Failure to Maintain Resident Privacy and Dignity During Personal Care
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure that a cognitively intact resident was treated with respect and dignity during the provision of incontinent and personal care. The resident was an elderly female with dementia, generalized anxiety disorder, depression, diabetes mellitus, and atrial fibrillation, who required staff assistance with ADLs, including toileting and incontinence care. Her care plan documented bladder incontinence, impaired mobility, and the need for staff assistance and supervision with toileting and bed mobility. On one occasion, video dated 02/14/26 showed the resident lying in bed on her left side with the privacy curtain open while CNA AA provided incontinent care. CNA AA left the room to obtain additional supplies and left the resident’s buttocks uncovered and exposed, with the curtain still open, allowing anyone entering the room to see her. In a subsequent interview, CNA AA acknowledged caring for the resident around that time, did not recall leaving her uncovered, and stated that not using the privacy curtain and leaving a resident uncovered placed the resident at risk for loss of dignity. The DON and Administrator both stated they expected CNAs to provide privacy during incontinent care and to ensure residents were covered. On another occasion, a surveyor entered the resident’s room and observed her lying in bed with her gown lifted to her chest, completely exposed from the chest down, while the window blinds were open. CNA Q then went to close the blinds and stated that the blinds should have been closed before starting care and that being seen undressed would be embarrassing for the resident. The resident reported that she wanted staff to close the blinds but sometimes forgot to ask. The ADON and DON both stated that staff were expected to treat residents with dignity and respect, and that blinds should be closed prior to personal care such as dressing or incontinent care to prevent embarrassment. The facility’s Resident Rights policy stated that residents have the right to a dignified existence and to be treated with respect and dignity in a manner that promotes or enhances quality of life.
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