Failure to Maintain Comfortable Noise Levels in Dining Area
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment by not ensuring a comfortable noise level in the dining room for a resident with severe cognitive impairment. During a lunch meal, gospel music was played loudly over a speaker while the television was also on, resulting in the resident covering her ears and expressing that it was too loud. The resident, who had a history of dementia, stroke, and traumatic brain injury, was observed to be distressed by the noise and indicated that the music was often played too loudly. Her care plan included interventions to reduce distractions such as turning off the TV or radio. Staff interviews revealed that the music and television were not usually played simultaneously, and staff were generally unaware of any prior complaints about noise levels from the resident. The staff responsible for entertainment and the DON both stated that they would have turned down the music if a complaint was made, but were not aware of any previous issues. The facility's policy emphasized the importance of maintaining comfortable noise levels to create a homelike atmosphere, but this was not followed during the observed incident.