Wheelchair positioning left resident’s feet unsupported
Summary
The facility did not ensure that Resident #88 received care and treatment in accordance with professional standards of practice for positioning while seated in a wheelchair. Resident #88 had diagnoses including right-sided hemiplegia, right-sided hemiparesis, cerebral infarction, and aphasia, and the MDS documented severe cognitive impairment, partial/moderate assistance for transfers, and dependence for lower body dressing and footwear. The care plan identified limited physical mobility and, by 9/11/25, included locomotion on the unit with extensive assist of one staff member using a manual wheelchair with a calf board. During observation on 9/9/25, Resident #88 was seated in the wheelchair in the dining room with the leg rests extended straight out, while both feet hung approximately four to six inches above the floor for an extended period. The resident’s legs were straight down and the feet were pointed downward, with occasional movement of the right leg toward the leg rest but inability to raise it onto the support. During observation on 9/11/25, a CNA wheeled the resident to the dining room with both leg rests extended straight out; the left leg was on the leg rest initially, the right leg was hanging down, and after the CNA walked away the left leg fell off the leg rest. For the remainder of the observation, both feet remained pointed downward with the heels and toes several inches above the floor, and the resident at times placed one foot on top of the other. Staff interviews confirmed the positioning problem and that the wheelchair supports were not appropriate for the resident. The CNA stated the resident’s legs should have been on the leg rests and that the leg rests should have been in a downward position so the resident could reach them. The LPN stated both feet and legs should have been supported. The RCRC stated the leg rests should not have been straight out and should have been angled downward so the resident could rest their feet, and that the legs and feet should have been supported for circulation and to prevent foot drop or contractures. The DOR stated the leg rests were straight out, extended longer than they should have been, and even when angled downward they would still have been too long for the resident’s feet to reach. The DON, NP, and Administrator each stated staff were expected to ensure the resident was positioned correctly and that the resident’s legs and feet were supported.
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