Failure to Provide Scheduled Showers and Document Refusals
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide showers as scheduled for three residents out of six sampled, despite having a policy requiring bi-weekly showers and documentation of refusals or missed showers. Review of shower sheets and schedules revealed that these residents missed multiple scheduled showers over a three-month period, with some months showing no showers provided at all for certain residents. The facility's policy also required that refusals be documented and reported, but there was evidence that this was not consistently done. Resident #1, who had diagnoses including multiple sclerosis and COPD and was dependent on staff for showering, missed the majority of scheduled showers from October to December. Resident #2, with COPD, heart failure, and rheumatoid arthritis, also missed nearly all scheduled showers during the same period and reported not receiving bed baths in between. Resident #5, who required substantial assistance due to muscle weakness and Parkinson's disease, similarly missed several scheduled showers, with some refusals documented but others not clearly accounted for. Interviews with residents and staff confirmed the lack of regular showers, with residents expressing a desire for more frequent bathing and staff acknowledging ongoing issues with shower provision and documentation. Observations included musty odors and unkempt appearance, and staff interviews indicated a lack of encouragement for residents to take showers and inconsistent completion of required documentation.