Resident Not Allowed to Keep Personal Television, Violating Dignity and Self-Determination
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a failure to honor a resident’s right to dignity and self-determination when the facility did not allow a cognitively intact resident to keep her personal television. A quarterly MDS dated January 7, 2026, documented that Resident 20 was always understood, always understood others, was cognitively intact, and required staff assistance for daily care needs. During interviews on January 21 and 22, 2026, the resident reported that her grandson had given her a new television for Christmas, but he was called and told to take it back, and she was not allowed to keep it despite wanting it. The Director of Maintenance confirmed that there was no facility policy or life safety code determining the allowable size of televisions and that the resident’s television was removed. The Nursing Home Administrator also confirmed there was no policy or restriction regarding televisions brought in from outside as personal property, yet the resident’s television was still removed, resulting in a violation of resident rights under 28 Pa. Code 201.29(j).
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