Failure to Respond to Call Lights in a Timely Manner
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to respond to resident call lights in a timely manner, as required by its call light policy. One resident, who uses a wheelchair, reported that she filed a grievance because it takes too long for staff to answer her call light and meet her needs. She stated that response times vary depending on which staff are working, that agency staff are the worst, and that delays are worse at night and on weekends. She reported having diarrhea and expressed concern that when she needs to use the bathroom, staff may not arrive in time, causing her to have an accident. She also stated that there had been no improvement in call light response times since she filed the grievance. Record review showed this resident has multiple diagnoses, including heart failure, malignant neoplasm of the bladder, enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, muscle wasting, abnormalities of gait and mobility, and muscle weakness, and requires supervision/touch assistance with toileting and partial/moderate assistance with transfers. Her care plan documents Clostridium difficile, and a grievance dated several days earlier documented her complaint about long call light wait times. During observation on another date, a different resident was seen with her call light on, stating she had turned it on to use the bathroom; the call light remained on for approximately 25 minutes while CNAs were passing meal trays before it was answered. The Acting Administrator/Regional Director of Operations stated that call lights should be answered as soon as possible, and the facility’s undated Call Light Policy states that resident call lights will be answered in a timely manner.
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