Failure to Timely Respond to Resident Call Bells
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to accommodate the call bell needs of four out of nine residents, as evidenced by multiple sources including policy review, resident council meeting minutes, grievance logs, direct observations, and interviews with staff and residents. Facility policies require that call lights be answered as soon as possible and that care be provided continuously to promote quality of life, with call lights kept within reach and answered in a timely manner. Despite these policies, repeated concerns about delayed call bell responses were documented in resident council meeting minutes over several months, and a grievance was filed by a family member regarding call bell response times. Specific residents affected included individuals with significant medical needs such as deep vein thrombosis, multiple sclerosis, anemia, heart failure, cancer, diabetes, and reduced mobility. Interviews revealed that residents experienced prolonged wait times for assistance, with reports of waiting over an hour for help, particularly during evening and weekend shifts or when agency staff were present. One resident described having to use a cup to urinate due to lack of timely assistance, while another reported an incontinence episode and waiting over an hour for help, resulting in the need for a complete bed bath. Observations confirmed that call lights were not answered promptly, with one instance showing a 17-minute wait time. Staff interviews, including with the Director of Nursing and the Nursing Home Administrator, confirmed awareness of complaints regarding call bell response times, especially on weekends. The facility's failure to respond to call bells in a timely manner for these residents was acknowledged, constituting a deficiency in meeting the residents' needs and preferences as required by facility policy and state regulations.