Failure to Ensure Resident Visitation Rights Maintained
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents maintained the right to receive visitors of their choosing at any time, as required. Observations revealed a sign at the main entrance restricting visitation hours to 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Record review confirmed that a letter was sent to families and visitors outlining these restricted hours, and that any visits outside of these times required arrangement with administrative staff. During a resident council meeting, residents were not aware of the limitation on visiting hours. The facility's admission packet indicated that residents have the right to receive visitors, but this right was not upheld due to the imposed restrictions. Interviews with the interim Administrator and the social worker revealed that the decision to limit visitation hours was made in response to complaints from residents about late-night disturbances caused by family members visiting after midnight, including incidents involving intoxicated visitors. Despite these complaints, the facility implemented a blanket restriction on all residents and visitors, rather than addressing the specific individuals involved. Both the Administrator and social worker stated that all resident representatives were notified of the new visitation policy and that no complaints were received regarding the change. There were no reports of residents voicing concerns or experiencing negative effects related to the restricted visitation hours at the time of the survey.