Failure to Ensure Resident Accessibility to Light Switch
Penalty
Summary
A dependent resident with severely impaired cognition and limited mobility was unable to access the light switch in his room due to a broken switch cord. The cord, which was only 2.5 inches long, was located 5 feet from the floor and 6 feet from the bed, making it unreachable for the resident, who required assistance to stand and walk. The resident reported that he had to rely on nursing staff to turn off the light, which was inconvenient and required repeated requests for assistance. He expressed a desire for the maintenance staff to repair the switch cord to better accommodate his needs. Nursing staff who regularly cared for the resident were unaware of the broken switch cord, as it was obscured by a tall table lamp. The maintenance director stated that he conducted weekly walkthroughs to identify repair needs and also relied on nursing staff to report issues, but acknowledged the need for immediate repair in this case. Both the DON and the facility administrator confirmed that residents should have full accessibility to their light fixtures at all times and that staff are expected to promptly report and address such repair needs.