Nonfunctional Call Light in Resident Room
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident's call light was found to be nonfunctional since their admission. The resident, who had a diagnosis of hypertension and a history of falls, required moderate assistance with activities of daily living and had an intact thought process. During an observation and interview, the resident demonstrated that their call light did not activate the visual indicator outside the room, and reported having to rely on their roommate's call light to request assistance. This issue was confirmed by a Licensed Vocational Nurse, who also observed that the call light did not work and acknowledged the importance of a functioning call system for timely response to resident needs. Further review of facility policy indicated that the resident call system is required to remain functional at all times and should be routinely maintained and tested by the maintenance department. The Director of Nursing confirmed the importance of a working call light system for communication between staff and residents, noting that a malfunction could result in staff being unable to meet residents' needs immediately. The deficiency was based on direct observation, resident and staff interviews, and review of facility records and policies.