Failure to Assist Resident With Requested Facial Hair Grooming
Penalty
Summary
Failure to provide assistance with activities of daily living occurred when staff did not trim a resident's mustache despite multiple requests. The resident, admitted with metabolic encephalopathy, need for assistance with personal care, and muscle weakness, had an admission MDS showing moderate cognitive impairment and a need for supervision or touching assistance with personal hygiene. A care plan documented that the resident required staff supervision/touching assistance with personal hygiene and assistance by staff with personal hygiene. On two separate observations, the resident was noted to have a full beard about an inch long and a mustache about 1/2 inch long that covered the full top lip and curled inward toward the mouth. During interview, the resident stated he had repeatedly asked nursing assistants to have his mustache trimmed, was not concerned about the beard length, and was frustrated that no one had assisted him, despite being told someone would come to trim it and that several weeks had passed without this occurring. The assigned nursing assistant confirmed the resident required staff assistance for facial hair trimming, acknowledged he had requested mustache trimming "for a while," and stated she believed the Transportation Aide was responsible because clippers were needed; she reported having notified the Transportation Aide but could not recall when and did not know why it had not been done. The Transportation Aide, however, reported she was never informed of any request for this resident. The nurse on duty stated she was unaware of the resident's requests and that NAs normally shaved men's facial hair per preference, and the DON reported that NAs were responsible for facial hair trimming and that clippers were available to all nursing staff. The Administrator stated he did not know why the resident's facial hair had not been trimmed and that he expected staff to complete all ADL care for all residents.
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