Columbia nursing home didn’t have necessary alarms when resident died

A nursing home did not have the proper alarms set up in a bathroom where a resident died, according to a state inspection obtained by ABC 17 News.

The Department of Health and Senior Services inspection followed a death in a whirlpool tub at the Parkside Manor nursing home in March. An inspection report from the state submitted in May noted that the area did not have a call system for residents to notify staff members in case of emergencies as required by federal law.

The Columbia Police Department confirmed to ABC 17 News that it was investigating the death that happened on the morning of March 23. An initial report of the incident said the victim was found dead in a bathtub around 8:47 a.m. It was not clear as of Tuesday afternoon whether or not the investigation was ongoing.

The state inspection detailed several interviews investigators had with staff members at Parkside Manor. An administrator told the state that the resident would often bathe independently but needed help to get into the tub. Staff members would “check on the resident” periodically, according to the report.

An employee at Parkside Manor, referred to as “CNA B,” told state investigators that the resident enjoyed taking long baths. On that particular morning, the resident requested they take a bath independently.

“CNA B said during the bath time facility staff checked on the resident every 5-10 minutes, because there was no other way for the resident to request help if needed,” the report said.

Federal law requires nursing facilities “be adequately equipped to allow residents to call for staff assistance through a communication system which relays the call directly to a staff member or to a centralized staff work area” at both the residents’ bedside and all “toilet and bathing facilities.”

The facility agreed to install an audio and visual alarm to the area. Residents could use the system, which would alert staff in the nursing station and outside the spa room. The staff would also conduct an “assessment” of a resident for safety if they wanted to bathe independently and keep a list of all residents cleared to do so.

“All residents that bathe independently are considered at risk of the alleged deficient practice,” the report said.

The report noted that by signing the agreement, Parkside Manor did not have to agree that the findings were accurate or amounted to a deficiency.

Facility administrator Elizabeth Bowles did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

The Department of Health and Senior Services has responded to four complaints made against the facility in the last year.