Failure to Provide Sufficient Nursing Staff and Timely Call Light Response
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide sufficient nursing staff and related services to meet the needs of residents, as evidenced by multiple reports of delayed call light responses and staff shortages. Review of the facility's call light policy indicated that staff are required to respond to call lights promptly, but interviews with residents and family members revealed that call lights often went unanswered for extended periods, sometimes up to an hour. Specific residents reported waiting 30 minutes or more for assistance, including while needing help in the bathroom, which resulted in at least one instance of urinary incontinence due to the delay. Family members also expressed concerns about the timeliness of staff response across various shifts. Review of call light logs confirmed these delays, showing multiple occasions where residents waited 25 minutes or longer for assistance, with the longest wait times exceeding 50 minutes. Staff interviews corroborated these findings, with several staff members stating that they worked short-staffed on most shifts and that administration was aware of the ongoing shortages. These staffing issues affected both resident care areas and the dining room, particularly with feeding assistance, and were confirmed by an administrative nurse who acknowledged the failure to answer call lights promptly.