Failure to Provide Required Nail Care for Dependent Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate grooming and hygiene services for three residents who required staff assistance with activities of daily living, specifically nail care. Clinical record reviews and resident interviews revealed that each resident had care plans directing staff to assist with hygiene and nail care on bath days and as needed. Despite these documented needs, observations on multiple occasions showed that the residents' nails were long and dirty, and the residents reported that staff had not offered to provide nail care during recent showers or at other times. The affected residents had significant medical conditions, including cerebral palsy, seizure disorder, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, and Parkinson's disease, and required varying levels of assistance with self-care. All three residents expressed a preference for short nails and indicated that staff had not fulfilled their care plan requirements regarding nail care. These findings were corroborated by both direct observation and resident statements, demonstrating a pattern of staff inaction in providing necessary hygiene services as outlined in the residents' care plans.