Failure to Provide Timely Toileting Assistance
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide timely toileting assistance upon request for one resident who was recently admitted following an acute care hospital stay. The resident had undergone an L2-L5 laminectomy and fusion and experienced left upper extremity edema due to a superficial vein thrombosis. Assessments indicated mild cognitive impairment and partial to moderate assistance required for mobility, with dependency for sit-to-stand and transfer activities. The resident was not attempted for toilet or shower transfers due to medical or safety concerns, and a note in the room indicated a need for two-person assistance with a Stedy lift for transfers. The resident reported frequent incidents where staff did not respond in time to her requests for toileting, resulting in accidents, including an episode of diarrhea that soiled her back. She stated that staff encouraged her to wear incontinence briefs due to these delays and that the inability to locate the required lift or lack of available staff contributed to the problem. The resident expressed concern about regaining independence in toileting before discharge, as she would not have assistance at home. Staff interviews confirmed that information about transfer needs was communicated via the whiteboard in the resident's room.