complaint·December 20, 2022

Facility has insufficient staffing to meet residents needs LPA investigated allegation that facility has, "Insufficient staffing". LPA interviewed 4 residents, 4 staff, and reviewed facility documentation. LPA interviewed staff in which they stated AM shift has 3 caregivers and 1 medical technicians, PM shift has 2 to 3 caregivers and 2 medical technicians , and NOC shift has 2 caregivers and 1 medical technicians on the floor. Care staff indicated that due to Covid related issues, at times it was hard finding staff to hire. Facility used a caregiver agency to supplement care when they were shorthanded. Two care staff indicated they are able to meet residents needs with the staffing that is available. LPA interviewed residents in care, in which two of four stated staffing levels have improved over the last several months. Residents indicated that facility provided a caregiver agency to supplement staffing levels. Two of the four residents indicated too many times they are waiting long periods of time for staff to respond to pendant pushes and showers were eventually cancelled. Relevant party indicated there is insufficient staffing to meet the needs of the residents. Due to the information obtained, LPA finds allegation to be UNSUBSTANTIATED . Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is UNSUBSTANTIATED. Facility is retaining residents that need a higher level of care During the investigation, LPA conducted interviews and reviewed documentation pertinent to the investigation. One staff interviewed stated it may appear that residents are retained needing a higher level of care, however these resident’s health condition decreased since they were admitted and may now need more care. Usually, the resident will go to the hospital and return on hospice. Eventually they will need more care because they can no longer do the activities they used to do, therefore, needing more care. Another witness interviewed stated; Pendants are not being reset once staff are attending to the resident. This makes it look like either staff are not checking on the resident when they have pulled their pendant, or they have been waiting for a very long time for help. The facility also have staff in memory care unit to add to the staffing. During investigation visit conducted on 11/30/2022, LPA review facility files. During this review, LPA did not observe any prohibited health conditions with any of the residents receiving care, or previously receiving care, at the facility. The facility’s daily activities do not appear to need additional staff than what the facility already have. To continue see 9099-C2... 9099-C2... Based on interviews conducted and records reviewed, the preponderance of evidence standards has not been met. Therefore, the above allegation is found to be UNSUBSTANTIATED . A finding that a complaint allegation is unsubstantiated means that although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of the evidence to prove that the alleged violation occurred. Per California Code of Regulations, Title 22, no citations were issued. An exit interview was conducted, and a copy of this report was given to Deborah Taylor.