Failure to Provide Consistent ASL Interpreter Access for Deaf Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when the facility failed to consistently provide appropriate communication support for a resident who was deaf and used American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary language. The resident's care plan and provider orders specified the need for an ASL interpreter, especially for significant interactions such as care conferences, assessments, and daily care activities. Despite these documented needs and preferences, staff interviews and resident statements revealed that the ASL interpreter, accessible via an iPad, was not regularly used. Instead, staff often relied on written communication, which the resident found confusing and inadequate, particularly when staff were non-English speaking or unfamiliar with ASL structure. The resident repeatedly expressed a preference for the ASL interpreter to be used for all care interactions, but this was not consistently honored. Multiple staff members, including nursing assistants, a trained medical aid, and a registered nurse, confirmed that they did not use the iPad interpreter during their interactions with the resident, often defaulting to written notes or yes/no questions. The social worker was identified as the only staff member who regularly used the iPad interpreter. The Director of Nursing acknowledged that the care plan required use of the ASL interpreter for major interactions and agreed that staff should follow the resident's stated preference. Facility policy also required interpreter use upon resident request and for key care communications, but this was not consistently implemented, resulting in a failure to meet the resident's communication needs as outlined in their care plan.