Delayed Call Light Response and Untimely Furnishing Repairs
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to answer call lights in a timely manner for four residents and did not accommodate timely repairs for furnishings for three residents, as observed through interviews, record reviews, and direct observation. One resident, who is cognitively intact but has quadriplegia and requires substantial assistance with daily activities, reported that staff often took up to an hour to respond to call lights, sometimes turning off the light and leaving without providing assistance. During the survey, the resident's call light was activated and not answered for 46 minutes, despite visible indicators at the nurses' station and in the hallway. Other residents also reported similar delays, with one stating that staff response could take up to an hour and a half, and another noting that staff would turn off the call light and not return for hours. In addition to delayed call light responses, the facility failed to address maintenance issues in a timely manner. One resident had a broken bedside table with peeling plastic that had not been fixed since July, while another had a missing wheel on a bedside table that had been broken for two to three weeks. A third resident reported a missing grab bar in the bathroom, which had not been repaired for months. Maintenance staff stated they rely on nursing staff to report broken items, but no work orders were found for these issues, and the maintenance supervisor was unaware of the problems. Facility policies require prompt response to call lights and timely reporting and repair of maintenance issues. Care plans for the affected residents included interventions for staff to respond promptly to requests for assistance and to ensure the use of appropriate assistive devices. Despite these documented expectations, staff failed to meet the required standards, resulting in prolonged wait times for assistance and unresolved maintenance concerns that impacted residents' ability to safely and independently perform daily activities.