Failure to Provide Denture and Oral Care Assistance
Penalty
Summary
A resident with diagnoses including COPD and dementia, and a BIMS score indicating severe cognitive impairment, was admitted to the facility and required set-up assistance for oral hygiene. The resident's care plan specified that oral care should include cleaning full upper and partial lower dentures. Despite these documented needs, family members reported that during a 72-hour stay, they had to clean and insert the resident's dentures themselves because staff did not provide assistance. Observations confirmed the resident had mouth odor and admitted to wearing dentures overnight, contrary to care plan instructions. Staff interviews revealed inconsistent awareness and implementation of the resident's oral care needs. One CNA stated there was a note in the resident's room to ensure denture care, but acknowledged finding the dentures in the resident's mouth in the mornings and did not inform nursing staff of the issue. Another CNA was unaware the resident wore dentures, despite assisting with oral care in the evenings. The LPN-Resident Care Manager confirmed that dentures were to be cleaned in the morning and evening and removed at night, and expected staff to communicate care concerns to ensure proper oral hygiene. These findings indicate a failure to provide necessary assistance with oral care as required by the resident's care plan.