Delayed response to resident call lights
Summary
The provider failed to ensure staff responded promptly to residents’ call lights for four of five sampled residents who reported extended wait times. Resident 46 said he had waited up to two hours for staff to answer his call lights and stated that waiting to use the bathroom caused pain and sometimes incontinence. Resident 31 reported waiting up to 45 minutes for assistance to the commode and said she lost independence because she was incontinent of bowel while waiting. Resident 105 reported being incontinent when she had to wait 15 to 20 minutes for help to the bathroom and said the delay made her feel humiliated. Resident 108 reported that her call light had been on for up to one hour and said she was upset because staff knew she needed help. Her care plan identified her as at risk for falls and stated that her call light should be within reach and that she needed prompt response to all requests for assistance. Resident 46’s record showed moderate cognitive impairment, diagnoses including myelodysplastic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and dorsopathy, and he required assistance with multiple ADLs including toileting and transfers. Resident 31 had intact cognition and diagnoses including Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, neuromuscular dysfunction of the bladder, type 2 diabetes, major depressive disorder, morbid obesity, and anxiety disorder; she required extensive assistance with transfers and toileting using a sit-to-stand lift with two staff members. Resident 105 had intact cognition and diagnoses including anxiety and depression, with ADL deficits related to impaired balance, limited mobility, and limited range of motion. Resident 108 had intact cognition and diagnoses including chronic kidney disease stage 3b and major depressive disorder. Call light logs documented repeated delays for each resident. Resident 46 had sixteen waits longer than 15 minutes, eight longer than 30 minutes, seven longer than 40 minutes, and one lasting 1 hour and 6 minutes. Resident 31 had fifteen waits longer than 15 minutes and one lasting 33 minutes. Resident 105 had seven waits longer than 15 minutes, four longer than 30 minutes, one longer than 40 minutes, and two longer than 50 minutes. Resident 108 had twenty-one waits longer than 15 minutes and one lasting 33 minutes. Staff interviews stated that call lights should be answered within 5 to 15 minutes, and the facility’s call light education stated that call lights answered in over 15 minutes were considered needs improvement.
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