Failure to Provide Required Bathing Assistance and Maintain Hygiene
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate bathing assistance to three dependent residents who required help with activities of daily living (ADLs). One resident, admitted with acute osteomyelitis, weakness, chronic atrial fibrillation, and chronic kidney disease, reported not receiving a shower or bed bath for approximately two weeks prior to a recent bed bath, which was given with lukewarm water obtained from another area due to a lack of hot water in the resident's hall. The resident stated that the hot water issue had persisted for a couple of months and affected the entire hall. Another resident with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory failure, and diabetes reported not consistently receiving the required two showers per week, though the showers received were warm. A third resident, admitted with a left fibula fracture and repeated falls, communicated that the lack of hot water on her hall had lasted over a month and that she was taken to another part of the facility for showers, but did not feel she received enough showers overall. Interview with the corporate nurse confirmed that not all residents were receiving the required two showers weekly and that accurate documentation of shower dates could not be provided. The facility's ADL policy requires that residents unable to perform ADLs independently receive necessary services to maintain personal hygiene, including regular bathing. The failure to provide consistent bathing services and maintain proper documentation led to the deficiency identified during the survey.