F0558

D

Failure to Keep Dependent Resident’s Adaptive Call Light Within Reach

Signal Hill, California Survey Completed on 03-04-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The facility failed to ensure a resident’s adaptive call light was accessible and within reach, resulting in a delay in care and services. The resident had been admitted with a fracture of the medial malleolus of the left tibia, dementia, and muscle weakness. According to the MDS dated 1/14/2026, the resident’s cognition was moderately impaired and she was dependent on staff for all activities of daily living. During an observation and interview in the resident’s room, the resident’s switch adaptive call light was found on the floor away from her, and CNA 1 confirmed that the call light was out of the resident’s reach.

During the same observation, the resident stated she needed the call light positioned under her forearm so she could press it when she needed assistance from staff. In a separate interview, the DON stated that all residents must have an accessible call light within reach to ensure they can call for help. Review of the facility’s 2024 policy and procedure titled “Answering the Call Light” indicated that call lights need to be within residents’ reach. These observations, interviews, and record reviews showed that the resident’s call light was not positioned as required by facility policy or as needed by the resident, leading to the identified deficiency.