Failure to Provide Required Bathing Assistance Due to Inaccessible Shower Facilities
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide necessary assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), specifically bathing and showering, for three residents with significant physical disabilities. These residents had physician orders specifying regular showers, but due to ongoing renovations in the shower room, they were only receiving bed baths. The affected residents included individuals with multiple sclerosis, quadriplegia, paraplegia, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and spinal stenosis, all of whom required the use of a shower bed or specialized equipment for safe bathing. Interviews with the residents revealed that they had not received a proper shower for several weeks to months, and expressed dissatisfaction with the adequacy of bed baths as a substitute. Facility policy required that residents unable to perform ADLs independently receive necessary services to maintain hygiene, including showers or baths according to their preferences and needs. However, the shower room under renovation could not accommodate the required shower beds, and only two stalls were available, neither suitable for these residents. Staff and administrative interviews confirmed the lack of appropriate facilities and the inability to meet the residents' prescribed bathing schedules. Resident council minutes also documented ongoing bathroom remodeling over several months, further corroborating the prolonged lack of access to proper bathing facilities for these residents.