Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity During Care Due to Staff Speaking Spanish
Penalty
Summary
Staff members failed to provide care in a manner that maintained and promoted dignity and respect for two residents when they spoke Spanish to each other while providing personal care. Both residents, who had intact cognition and required substantial assistance with activities of daily living, reported feeling uncomfortable, frustrated, or upset because they could not understand what was being said. One resident expressed concern that the nursing assistants might be discussing them, while the other stated that the experience made them angry and upset. In one instance, a resident asked the staff to stop speaking Spanish, which led to a noticeable change in the staff member's demeanor and departure from the room. Interviews with staff confirmed that it was common for nursing assistants to speak Spanish with each other during care, as it felt natural and facilitated faster communication. However, staff also acknowledged that some residents had requested they not speak Spanish during care. The facility's administrator stated that staff should not speak Spanish around residents who do not understand the language during care, as residents might not know what is being said. The facility's policy requires treating each resident with respect and dignity in a manner that promotes or enhances their quality of life.