Failure to Honor Resident's Grooming Preferences and Dignity
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident was treated with respect and dignity by not honoring his grooming preferences. The resident, who had severe cognitive impairment and multiple medical diagnoses including encephalopathy and Alzheimer's disease, required assistance with personal hygiene. Despite his care plan addressing some aspects of personal hygiene, it did not include his specific preference to be clean shaven or his desire to be shaved with an electric razor by his POA, rather than by staff using disposable razors. Observations showed the resident had a full, unkempt mustache and goatee, and both the resident and his POA expressed dissatisfaction with his facial hair and the discomfort caused by staff shaving him with disposable razors. Interviews with staff revealed a lack of awareness regarding the resident's grooming preferences, and documentation did not reflect his wishes. The POA had previously complained about the resident's facial hair not being properly shaved, and the resident himself stated he preferred to be clean shaven and did not like staff shaving him due to discomfort. The facility's policy on resident rights includes the right to reasonable accommodation of resident needs and preferences, but this was not followed in the resident's case.