Failure to Provide Scheduled Bathing and Hygiene Assistance Due to Staffing Shortages
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide scheduled bathing and personal hygiene assistance to residents who were dependent on staff for activities of daily living (ADL), as required by their care plans and personal preferences. Three residents, all cognitively intact and requiring varying levels of assistance, were identified as not receiving the number of baths or showers scheduled for them. Documentation for these residents showed significant gaps, with one resident receiving only one bath in a month and others missing multiple scheduled showers. Residents expressed a desire for more frequent bathing and reported that their preferences were not being honored. Interviews with residents, family members, and staff confirmed that missed showers and baths were a recurring issue. Residents reported receiving baths only once a week despite wanting more frequent care, and family members observed signs of inadequate hygiene. Staff interviews revealed that CNA staffing shortages were a primary reason for the missed care, with CNAs unable to complete all scheduled showers and bed baths. Staff also noted discrepancies between assignment sheets and actual care provided, and acknowledged that documentation did not always accurately reflect the care delivered. Facility leadership, including the DON and Administrator, were aware of ongoing complaints and attributed the deficiencies to insufficient CNA staffing. The DON confirmed that staff were expected to honor resident preferences and make multiple attempts before documenting refusals, but acknowledged that this was not consistently happening. The Administrator also recognized the problem and stated that management had discussed revising the shower schedule, but at the time of the survey, residents continued to miss scheduled showers and baths.