Failure to Ensure Resident Privacy During Care Due to Visitor Presence
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident who was dependent on staff for toileting, transfers, dressing, and hygiene reported a lack of privacy during personal care in a double occupancy room. The resident, who had intact cognition and multiple medical diagnoses including muscle wasting, osteoarthritis, pain syndrome, and mental health disorders, expressed discomfort with a male visitor being present in the room while care was provided. The resident observed the male visitor retrieving items from a refrigerator during these times, which made the resident uncomfortable, and communicated this concern to nursing staff. Interviews with staff confirmed awareness of the resident's discomfort, but there was no facility policy regarding visitors in the room during care. Staff indicated that if a resident reported a concern, they could ask the visitor to step out, but this was not consistently enforced. The facility administrator acknowledged knowledge of the situation but did not follow up with other residents to identify similar concerns or provide staff education to prevent recurrence. The lack of a clear policy and consistent practice led to inadequate privacy for the resident during care.