Failure to Assist Resident in Obtaining Hearing Aids
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident with documented hearing impairment received proper treatment and assistive devices to maintain hearing abilities. Clinical records indicated that upon admission, the resident had hearing aids in both ears, and multiple progress notes over several months consistently documented that the resident was hard of hearing. Despite this, there was no evidence that the facility assisted the resident in obtaining or replacing hearing aids after they were no longer in the resident's possession. During interviews, the resident reported ongoing difficulty hearing and expressed that staff sometimes became frustrated with communication challenges. The resident also requested assistance regarding hearing aids. A licensed nurse confirmed that the resident currently did not have any hearing aids. The facility did not fulfill its responsibility to assist the resident in accessing necessary hearing services and devices, as required by regulation.