Call Light Not Accessible to Cognitively Impaired Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident's call light was within reach, as observed during a survey. The resident in question had diagnoses including dementia, schizoaffective disorder, and gastro-esophageal reflux disease, and was assessed as having severe cognitive impairment with a need for substantial to maximal assistance for activities such as showering, toileting hygiene, and dressing. During an observation, the call light was found hanging behind the resident's bed and not accessible to the resident. Interviews with both a Licensed Vocational Nurse and a Certified Nursing Assistant confirmed that the call light was not within reach and acknowledged the importance of accessibility for the resident to communicate needs. The facility's policy and procedures require that call lights be accessible to residents when in bed, but this was not followed in this instance, resulting in the deficiency.