F0919

D

Failure to Ensure Proper Functioning of Resident Call Light Indicators

New Haven, Connecticut Survey Completed on 02-18-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure that resident call systems functioned as intended, specifically that the visual call light indicators above room doors illuminated when call bells were activated. During a tour of the third floor, when Resident #4 activated the call bell, the visual indicator light outside the room above the door did not illuminate, and the resident reported that the call bell often did not work properly and had recently been serviced by staff. Shortly thereafter, when Resident #1’s call bell was activated, the call light indicator outside that room also failed to illuminate. When the charge nurse (LPN #1) tested Resident #4’s call bell, the light above the room door again did not illuminate, although the audible signal and visual light at the nurses’ station did activate.

The DON stated that the expectation was for the call light indicator above a room door to illuminate when the call bell was pressed. The Administrator reported that routine environmental rounds and testing of the call bell system were conducted but could not specify how often these occurred, and no documentation of such rounds or call bell testing was provided upon request. Review of the facility maintenance log from December 2025 through February 2026 did not show any repair requests for the call bell issues in the rooms of Residents #1 and #4. The facility’s Call Bell policy dated 1/1/24 directed that staff would be made aware of a call bell activation by both the buzzer at the nurses’ station and the light above the room, and stated that if a call bell was found to be defective, a hand bell would be provided, but there was no documentation in the report that these policy provisions were followed for these residents.