Failure to Provide Regular Bathing for Dependent Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide regular bathing for three of six sampled residents who required assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), specifically bathing. Resident 2, who was cognitively intact and required extensive assistance due to morbid obesity, diabetes, and a chronic pressure ulcer, was scheduled for bathing twice weekly but experienced missed showers over several months. Documentation showed significant gaps between bathing dates, including a 10-day span without bathing, and the resident reported that bath aides were reassigned to other duties, resulting in missed showers. Resident 3, also cognitively intact and requiring supervision for ADLs, was scheduled for twice-weekly bathing but received only three baths in October and three in September, with periods where no bathing or offers of bathing were documented. Resident 4, who required maximum assistance for bathing due to chronic conditions, reported a reduction in bathing frequency and records confirmed inconsistent bathing schedules. Staff interviews confirmed that bath aides were frequently reassigned to other duties, and there was a period when bathing was missed due to decreased bath aide hours and scheduling issues. The Director of Nursing and Nurse Manager acknowledged that all residents were scheduled for twice-weekly bathing, but staffing adjustments and a low census led to missed showers for multiple residents. These findings were based on interviews, record reviews, and care plan documentation, and reference was made to WAC-388-97-1060(2)(b) regarding the requirement to provide care and assistance for ADLs.