F0677 F677: Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
E

Inadequate Assistance and Supervision for Residents with ADL Needs

Birchwood Terrace Rehab & HealthcareBurlington, Vermont Survey Completed on 09-03-2024

Summary

The facility failed to provide adequate assistance to residents who were unable to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) independently. Multiple residents with swallowing difficulties and cognitive impairments were left unattended during meals, despite care plans indicating the need for constant supervision and assistance. For instance, one resident with dysphagia was observed alone in the dining room and in their room with food in front of them, without receiving the necessary verbal cues or physical assistance to eat safely. Another resident with Parkinson's disease struggled to feed themselves due to the timing of their medication, yet staff left them unattended with their meal. In addition to meal-related deficiencies, the facility neglected to maintain proper hygiene for several residents. Observations revealed that multiple residents had long, dirty fingernails, despite expressing a desire for them to be cut. This lack of attention to personal care needs was consistent across several residents, indicating a broader issue with the facility's ability to meet the basic hygiene requirements of its residents. Furthermore, the facility failed to ensure that residents had access to call bells or assistance when needed. Several residents were observed calling out for help to use the bathroom or to be repositioned, but staff did not respond in a timely manner. In one case, a resident was left in a reclined wheelchair for an extended period, calling out for assistance to use the bathroom, but was not attended to for over 40 minutes. These observations highlight significant lapses in the facility's ability to provide necessary care and assistance to its residents, as outlined in their care plans.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $127,834
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The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:

See other F0677 citations
Failure to Provide Routine Grooming and Personal Hygiene Assistance
D
F0677 F677: Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Short Summary

Failure to provide routine grooming and personal hygiene assistance for two dependent residents. One resident with dementia was observed with long, uneven fingernails and debris under the nails, while another resident with dementia reported bothersome chin whiskers that staff had not addressed despite repeated requests. Staff gave inconsistent accounts of nail care and shaving practices, although the DON stated daily shaving was standard care for both males and females and that nail care was expected on shower days.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Provide Grooming Assistance
D
F0677 F677: Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Short Summary

Failure to provide grooming assistance: A resident with an ADL self-care deficit related to weakness, limited mobility, confusion, a compression fracture, and a hx of falls was observed with hair extending beyond his ears while resting in bed. He stated he wanted a haircut and that staff had never offered one, and the DON said there was no written record showing the resident had been receiving or refusing haircuts. The facility policy required ADL care, including grooming, based on the individual care plan.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Provide Timely Assistance and Required ADL Care
E
F0677 F677: Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Short Summary

Failure to provide timely assistance and required ADL care: A resident’s call light was left unanswered for 23 minutes and another for 18 minutes, both beyond the facility’s stated response time. Other residents did not receive ordered positioning or incontinent care as documented; one resident with diabetes, AFib, and skin damage was observed without the required wedge or with it placed incorrectly, and another resident with dementia and total toileting dependence was found in bed with urine-soaked linens and no documented bowel/bladder care for most of the day.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Provide Ordered Shaving Assistance
D
F0677 F677: Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Short Summary

Failure to Provide Shaving Assistance: A resident who was severely cognitively impaired and dependent on staff for ADLs was supposed to be shaved every morning and preferred to be clean shaven, but was repeatedly observed with whiskers on his face and neck over several days. The NA said the resident needed total assistance with shaving and was not shaved one morning because the electric razor was broken, while the RN stated staff should use the care guide/Kardex and report equipment issues when discovered; the DON confirmed the resident’s grooming preference and that staff should document the care actually provided.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Assist Dependent Resident With Meals
D
F0677 F677: Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Short Summary

Failure to assist a dependent resident with meals: A cognitively impaired resident with a hx of cerebral infarction, a mechanically altered diet, and orders for supervision/assistance with eating was observed sitting at lunch without staff cueing or feeding assistance for an extended period. Although the care plan and ADL documentation indicated she needed help and was dependent for eating, staff did not assist until a nurse aide later sat down to feed her, and the aide confirmed the resident typically required total assistance.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Provide Nail Care for a Resident with Diabetes
D
F0677 F677: Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Short Summary

Failure to provide nail care for a resident with DM and vascular dementia. The resident had moderately impaired cognition, was totally dependent for toileting and personal hygiene, and his care plan directed staff to trim his nails as needed. Staff reported nail care was expected on bath days and when needed, but the resident’s fingernails were observed repeatedly to be long with brown substance under them, and records did not show that he refused nail care.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
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