Failure to Provide Adequate Privacy During Personal Care
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident who required assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and frequent turning and repositioning due to a terminal illness was not provided with adequate privacy during personal care. The resident, who had moderate cognitive impairment and was dependent for personal hygiene and toileting, had a privacy curtain in her room that did not close completely, leaving an approximate three-foot gap. Both the resident and a hospice CNA reported that the curtain was too short and did not provide sufficient privacy, especially during bed baths and personal care. The resident expressed embarrassment and discomfort due to the lack of privacy, fearing exposure when people entered the room. Facility staff, including a CNA who regularly cared for the resident, were aware that the privacy curtain did not close fully but had not reported the issue to facility management. The Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator confirmed upon observation that the curtain was too short and had not been reported to them previously. The facility's policy required the protection of resident privacy during personal care, but this was not upheld in this instance, resulting in a failure to maintain the resident's dignity and privacy.