Failure to Ensure Resident Privacy During Personal Care
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to ensure privacy and dignity for a resident during personal care by not closing the window blinds while providing care. During an observation, two CNAs performed personal care for a resident with severe cognitive impairment, incontinence, and multiple chronic conditions, including COPD, diabetes, major depressive disorder, and heart failure. Although the door was closed and the privacy curtain was pulled, the window blinds remained open, and a car passed by outside during the care. Both CNAs acknowledged in interviews that they should have closed the blinds, and their competency evaluations included instructions to do so for privacy during care. The resident stated that she did not want anyone seeing her during care, although she did not notice the blinds were left open on the day in question. Interviews with facility leadership, including the ADON, DON, and Administrator, confirmed that staff are expected to provide privacy by closing doors, pulling curtains, and closing window blinds during personal care. Observations from outside the facility showed that the resident's room was visible from the parking lot when the blinds were up. The facility did not have a specific policy on dignity, but staff training and competency evaluations required providing privacy, including closing blinds during care.