Failure to Maintain Functioning Call Light System in Resident Rooms and Bathrooms
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a functioning call light system in 8 out of 67 resident rooms, specifically in rooms 101, 127, 151, 201, 204, 209, 231, and 252. During a walkthrough with the Maintenance Director, nonfunctioning call lights were observed in both the beds and bathrooms of these rooms. Residents reported that their call lights were unreliable or not working, leading staff to provide bells as an alternative means for residents to call for assistance. One resident stated she needed a bell at her bedside because the call light was sometimes nonfunctional, while another explained that although her call light was currently working, it was not reliable, prompting her to keep a bell nearby. Staff interviews revealed that the call light panel at the nurse stations did not always illuminate when a resident activated their call light, making it difficult for staff to identify which room required assistance. The Maintenance Director acknowledged frequent electrical malfunctions and outdated bulbs in the system, which could not be replaced. Staff reported that when the call lights failed, they relied on bells and moved residents who could not use bells closer to the nurse station for observation. At the time of the survey, the Maintenance Director stated that no broken call lights had been reported through the facility's maintenance request system.