Failure to Update Care Plan for Emotional Support After Resident Witnessed Death
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop a comprehensive care plan addressing emotional support services for a resident who witnessed the death of another resident. The resident, who had a history of mood disorder, opioid abuse, and anxiety disorder, reported increased anxiety and depression following the incident and stated that no one had spoken to them regarding the death. The resident also disclosed using cocaine after the event, which was brought into the facility by an outside individual. Despite these developments, the resident's individualized comprehensive care plan did not include interventions or support for emotional needs related to witnessing the death. Interviews revealed that the social worker attempted to speak with the resident about the incident, but the resident refused the conversation. The social worker did not report this refusal to the DON or the administrator, and the care plan was not updated to reflect the resident's changed emotional status. The DON confirmed that emotional support services should have been included in the care plan after the resident witnessed the death, in accordance with the facility's policy requiring ongoing assessment and revision of care plans as residents' conditions change.