F0583

D

Failure to Maintain Privacy and Dignity During Bed Baths

Duarte, California Survey Completed on 02-06-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The deficiency involves failure to maintain resident privacy and dignity during personal care for two residents who were dependent on staff for bathing and hygiene. One resident, admitted with schizophrenia and dementia and assessed as moderately cognitively impaired and dependent for shower/bath, toileting, and personal hygiene, was observed receiving a bed bath. The CNA removed the resident’s blanket, gown, and diaper, leaving the resident’s whole body exposed while washing various body parts. During this care, the CNA opened the privacy curtain around the bed while the room door remained wide open, allowing the resident’s exposed body to be visible from the hallway. The CNA later acknowledged that residents must be covered during a bed bath and stated they forgot to cover this resident, contrary to facility policy requiring residents to be kept covered as much as possible during bed baths.

A second resident, admitted with epilepsy and a history of falls, had no cognitive impairment and was also dependent on staff for shower/bath and toileting hygiene. During a bed bath, the CNA initially closed the privacy curtain, removed the resident’s blanket and gown, and cleansed multiple body areas including the perineal area and buttocks while the resident’s whole body was exposed. The resident’s roommate then opened the privacy curtain, and the CNA did not re-cover the resident or close the curtain, continuing care, applying powder to the groin, and fastening the diaper while the resident remained exposed. In a concurrent interview, the resident stated feeling upset due to the lack of privacy and reported asking the CNA to close the privacy curtain. Facility policies on bed baths and resident rights required that residents not be exposed, be covered with a bath blanket, and be afforded privacy and a dignified existence.