Failure to Honor Resident Choice for Independent Smoking
Penalty
Summary
A resident who was cognitively intact and assessed as safe to smoke without supervision was not allowed to smoke at their preferred times. The resident's care plan and smoking assessment indicated that they could smoke independently and unsupervised. However, the facility restricted the resident from accessing the designated smoking area after 8:00 PM by locking the doors, despite the resident's expressed desire to smoke later in the evening. The resident reported this restriction to staff, and staff interviews confirmed that the policy of not allowing residents outside to smoke after 8:00 PM was enforced, even for those assessed as safe to smoke independently. Staff indicated that this restriction was due to instructions from department heads and concerns about cold weather, as well as a lack of available staff for supervised smokers. The Director of Nursing acknowledged that independent smokers should be allowed to smoke at their preferred times, and the Administrator was unaware of the restriction for independent smokers, attributing it to previous administration practices. The facility's actions failed to honor the resident's right to self-determination and choice regarding smoking, as required by their care plan and assessment.