Failure to Ensure Communication in Resident's Preferred Language
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a Spanish-speaking resident with hypertension was not fully informed about their health status and care in a language they could understand. The resident's care plan indicated that translation services would be available, but multiple incidents showed that staff did not consistently use these services. The resident reported that some staff were impatient and did not take the time to understand or communicate with them effectively. On one occasion, a CNA told the resident to stop talking while attempting to take their blood pressure, and did not use the tablet translator as required. The resident expressed frustration at not being respected or understood, particularly regarding their preference for a manual blood pressure cuff instead of the tower monitor. Staff interviews confirmed that translation devices were not used during these interactions, and the CNA involved acknowledged being blunt and not utilizing the translator. The Director of Nursing Services stated that staff were expected to use translator tablets but had not provided recent training on communicating with non-English speaking residents, assuming it was covered during orientation. These actions and inactions resulted in the resident not being able to fully participate in their own health care decisions due to language barriers.