Failure to Provide Assistance with Personal Hygiene and Grooming
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide necessary assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), specifically grooming and personal hygiene, to residents who were unable to perform these tasks independently. Multiple residents were observed with overgrown facial hair, oily and uncombed hair, and there was a lack of documented evidence that staff offered or provided assistance, or that residents refused such care. In several cases, residents expressed dissatisfaction and frustration, stating they had requested help with shaving and hair washing but did not receive it. Staff interviews revealed that due to staffing challenges, they were sometimes unable to assist residents with scheduled showers, bed baths, or shaving, and refusals of care were not consistently documented or reported as required by facility policy. Residents affected included individuals with cognitive impairments, chronic pain, depression, and other medical conditions that limited their ability to perform personal hygiene independently. For example, one resident with chronic pain syndrome and major depressive disorder was observed multiple times with unkempt hair and overgrown facial hair, and stated they felt dirty and had repeatedly asked for assistance without receiving it. Another resident with vascular dementia and anxiety disorder was observed with thick, overgrown facial hair and uncombed hair, and reported having asked staff for help with shaving but eventually gave up after not receiving assistance. In both cases, there was no documentation of refusals or evidence that care was offered as required. Staff interviews further confirmed that some certified nursing assistants did not provide grooming care due to insufficient staffing and were unclear about documentation requirements for refusals of care. Supervisory staff acknowledged that residents should receive assistance with personal hygiene according to their care plans and that refusals should be documented and reported. However, observations and record reviews indicated that these procedures were not consistently followed, resulting in residents not receiving the necessary services to maintain good grooming and personal hygiene.