Failure to Obtain Required Consents for Medications and Safety Devices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to obtain required consents for psychoactive medication administration and the use of safety devices for several residents. One resident, who had memory issues but was able to communicate clearly, received an antianxiety medication on multiple occasions without documented consent from the resident or their representative. Staff confirmed that consent was not obtained prior to administering the medication, despite facility expectations that such consent should be secured before starting any new medications. Additionally, two other residents were observed with safety devices in use—specifically, fall mats on both sides of the bed for one resident with a history of falls and a bed positioned against the wall for another resident. In both cases, there was no documented consent from the residents or their representatives for the use of these safety interventions. Staff interviews confirmed that consents were not obtained as required, even though facility policy and staff expectations dictated that consents should be secured prior to implementing such interventions.