Call Lights Not Accessible to Residents in Multiple Rooms
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that in 6 out of 20 resident rooms, call lights were not within reach of residents while they were in bed. Specific observations included call lights hanging on the wall above beds, between beds, tucked under pillows, clipped to call light boxes, or attached to bedrails, all out of reach for the residents. These observations were consistent during both morning and afternoon rounds, indicating a persistent issue. The facility's policy requires that call lights be within easy reach of residents when they are in bed or confined to a chair. Interviews with staff, including a Social Services Assistant, Social Services Director, Administrator, and DON, confirmed that there have been ongoing concerns about call lights not being answered in a timely manner and not being placed within reach. The staff reported that audits are conducted to monitor call light accessibility and response times, and education in-services are provided to staff regarding proper call light placement. However, despite these measures, the deficiency was observed during the survey, with call lights still out of reach for multiple residents.