Failure to Maintain Resident Privacy During Personal Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a resident's right to privacy during personal care. During a bed bath provided by two hospice CNAs, the privacy curtain was drawn, but the door to the shared room was left wide open, making the resident's naked body visible to anyone approaching the room. The resident, who had severe cognitive impairment and required assistance with all bathing activities, was awake and alert during the incident. Multiple staff members, including a CNA delivering lunch and a housekeeper cleaning the room, entered and exited without ensuring the door was closed, despite the ongoing personal care. Interviews with the involved staff revealed inconsistent recollections about whether the door was closed, with some believing it had been closed initially and others stating it was already open when they entered. The housekeeper admitted he did not consider closing the door and was unsure if he had received training on privacy. The facility's policy and statements from the DON confirmed that privacy should be maintained during personal care by closing doors and curtains, and that staff are expected to be competent in upholding privacy standards.