Failure to Provide Shower Accommodations for Bariatric Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to honor a resident's preference for showers. The resident, who is cognitively intact and dependent on staff for bathing due to multiple comorbidities including multiple sclerosis, morbid obesity, bilateral above-knee amputations, and muscle weakness, repeatedly expressed her desire for regular showers rather than bed baths. Despite her care plan and Kardex specifying scheduled showers twice weekly with assistance, she had not received a shower since admission and was only provided bed baths. Staff interviews confirmed awareness of the resident's preference but cited the lack of appropriate bariatric shower equipment as the reason for not providing showers. Observations of the shower room confirmed the absence of bariatric shower chairs, and staff acknowledged that all available shower chairs were standard size and unsuitable for bariatric residents. The physical therapy assistant indicated she had not been consulted about the need for bariatric equipment, and the regional consultant and nurse consultant were unaware of any policy or procedure for accommodating such needs. Documentation showed the resident had only received bed baths, and there was no evidence of efforts to obtain suitable equipment to meet her preferences.