Failure to Timely Respond to Resident Call Light
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to ensure that a resident's call light was answered in a timely manner, as required by the facility's policy and the resident's care plan. The resident, a cognitively intact female with diagnoses including epilepsy, COPD, major depressive disorder, anxiety, and a need for assistance with personal care, required substantial to maximal assistance with activities of daily living such as toileting, bathing, and dressing. During an observation, the resident activated her call light for assistance, but it was not answered for 18 minutes. The resident expressed ongoing concerns about delayed call light responses, stating that this had been an issue for months. Interviews with staff revealed that CNAs are expected to answer call lights within 2 minutes, and all staff are responsible for responding promptly. On the day of the incident, one CNA was occupied with dining room duties, while the other responsible CNA was unaware the call light had been activated. Both staff and administration acknowledged that prompt response is expected and that delays could result in residents' needs not being met. The facility's policy emphasizes the importance of timely responses to call lights to address residents' requests and needs.