accessible, and staff confirmed this during interviews. The Director of Nursing also acknowledged that call lights should be within reach for all residents.