Failure to Ensure Resident Privacy and Dignity
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to honor residents' rights to privacy and dignity as outlined in the facility's Patient Rights document. Multiple observations revealed that staff, including LPNs, CNAs, and a case worker, entered residents' rooms without knocking or asking permission, even when residents were engaged in personal activities such as eating, visiting with friends or family, or speaking on the phone. In several instances, staff entered the rooms, used the bathroom, and left without acknowledging or speaking to the residents. Both residents involved had intact cognition as indicated by their BIMS scores and were able to confirm that staff routinely entered their rooms without knocking or seeking permission. The deficiency was further substantiated by interviews with the residents, who reported that this lack of privacy occurred almost daily, and by the Director of Nursing, who confirmed that staff are expected to knock and ask for permission before entering residents' rooms. The facility's policy specifically states that privacy should be maintained during personal activities and that residents have the right to close their doors and enjoy their rooms without unnecessary intrusion.