Failure to Provide Consistent ADL Assistance and Personal Hygiene
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide necessary assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), specifically bathing and personal hygiene, for a resident with severe cognitive impairment and physical limitations. The resident, a male with dementia, muscle weakness, and an amputation, required substantial to maximum assistance with bathing as documented in his care plan. Despite being scheduled for showers three times a week, records showed that he received only two showers and one bed bath over a two-week period in April, and only one shower and one refusal in May, with another refusal in June. There was no documentation to confirm that showers were consistently provided according to the schedule. During an observation, the resident was found in bed with an odor and unshaved facial hair, stating he had not received a shower in a week and expressing a desire to be showered. Interviews with staff, including the DON and an LVN, confirmed that showers were to be provided on scheduled days and refusals documented, but the facility was unable to provide documentation verifying that the resident received showers as required. The facility's policy emphasized the importance of maintaining residents' dignity and quality of life through proper personal care, which was not upheld in this instance.