Staff Lying in Bed With Resident Violates Dignity and Respect
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves a failure to ensure a resident was treated with respect and dignity when a CNA lay in bed next to the resident while the resident was sleeping. The facility’s resident rights policies state that residents have the right to a dignified existence and to be treated with consideration, respect, and full recognition of their dignity and individuality, including privacy in treatment and care of personal needs. The resident involved had Alzheimer’s disease, generalized anxiety disorder, and hypertension, was on hospice services, had severe cognitive impairment, and was dependent on staff for all ADLs. The resident’s care plan directed staff to maintain a calm environment and approach due to anxiety and confusion related to Alzheimer’s disease. According to interviews and a photograph reviewed by the Administrator, CNA B lay on the resident’s bed, fully dressed in scrubs, beside the resident who was under the covers and lying on their side facing the wall. The CNA was positioned on their side with one arm around the resident in a hugging manner, with no indication of sexual contact. CNA B reported that they lay down beside the resident to see if the resident was ready to get out of bed for dinner and to help the resident wake up in a good mood, and acknowledged not thinking about the inappropriateness of the action at the time. Other staff, including CNAs, a CMT, an LPN, an RN, the DON, and the Administrator, stated that it would be inappropriate for staff to lie on a resident’s bed, particularly when the resident was unable to communicate, and one CNA reported the behavior as inappropriate hugging and joking with the resident.
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