Insufficient Clean Towels and Washcloths for Resident Care
Summary
The facility failed to provide a homelike environment by not ensuring an adequate supply of clean washcloths and towels were available for residents. Surveyors observed multiple unit linen carts with either very limited supplies or none at all, including Station One with three towels and two washcloths, Station Two with zero towels and zero washcloths, and Station Three with zero towels and zero washcloths. Staff interviews confirmed that linen shortages were ongoing, with CNAs stating they often had to search for washcloths and towels or cut up towels, sheets, and pillowcases to complete resident care. Resident interviews described repeated inability to obtain clean bath linens and the need to reuse or hide linens for personal care. A cognitively intact resident who was receiving enteral nutrition via G-tube stated that towels and washcloths ran out all the time and that the resident sometimes held onto them to reuse. Another resident reported using the same face towel for 2 to 3 days and said the resident had been given a few washcloths by a therapist to keep in a drawer for emergencies. A third resident stated that washcloths were not available for showers and that the resident felt the staff did not care. Additional residents reported similar concerns, including not having enough linens for showers or face washing, and one resident stated staff told them there was no linen available, resulting in a missed shower. A nurse stated that a pillowcase had been used to wash a resident when washcloths were unavailable and that there was sometimes a 1 to 2 hour wait for clean washcloths and towels, especially on night shift. The Laundry Supervisor and NHA were both unaware of the number of linens needed for the resident census, and the Laundry Supervisor acknowledged not conducting linen inventories. The facility policy stated that a clean washcloth and towel would be provided daily to each guest, but observations and interviews showed that this was not consistently occurring.
Penalty
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