Call Lights Not Accessible or Answered Timely
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents’ call lights were accessible and answered in a timely manner for multiple residents, including residents with intact cognition and residents with impaired cognition. Surveyors observed several call lights out of reach or on the floor, including one resident’s call light and bed controller lying on the floor, another resident’s call light positioned where it was not in reach or in sight, and another resident’s call light behind the bed near the floor. Residents also reported that staff sometimes turned off the call light and left the room without returning promptly, and that call lights were sometimes left out of reach for roommates to retrieve. Resident 46 had dementia, heart disease, diabetes, and a history of falls, with a BIMS score indicating moderately impaired cognition. During interview, the resident reported that it takes a while before the call light is answered and stated he had been looking for the light for a while because he wanted to adjust the bed and could not find the bed controller. The call light and bed controller were observed on the floor, and the bed was in a higher position. Resident 50, who had intact cognition, reported that call light wait times were long and said one call light had been on for 8 hours. Resident 86, who had intact cognition and required assistance with toileting, bathing, personal hygiene, rolling, and transfers, reported waiting hours after putting the light on for a bowel movement and stated staff sometimes shut off the light and took a long time to return. Other residents and a confidential group gave similar accounts of delayed response times. Resident 3 stated call lights could take 30 minutes and sometimes 3 to 4 hours to be answered, with second shift described as the worst. Resident 7 reported it took 30 minutes to get the light answered and identified third shift as the worst. Resident 38 reported that call lights were often answered in about an hour and that there were times when staff did not arrive in time for bathroom needs. Resident 78 reported call lights were not answered for 30 minutes to 3 hours and that staff would shut the light off and not come back. Resident 10 reported call lights were not responded to for 30 minutes or more. Resident 44’s concern form stated an aide responded to the light, said there were people ahead of him, and did not return for nearly an hour. A confidential resident group reported average response times of about 30 minutes, with some waits as long as two hours.
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