Failure to Ensure Call Light Accessibility for Non-Ambulatory Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with significant mobility impairments, including bilateral leg amputations and use of a manual wheelchair, was found unable to access their call light. The resident, who was cognitively intact and required varying levels of assistance for activities of daily living, expressed a desire to lie down but could not reach the call light to request help. Observation confirmed that the call light was not within reach, and the resident was unable to self-propel the wheelchair due to the placement of the wheels and his physical limitations. During the incident, the resident resorted to yelling for staff assistance, at which point a CNA entered the room to provide help. The CNA confirmed that the resident could not independently move the wheelchair and that the call light was not accessible at the time. Facility policy required that call lights remain within reach of residents at all times, and alternative call systems should be provided if traditional call lights were not usable. This failure to ensure call light accessibility was found during a complaint investigation and affected one of several residents identified as unable to self-ambulate.