Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity During Meal Assistance and Catheter Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain resident dignity in two separate instances involving two residents. In the first case, a male resident with muscle wasting and atrophy, who was cognitively intact and dependent on staff for eating, was observed being fed by a CNA who remained standing while assisting him with lunch in the hallway, rather than sitting at eye level and in the dining area. The CNA began feeding the resident while waiting for another staff member, and only stopped when instructed by a colleague to move the resident to the dining area. Both the CNA and other staff interviewed acknowledged that standing while feeding a resident does not provide dignity and gives the impression of being rushed. In the second instance, a female resident with chronic kidney disease and an indwelling urinary catheter was observed in her wheelchair at her doorway, with her catheter bag exposed and not covered by a privacy bag. The resident, who was cognitively intact, expressed that it would be preferable for her urine bag not to be visible as she was about to leave her room. The CNA responsible for transferring her to the wheelchair admitted awareness that the catheter bag was not covered and stated that a privacy bag should have been used to prevent embarrassment. Interviews with the DON, ADON, and Administrator confirmed that staff are expected to sit beside residents during meals to promote dignity and to ensure catheter bags are covered to maintain privacy. Facility policy also requires catheter bags to be stored in privacy bags to uphold resident dignity. These failures resulted in residents not being treated with the respect and dignity required by facility policy and regulatory standards.