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32 | The LPA interviewed eight residents regarding their experiences with requesting assistance from facility staff and the facility's response times. Two of the eight residents stated that they had never needed assistance from staff and did not need to use the call light/pull cord. Four of the eight residents interviewed stated that staff generally responded to their requests for assistance in less than five minutes. However, five of the eight residents stated that response times were significantly delayed during nighttime hours or on weekends. LPA tested the call switches in three resident bedrooms. In each instance, a staff member responded within one to three minutes. The LPA also interviewed facility staff regarding the response to resident call lights. Three caregivers were interviewed. The caregivers interviewed had all been employed by the facility within the previous six months. The caregivers stated that caregiver call buttons are responded to in less than five minutes. A medication technician (Med Tech) was also interviewed and stated that Med Techs assist with responding to call lights when caregivers are unable to respond. The Office Assistant stated there is no log record for response times however , they had personally not observed a call light switch remain unanswered for longer than the approximately two to three minutes expected for staff to reach a resident. The Administrator was interviewed by telephone and acknowledged that the facility does receive complaints concerning response times. The Administrator stated that staff are being trained regarding the facility's required response time of approximately two to three minutes.
The LPA's review of the available records and observations did not identify sufficient evidence to establish that facility staff consistently failed to respond to residents' requests for assistance in a timely manner. Although some residents reported experiencing longer response times during nighttime hours and on weekends, the information obtained through interviews was not sufficient to establish that the facility routinely failed to respond to resident requests within the required time frame. The evidence obtained during the investigation was also inconsistent with the LPAs testing of the call system. Resident statements regarding response times varied, while staff interviewed reported that call lights were generally answered within the expected time frame. The facility's Administrator acknowledged receiving complaints regarding response times and reported that staff are receiving training to reinforce the required response time.
Based on interviews, record review, and LPA observations, there was insufficient evidence to support the allegation that the facility did not respond to residents' requests for assistance in a timely manner. Therefore, the allegation is determined to be UNSUBSTANTIATED, meaning that although the allegation may have occurred or may be valid, there is insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the allegation. An exit interview was conducted with the facility representative. A copy of the LIC 9099 was left at the facility. |