Call lights inaccessible and room temperature not maintained
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a comfortable room temperature for a resident with cancer, muscle weakness, lack of coordination, and moderate cognitive impairment. The resident was observed lying in bed in a hospital gown with a damp face from sweating and stated that his room was hot because the air conditioning unit under the window was not working. He reported that the problem had been ongoing for about a month and that he had told aides about it. Later that day, the Maintenance Director checked the room temperature and found it to be 82 degrees Fahrenheit. He also found that the air conditioning unit would not turn on until he unplugged it, tested the outlet, and then plugged it back in, after which it started working. The facility also failed to keep call light systems accessible in shared resident toilets and at residents’ bedsides. In the shared toilets inside resident rooms, the call light pull strings were observed intertwined on a grab bar, short, and about two feet from the floor, making them difficult to reach. These conditions were observed for multiple residents in different rooms. The Maintenance Director stated the call light strings were too short and needed to be within reach of a resident who was on the floor, and he identified the risk as residents falling and not getting help. In addition, two residents did not have their call lights within reach. One resident with stroke, left-sided paralysis, and severe cognitive impairment had his call light on a chair underneath gift bags and birthday decorations and stated he was not sure where it was. A CNA found the call light and stated it should have been within reach on the bed. Another resident with sepsis, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, moderate cognitive impairment, and substantial/maximal assistance needs had her call light on the floor about three feet away from her wheelchair and stated she could not reach it. A CNA then attached the call light to her clothing so it would be within reach. The residents’ care plans and the facility policy both reflected that call lights were to be within reach and accessible for assistance.
Penalty
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