MDS 3.0 Item F0800D: Staff Assessment - Receiving a Shower

Introduction

Purpose: Personal hygiene is an important part of daily care in long-term care settings, and many residents have specific preferences for how they bathe. MDS Item F0800D assesses whether staff conducted an assessment to determine the resident’s preference for receiving a shower when the resident is unable to express their preferences themselves. Understanding these preferences helps ensure that residents receive the kind of care that aligns with their comfort and dignity.

What is MDS Item F0800D?

Explanation: MDS Item F0800D is part of Section F: Preferences for Customary Routine and Activities. This item evaluates whether staff have assessed the resident’s preference for receiving a shower when the resident cannot communicate this preference. Showers can be a preferred method of bathing for many residents, and it is important to assess their comfort and needs to maintain a person-centered care approach.

Guidelines for Conducting and Coding MDS Item F0800D

Conducting the Staff Assessment: If the resident cannot communicate their preferences due to cognitive or physical impairments, staff must assess the resident’s bathing preferences through observation, input from family, and past records. Key questions to consider include:

• Has the resident expressed a preference for showers over other bathing methods in the past?
• Does the resident show signs of comfort or discomfort when given a shower?
• Have family members or caregivers indicated a known preference for showers?

This assessment helps ensure that the resident’s bathing routine aligns with their preferences, even when they cannot communicate these directly.

Coding Instructions: The coding for MDS Item F0800D depends on whether staff conducted an assessment to determine the resident’s preference for receiving a shower. The coding options are:

• 0 - No: No staff assessment was conducted to determine the resident’s preference for receiving a shower.
• 1 - Yes: A staff assessment was conducted to determine the resident’s preference for receiving a shower.

Example Scenario: If the resident cannot express their bathing preferences and staff assess, based on past behavior and family input, that the resident prefers showers over tub baths or sponge baths, you would code F0800D as 1 - Yes. If no assessment was conducted, you would code F0800D as 0 - No.

Best Practices for Accurate Coding

Comprehensive Assessment: Ensure that observations, family input, and any previous records are considered when conducting the staff assessment. If the resident’s care history indicates a preference for showers, this should be respected and documented.

Documentation: Clearly document the sources of information used to assess the resident’s bathing preferences, whether it be family input or prior records. Detailed documentation ensures consistency and helps maintain the resident’s preferred hygiene routine.

Communication: Share the results of the staff assessment with the care team to ensure that the resident’s preference for receiving a shower is respected and incorporated into their personal hygiene routine.

Training: Provide staff with training on recognizing residents’ bathing preferences and adjusting care plans to meet those preferences. Ensure that staff are attentive to the resident’s comfort and well-being during bathing routines.

Conclusion

Summary: MDS Item F0800D is essential for ensuring that residents who cannot communicate their bathing preferences still receive care that aligns with their comfort and dignity. Conducting a staff assessment helps ensure that the resident’s bathing preferences, such as receiving a shower, are respected and included in their care plan.

Click here to see a detailed Step-by-Step to complete the item set below.

Reference

This guide is based on the CMS's Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument 3.0 User’s Manual, Version 1.19.1, October 2024, Page F-5.

Disclaimer

Please note that the information provided in this guide for MDS 3.0 Item F0800D: "Staff Assessment - Receiving a Shower" was originally based on the CMS's Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument 3.0 User’s Manual, Version 1.19.1, October 2024. Every effort will be made to update it to the most current version. The MDS 3.0 Manual is typically updated every October. If there are no changes to the Item Set, there will be no changes to this guide.

This guidance is intended to assist healthcare professionals, particularly new nurses or MDS coordinators, in understanding and applying the correct coding procedures for this item within MDS 3.0. Additionally, this guide refrains from handling personal patient data and does not provide medical or legal advice.