Failure to Honor Resident Visitation Rights Due to Unsubstantiated Infestation Concerns
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to honor a resident's right to receive visitors of his choosing, specifically restricting a cognitively intact resident from seeing his wife. The resident's wife was banned from entering the facility after reporting that she had been bitten or stung by something in the resident's room, which led the administrator to suspect she might have a parasite. The administrator required her to obtain medical clearance before returning. Despite no evidence of bugs or infestation being found by staff, pest control, or housekeeping, the ban remained in place for approximately two weeks. During this period, the resident's wife was not allowed to visit inside or outside the facility, and staff prevented the resident from meeting her outside or receiving food she brought. Staff interviews confirmed that the ban was enforced due to concerns about a possible infestation, but no actual infestation was identified. The resident and his wife both reported that she was threatened with arrest for trespassing if she did not leave the property when attempting to deliver food. Staff, including CNAs, LPNs, and the Social Service Director, acknowledged awareness of the ban and confirmed that no bugs were found on the resident, his wife, or in the room. The Social Service Director and DON stated that the resident should have been allowed to visit with his wife outside, but this did not occur. The facility's pest control company confirmed that no additional services were requested and that bed bugs would not die out without treatment. The facility's own resident handbook states that visitation rights will be honored unless they infringe on the rights of others, but there was no evidence that this was the case.