Failure to Provide Individualized Cultural Activities for Non-English Speaking Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide an individualized and ongoing activity program to meet the needs and interests of a resident with severe cognitive impairment who only spoke a foreign language. Despite documented assessments and care plans specifying the need for cultural music and TV programs in the resident's primary language to promote therapeutic stimulation, observations on multiple occasions revealed that the resident's TV was set to English-language programming and no radio was present in the room. Communication cards in the resident's primary language were observed, but no other individualized activities reflecting the resident's cultural preferences were provided in the room. Interviews with staff, including the Activities Director and a CNA, confirmed that while group cultural music and events were offered in the activities room, the resident did not receive cultural music or TV programming in their room as required by their care plan. The Activities Director acknowledged the lack of appropriate TV channels and was unsure why a radio was not available in the resident's room. Documentation of activity participation indicated general activities such as socialization and entertainment, but did not reflect the provision of individualized cultural activities as outlined in the resident's assessments and care plan.