Failure to Provide Required Showers and Personal Hygiene Assistance
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide necessary services to maintain good grooming and personal hygiene for two residents who were unable to perform self-care. One resident, who was bedbound and required extensive assistance with all activities of daily living except feeding, reported waiting 12 hours for incontinence care, stating that no staff responded to her needs during the night shift. She also reported not having had a shower or hair wash in months. Clinical records confirmed that only bed baths were documented for this resident in February and April, with no showers or hair washing recorded. Additionally, a physician's note indicated the presence of skin redness associated with incontinence, recommending frequent brief changes, which were not consistently provided according to the resident's account. Another resident, also dependent on staff for all aspects of ADL care and requiring a walker or wheelchair, was observed with food stains on clothing, food residue in the mouth, and stained blankets. This resident stated he had not received a shower since admission and expressed a desire for one. Clinical records showed that only bed baths were provided, with no documentation of showers or hair washing since admission. Staff interviews confirmed that residents were supposed to receive two showers per week, including hair washing, unless refused, and refusals were to be documented by nursing staff. Facility policy required CNAs to obtain patient assignments at the start of each shift, including information on bathing needs, and to report incomplete tasks to the oncoming shift. The policy also emphasized the importance of making rounds, addressing immediate patient needs, and promptly responding to call lights. Despite these policies, documentation and interviews revealed that the required personal hygiene care, specifically showers and hair washing, was not provided to the two residents in question.