Failure to Provide Scheduled Showers for Dependent Resident
Penalty
Summary
A resident with spinal cord compression, muscle weakness, and a need for assistance with personal care was admitted to the facility and required substantial to maximal staff assistance for showering and bathing, as documented in the Minimum Data Set Assessment. The resident was cognitively intact and had scheduled shower days on Tuesdays and Saturdays, as indicated in the electronic Kardex. Despite this, the resident reported that staff were not consistent in providing showers on the scheduled days, citing instances where she missed showers due to being gotten up late by staff or because staff did not return to offer a shower after her therapy or family visit. The resident also stated that staff marked her as refusing showers when she had not refused, but rather was unable to receive them due to scheduling conflicts caused by staff actions. A review of the resident's shower logs for April and May revealed that she did not receive any showers during April and missed several scheduled showers in May, with bed baths documented instead. There was no documentation indicating that the resident refused showers or requested bed baths in lieu of showers. Additionally, there was no explanation documented for the omission of scheduled showers. The Nursing Home Administrator confirmed the resident's shower schedule and acknowledged that showers should have been provided as planned but could not explain the inconsistency in care.