Failure to Provide Timely Assistance with Grooming and Personal Hygiene
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, muscle weakness, and dementia, who required assistance with personal care and supervision for personal hygiene, was observed to have a moderate amount of unwanted facial hair on her chin and above her top lip. The resident expressed that she was unable to remove the facial hair herself due to hand tremors and stated she would like the hair removed. Multiple observations confirmed the presence of facial hair over several days, and the resident reported not knowing when it was last removed by staff. Interviews with staff, including the DON and a CNA, confirmed that it was the responsibility of CNAs and nurses to ensure residents were groomed, including the removal of unwanted facial hair. The facility's policy emphasized the importance of maintaining resident dignity and grooming according to resident preference. Despite these policies and the resident's care plan, the necessary assistance with grooming was not provided in a timely manner, resulting in the resident feeling unclean and expressing a desire for improved personal hygiene.