NEW IBERIA, LA - Belle Teche Nursing & Rehabilitation Center was cited for failing to provide proper grooming care to a stroke patient, leaving the resident with uncombed hair for multiple days during a state inspection in May 2025.
Grooming Care Deficiency Documented Over Multiple Days
The inspection revealed significant lapses in basic personal care for a resident who had experienced a stroke affecting her left side, causing weakness and paralysis. The woman, identified as Resident #86, was admitted to the facility with flaccid hemiplegia affecting her non-dominant left side and hemiparesis following a cerebral infarction.
During the May inspection, surveyors documented that the resident's hair remained uncombed across multiple observations spanning two days. On May 19, 2025, at 12:11 p.m., inspectors observed the resident in the dining room with uncombed hair. A follow-up observation at 2:15 p.m. the same day showed her hair remained in the same unkempt condition.
The situation persisted the following day when inspectors conducted another observation in the resident's room at 2:39 p.m. on May 20, 2025, finding her hair still uncombed. When questioned about the situation, a licensed practical nurse on the unit acknowledged that staff had not been combing the resident's hair and confirmed "they should have."
Medical Significance of Grooming Care for Stroke Patients
For individuals who have experienced strokes, particularly those with hemiplegia, basic grooming activities become significantly more challenging. Stroke patients often lose motor function on one side of their body, making it difficult or impossible to perform routine self-care tasks like hair grooming without assistance.
The resident's care plan, dated January 17, 2024, specifically documented that she required assistance with hygiene and grooming activities. This indicates that facility staff were aware of her limitations and had established protocols to ensure her grooming needs were met.
Regular grooming serves multiple important functions beyond appearance. It helps maintain skin and scalp health, prevents matting and tangling that can become painful, and supports the resident's dignity and psychological well-being. For individuals in long-term care settings, maintaining personal appearance can significantly impact self-esteem and quality of life.
Industry Standards for Personal Care
Federal regulations require nursing homes to ensure residents receive necessary care and services to maintain good hygiene and appearance. Facilities must assess each resident's needs and provide appropriate assistance when residents cannot perform these activities independently.
The care planning process should identify specific grooming needs and establish clear protocols for staff to follow. When a resident has documented needs for grooming assistance due to physical limitations from conditions like stroke, facility staff must provide this care as part of routine daily activities.
Proper grooming care typically involves daily hair care, including combing or brushing, especially for residents who cannot perform these tasks themselves. This is considered a fundamental aspect of maintaining dignity and preventing complications such as scalp irritation or hair matting.
Regulatory Response and Facility Accountability
The citation was issued under federal regulation F 0677, which addresses the facility's responsibility to provide necessary care and services. Inspectors determined the violation caused minimal harm but had the potential for actual harm to residents.
The deficiency was classified as affecting "some" residents, suggesting this may not have been an isolated incident. When nursing staff acknowledged that grooming care should have been provided but was not, it indicated a breakdown in established care protocols.
Belle Teche Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is required to submit a plan of correction detailing how they will address the identified deficiency and prevent similar occurrences. The facility must demonstrate that appropriate measures have been implemented to ensure all residents receive necessary grooming assistance according to their individual care plans.
This violation highlights the importance of consistent implementation of care plans and proper oversight of daily care activities in nursing home settings, particularly for vulnerable residents who depend entirely on staff for basic personal care needs.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Belle Teche Nursing & Rehabilitation Center from 2025-05-21 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
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