Failure to Provide Timely Bathing Assistance for Dependent Resident
Penalty
Summary
A resident who was dependent on staff for activities of daily living (ADLs), including bathing and hygiene, did not receive a shower or bath for 11 days after admission. The resident was cognitively intact, incontinent of bowel and bladder, and required assistance from two staff members for ADLs. The resident reported not recalling being offered or refusing showers during this period. The resident developed a yeast rash in the perineal area, which was later treated with an antifungal medication after being examined by the facility physician. The resident's representative reported the lack of showers to facility staff, after which the resident received a shower. Review of the facility's records showed no documentation of shower refusals or alternative bathing methods, such as bed or sponge baths, during the first 11 days of the resident's stay. The resident's name was not entered into the shower/bath schedule book for the appropriate days, and staff confirmed that anyone reviewing the schedule would not have known it was the resident's shower day. The facility's policy required documentation of refusals and provision of necessary assistance for personal hygiene, which was not followed in this case.