Failure to Provide Timely Bathing for Dependent Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that dependent residents received timely bathing as required by their care plans and physician orders. Medical record reviews for two residents revealed that scheduled showers or bed baths were not consistently offered or completed on the designated days. One resident, with diagnoses including dementia, peripheral vascular disease, COPD, and chronic pain syndrome, required substantial assistance with ADLs and had physician orders for showers or bed baths twice weekly. Documentation showed missed bathing opportunities on several scheduled days, and the resident reported that showers were not provided because staff were too busy. Another resident, with hemiplegia, cerebral vascular accident, sickle-cell disease, and seizures, also required staff assistance for bathing and had similar orders for regular showers. Records indicated multiple missed or undocumented showers on scheduled days, and the resident confirmed that showers were not completed as expected. Interviews with the DON and CNAs confirmed the absence of documentation for bathing on the missed dates and verified that if the electronic medical record was blank, the shower task was not completed. The facility's policy required that care and services for ADLs, including bathing, be provided based on the resident's assessment and needs. The deficiency was identified through medical record review, resident and staff interviews, and facility policy review, and was investigated under multiple complaint numbers.