Failure to provide ADL assistance and nail care
Summary
The facility failed to ensure residents maintained independence, functional status, grooming, and personal hygiene for three sampled residents. One resident with dementia, schizoaffective disorder, anxiety disorder, and severely impaired cognitive skills required partial/moderate assistance with eating and oral hygiene and substantial/maximal assistance with upper body dressing. The care plan directed staff to encourage participation in ADLs within the resident’s capability and to keep the head of bed elevated to 90 degrees for meals because of COPD-related airway clearance needs. During observation, the resident was seen eating lunch in bed without staff assistance, with the lunch tray placed across the bed on a bedside table and the head of bed positioned too low. The resident had difficulty reaching the meal. A PTA stated the head of bed was not raised to 90 degrees, and a CNA stated the resident could be left alone because the resident could eat by herself. The MDS nurse later stated the resident required partial assistance during meals and was not positioned correctly, and the PT stated proper positioning during meals was part of the care needed and helped promote easier swallowing and prevent aspiration. The facility policy for in-room meals stated the resident should be positioned as upright as possible. Two other residents were observed with fingernails that were too long and not maintained as part of grooming and personal hygiene. One resident with a history of cerebral infarction affecting the left non-dominant side, major depressive disorder, and hypertension had long fingernails on both hands during observation, and the resident stated the nails needed to be cut. A CNA and the DSD both acknowledged the nails were long and that staff needed to trim them to prevent scratching, skin breakdown, and infection. The DON stated the resident’s ADL care plan was incomplete because it did not include grooming and personal hygiene, and that fingernails should be trimmed at least twice per week. Another resident with lymphedema, bilateral lower-extremity cellulitis, gastroenteritis, and generalized muscle weakness was observed with long, jagged fingernails that were yellowish, dirty, and had blackish-brown debris under them. The resident stated the nails were long and dirty and said staff had been told previously, but the fingernail cart was not available on the weekend. On later observation, the nails remained long and dirty. A CNA and the DSD confirmed the nails were dirty, jagged, and discolored, and the DON stated the ADL care plan was incomplete because it did not include grooming or offering to cut the resident’s long fingernails. The facility’s Nail Care policy stated nail care was to promote cleanliness, safety, and a neat appearance, and the ADL policy stated residents should receive appropriate support and assistance with hygiene, mobility, and dining.
Penalty
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