Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity During Meal Assistance and Incontinence Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to honor residents' rights to dignity and respect in two main areas: meal assistance and incontinence care. Staff were observed standing over two residents while assisting them with their lunch, rather than sitting at eye level as required by facility policy. Both CNAs involved acknowledged that they did not follow the expected procedure due to time constraints and the need to assist other residents. The Director of Nursing and a Licensed Nurse confirmed that staff should be seated next to residents during meal assistance to maintain dignity and ensure safety, as outlined in the facility's policy on dignity and dining experience. A more significant deficiency occurred when the facility ran out of incontinent briefs over a weekend, affecting multiple residents who required these supplies for bladder and bowel incontinence. Several residents reported that staff instructed them to urinate or defecate in their beds due to the lack of available briefs. Some residents described staff taking briefs from their rooms to give to others, and in one case, a resident was told to use a towel. Residents expressed feelings of embarrassment, degradation, and a loss of dignity as a result of these actions. Staff interviews confirmed the shortage, with CNAs and nurses stating that they searched the facility for briefs, asked residents to share, and instructed residents to use their beds when supplies were unavailable. The supply shortage was attributed to the absence of the central supply staff member responsible for ordering and stocking supplies, leading to disorganization and delayed deliveries. Management and nursing staff confirmed awareness of the shortage and described efforts to locate or borrow supplies, but these were insufficient to meet residents' needs. Facility policies reviewed in the report emphasized the importance of treating residents with dignity, respecting their property, and providing necessary care and supplies to avoid neglect and maintain well-being. The events described resulted in residents being left without essential incontinence products, compromising their dignity and comfort.