Failure to Keep Call Lights Within Reach for Multiple Residents
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure resident call lights were within reach for multiple residents, contrary to facility policy stating that call light or bell access will be within reach as a method for residents to communicate needs to staff. One resident with dementia, depression, high blood pressure, impaired cognition (BIMS score of 3/15), and a self-care deficit related to language barrier and impaired mobility was observed lying in bed asleep with the bed positioned against the wall while the call light was attached to the privacy curtain across the room, out of the resident’s reach. A RN confirmed that this resident’s call light was attached to the privacy curtain across the room rather than being accessible from the bed. Another resident with Alzheimer’s disease, depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, impaired cognition (BIMS score of 5/15), functional incontinence, impaired communication related to dementia, and impaired mobility requiring staff assistance was observed sleeping in bed with no call light in reach; both call lights in the room were attached to the roommate’s bed. The RN confirmed that this resident’s call light was attached to the roommate’s bed and not within reach. In a separate observation, a third resident’s call light was found wound up over the call light actuator box near the recliner, not reachable from the bed, and the bed controller was on the floor at the foot of the bed, also out of reach. These observations showed that three residents reviewed for call light use did not have accessible call systems as required by facility policy.
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