Failure to Maintain Resident Privacy During Personal Care
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to provide privacy for a resident during personal care activities. Specifically, while a certified nurse assistant was changing the resident's clothes, the privacy curtain was not closed, resulting in the resident's upper chest being exposed to their roommate and potentially to the hallway. This was directly observed by surveyors, and both the CNA and facility leadership acknowledged that the privacy curtain should have been closed during such care to maintain the resident's dignity and privacy. The resident involved had severe cognitive impairment and was dependent on staff for all activities of daily living, including dressing and personal hygiene. Facility records, including the care plan, indicated that staff were required to maintain the resident's privacy and respect their rights during care. The facility's policy on dignity also specified that bodily privacy must be protected during personal care and treatment procedures.