F0677

E

Failure to Provide Daily Oral Hygiene and Grooming Assistance for Dependent Residents

Fresno, California Survey Completed on 02-04-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide necessary assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), specifically oral hygiene and grooming, to three residents who required staff support. Resident 1, admitted with hemiplegia affecting the left side, multiple contractures, muscle weakness, and moderate cognitive impairment (BIMS score 10/15), was observed with long fingernails containing brown substance, visible white buildup on teeth, foul breath, and long facial hair. Resident 1 reported not remembering the last time his teeth were brushed or nails trimmed, stated he had a history of refusing showers but not oral care, shaving, or nail care, and said staff did not offer daily tooth brushing or grooming and that he had not received grooming assistance from any staff at the time of the interview. CNA 1 and RN 1 both observed that Resident 1’s appearance suggested personal hygiene had not been completed for more than a few days, with RN 1 noting the resident appeared not to have been shaved for a few weeks and that nails were dirty, long, and uncut, despite ADL documentation indicating recent nail care, oral hygiene, and shaving.

Resident 2, admitted with visuospatial deficit, hemiplegia affecting the left side, muscle weakness, GERD, and a need for assistance with personal care, also had moderate cognitive impairment (BIMS 12/15). Resident 2 stated she had been in the facility for a few months and that tooth brushing and grooming were part of her care plan but were not offered. She reported that her teeth were not brushed often because staff had previously said they did not have time, and she expressed a desire to have her teeth brushed every morning and night as part of her routine. She stated she felt dirty and believed the lack of tooth brushing had caused tooth pain because her teeth were dirty. During a later interaction in the hallway, Resident 2 stated she had not had her teeth brushed and was unable to open her mouth due to oral pain. ADL documentation for Resident 2 indicated oral hygiene was recorded as completed on two consecutive days in the review month.

Resident 3, admitted with spastic hemiplegia affecting the left side, arthritis, muscle weakness, and wheelchair dependence, also had moderate cognitive impairment (BIMS 12/15). During observation and interview, Resident 3’s teeth showed white and yellow buildup and foul breath. Resident 3 stated he had not been offered supplies or staff assistance to brush his teeth daily, and that tooth brushing was part of his care that should have been completed without him having to request it. He reported feeling dirty and being able to smell a foul odor on himself, and stated he wanted help brushing his teeth every day. Review of Resident 3’s ADL documentation showed no entries for oral hygiene since admission. Staff interviews with a CNA, LVN 1, the DON, the administrator, and the DSD consistently described the facility’s expectation that CNAs complete all personal hygiene and ADLs daily, including tooth brushing, grooming, shaving, and nail care, generally before breakfast unless residents requested otherwise. Facility policies on Resident Rights, Oral Care, Grooming Care of Fingernails and Toenails, and Showering and Bathing stated that residents should receive daily oral care, nail care, and personal care consistent with their preferences and care plans, but the observed conditions and resident reports demonstrated that these services were not consistently provided to the three residents.

The failure to provide daily oral care and grooming as required by the residents’ care plans and facility policies resulted in the three residents feeling unclean and, as stated by LVN 1 and the DON, placed them at risk for tooth decay, oral and respiratory infections, skin infections, skin breakdown, and other preventable issues. The discrepancy between the ADL documentation and the observed condition of Resident 1, as well as the absence of oral hygiene documentation for Resident 3, further demonstrated that the documented provision of care did not match the actual care delivered. The residents’ own statements that they were not offered oral care or grooming, combined with staff acknowledgments that these tasks had not been completed and that residents should not have to request such basic care, directly contributed to the identified deficiency in providing necessary services for ADLs to maintain personal and oral hygiene.