Failure to Ensure Resident Access to Hearing Services and Devices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident with Alzheimer's dementia received proper treatment and assistive devices to maintain hearing abilities. The resident reported difficulty hearing and was observed using a headphone amplifier, which he removed to answer his mobile phone, further decreasing his ability to hear. Documentation showed that staff were aware of issues with the resident's hearing aid, including a non-working device, an occluded filter, and battery corrosion. The resident's daughter was informed of these issues and questioned whether the facility could handle the service, but was told the facility could not and was encouraged to contact the hearing aid provider. Subsequent documentation indicated ongoing problems, such as the need for batteries, a missing hearing aid, and confusion about the device's whereabouts. The resident was described as a poor historian, and there was no evidence in the clinical record that staff contacted the audiology provider to arrange necessary services or confirm the status of the hearing aid. The resident's care plan and assessments did not accurately reflect the use of a hearing aid or include interventions for the hearing deficit, despite documentation of hearing difficulties. The Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments failed to indicate the use of a hearing aid, and the care plan lacked individualized interventions addressing the resident's hearing needs. Additionally, after a VA appointment, there was no documentation regarding the repair or possession of the hearing aid, nor any follow-up communication with the audiology provider. These actions and omissions resulted in the facility's failure to accurately complete assessments, develop an individualized plan of care, and coordinate professional audiology services to assist the resident in maintaining hearing ability.