Failure to Provide Comprehensive Dementia Care and Activities Due to Inadequate Staffing
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide comprehensive, resident-centered services to meet the dementia care needs of residents on the specialty memory care unit. Observations and schedule reviews revealed that staffing was inadequate, with only one CNA and one nurse scheduled on several days. This resulted in residents not receiving timely assistance with personal hygiene, as evidenced by a resident remaining with oatmeal smeared on her sweater sleeve for an extended period. Additionally, scheduled activities intended to promote resident well-being, such as morning stretches, coffee and daily chronicle, and coloring, were not conducted as listed on the activity calendar. Residents were left unsupervised in the dining/activity room, and activity staff did not arrive until later in the day, confirming that planned activities were not provided as scheduled. Further, the lack of staff supervision led to safety concerns, such as a resident entering another resident's room without staff awareness, which was only addressed after being brought to the attention of the nurse. Interviews with staff confirmed the challenges posed by insufficient staffing, including difficulty providing care for residents requiring two-person assistance and the inability to carry out scheduled activities. The administrator acknowledged ongoing staffing shortages due to staff unavailability and training, which contributed to the lack of adequate supervision and activity provision on the memory care unit.