Resident Elopes Due to Faulty Door and Lack of Supervision
Summary
The facility failed to ensure adequate supervision and safety measures for a resident identified with confusion, poor safety awareness, and a desire to exit the facility. This resident, who had multiple medical conditions including moderate cognitive impairment, was able to elope from the facility through a door that was not in good repair and had a non-functioning alarm system. The door, located on the ground floor leading to a courtyard and main street, was found to be ajar and the alarm did not sound, allowing the resident to leave unnoticed by staff. The resident was found by a bystander on a sidewalk near a busy intersection, approximately 183 feet from the facility entrance, during the early hours of the morning. The resident was wet, without shoes, and wearing only pajamas and socks in cold and rainy weather. The resident sustained injuries from a fall during the elopement and was subsequently taken to a hospital where they were diagnosed with cold exposure and a head injury. Interviews with staff revealed that the door had been in disrepair for some time, with no alarm sounding when opened, and was frequently used by residents and staff to smoke. Staff were unaware of the resident's exit due to the lack of a functioning alarm and supervision. The facility's policy on elopement was found to be lacking in preventative measures and monitoring processes, contributing to the resident's ability to leave the facility undetected.
Removal Plan
- R1 was re-assessed for Elopement risk to complete accurate assessment.
- R1's care plan was reviewed and updated to include: R1 placed on monitoring while out of resident's room; R1 placed on hourly monitoring. There will be a sign off sheet to reflect his behavior, what he is doing, how is acting if he is verbalizing wanting to leave while his family is not in the facility. Wife is in the facility daily. R1's wife was educated to share with the staff to alert the staff when leaving.
- Facility initiated in-service on R1's direct care staff on plan of care to address elopement risk and precautions. This will continue until all direct care staff for R1 have been provided with in-service. The staff will not be allowed to work the shift without being In-serviced prior. Facility Scheduler, Nurse Supervisor, Administrator, and/or Designee will check if in-services are all completed prior to beginning of the shift.
- All residents in the facility who have cognitive impairments have scored moderate BIMS and are at risk high risk for elopement have the potential to be affected by the same deficient practice.
- All residents are being reassessed for elopement. The facility will monitor any resident that is at moderate and high risk and will make sure proper care plan is in place and will monitor resident for any significant changes.
- Facility initiated a binder with photos of residents who are at risk of elopement and will be checked weekly and as needed by Social Service and/or Designee. This will be on an ongoing basis.
- Facility DON and/or Designee will conduct a daily audit of all admissions and readmissions to ensure the elopement assessment has been completed. If a resident is at high risk for elopement, DON and/or Designee will ensure elopement precautions are in place and implemented. This will be conducted daily and will be ongoing.
- Facility initiated the audit of resident elopement assessments of residents who are at risk of wandering and elopement and residents with cognitive impairments to ensure proper care plan is in place.
- Facility removed door lever as well from the problem doors, to ensure doors are locked until alarm company will provide the sensor board. The sensor company will be at the facility to assess the problem in the motherboard.
- Door alarms will be checked daily to be completed by Maintenance, or the Designee or the MOD and audited by Administrator or designee.
- Latch to the door was lubricated and noted functional.
- Facility having door alarms modified to continuously alarm so staff would physically have to go to the location to reset the alarm in the event the alarm triggers.
- Facility initiated in-service on direct staff on Monitoring the Exit Doors, Assessing for Resident Departure, and Reporting to Maintenance Malfunctioning Equipment.
- Any staff member who has not received in-service education by the completion date will be in-serviced before the start of their next shift. Continuing education will be provided on these policies and procedures as needed.
- Facility has contacted low voltage repairer to come to the facility to repair the motherboard on the courtyard doors.
- Facility initiated in-service on direct care staff on residents identified at risk for Elopement along with Elopement Policy. Any staff member who has not received in-service education by the completion date will be in-serviced before the start of their next shift. Continuing education will be provided on these policies and procedures as needed.
- Facility may utilize verbal and in-person methods for in-services.
- The facility has an Elopement Binder with policy and list of residents' high risk for elopement/wandering to ensure appropriate training and in-service is provided.
- Facility will schedule a Resident Council Meeting to discuss facility's policy on going out on pass, utilization of back patio (i.e., smoking, including signing in and out when exiting the building through the front door) and when courtyard patio would be utilized by residents.
- Facility held an emergency QAPI meeting. Medical Director informed of the plan.
- Receptionist received in-service education to ensure all residents who go in and out of the facility follow the sign-in and out protocol.
- Staff to conduct head count on assigned residents during rounds.
- Staff will be assigned to monitor and supervise residents when out in the front of the facility and/or courtyards.
- Administrator will review audits weekly to ensure compliance with the measures put in place to address the safety of residents at high risk for Elopement.
- Administrator will ensure the Abatement Plan will be implemented and completed until compliance date and as indicated.
- QAPI was initiated to discuss with QA Committee the Abatement Plan and ensure all corrective actions and safety measures are consistently implemented. Medical Director notified via phone of the plan.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
Failure to Follow Fall Interventions: A resident with dementia, ESRD on dialysis, impaired mobility, and a history of falls was observed ambulating and self-transferring in her room and bathroom without staff assistance, despite orders and a care plan requiring one-person assist with a walker, call light use, frequent safety checks, and skid strips by the bed. Staff interviews confirmed the resident was transferring independently and that the skid strips were not in place as documented.
A resident assessed as high risk for falls did not receive the physician-ordered fall mat on the right side of the bed. Surveyors observed no mat during multiple checks, and the TAR did not reflect the intervention. The resident said the mat had been removed after a new bed was placed, while an RN and the DON acknowledged the order remained in place even though the mat was no longer being used.
Smoking safety interventions were not consistently implemented for four residents who smoked. Two residents were observed smoking with staff supervision but without the smoking aprons listed in their assessments and care plans, and two other residents were also observed smoking in wheelchairs without aprons despite care plan interventions requiring them. The DON confirmed the apron requirement for two of the residents, while the ADON stated residents sometimes complained about the aprons and that he did not know when smoking assessments were completed.
A resident with cerebral palsy, severe cognitive impairment, wheelchair use, and a care plan requiring a mechanical lift for all transfers was manually transferred by a CNA instead of using the lift. During observation, the CNA lifted the resident by the upper back and moved him between the wheelchair and bed without mechanical assistance, despite having completed lift competency training and despite the DON confirming the resident required a mechanical lift for all transfers.
Failure to supervise a resident at risk for elopement led to repeated exit-seeking and wandering events, including being found off the unit and near exterior areas. The resident had dementia with cognitive impairment, hemiplegia, and diabetes, and staff notes described missing documentation of several wandering episodes, an incomplete care plan intervention, and incidents involving a broken alarmed door, a Wanderguard, and an unknown visitor letting the resident off the unit.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment fell during a lift transfer when a sling strap came loose and the chest strap clip broke, and two other residents were observed being transferred with total body lifts using slings that were not verified against their care plans or mobility assessments. Staff interviews showed some CNAs relied on the sling already in the room or on how it fit, rather than consistently checking the care plan or Kardex for the correct sling size and transfer method.
Failure to Follow Fall Interventions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident's fall interventions were in place for one resident reviewed for falls. The resident had diagnoses of dementia and end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis, was documented as having intact cognition but needing supervision with ADLs, transfers, and walker use, and was identified as a fall risk due to ESRD, impulsive behavior, and impaired mobility. The resident's nursing and provider orders directed staff to assist with ambulation, remind the resident to use the call light and wait for staff, and complete frequent safety checks each shift. The resident had a documented fall in which she was found sitting on the floor between her drawer and walker with bleeding from a forehead injury and a skin tear to her jaw, and she was transferred to the hospital where she received stitches. The incident report stated the resident lost her balance when she walked to her drawer to close it. The resident's care plan later identified a self-care performance deficit related to actual falls, weakness, and impaired mobility, and included interventions such as assistance from one staff member with a walker and gait belt, assistance with transfers and toileting, use of assistive devices, skid strips next to the bed, and frequent monitoring for safety. During observations, the resident was seen ambulating and self-transferring in her room and bathroom without staff assistance and at times without using her walker or call light. Staff observed the resident walking independently in her room, and an unidentified staff member passed by without entering the room. The resident stated that she walked and used the bathroom by herself and did not need to follow instructions. Staff interviews confirmed that the resident transferred independently and ambulated without a walker or staff assistance, while another nurse stated the resident was not supposed to self-transfer and that skid strips were not present despite being listed in the care plan. The DON stated that staff were expected to follow resident orders and care plans for safety.
Missing Ordered Fall Mat for High-Fall-Risk Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a resident assessed as high risk for falls received the physician-ordered fall prevention intervention of a fall mat positioned on the right side of the bed. Resident #50 was admitted with diagnoses including orthostatic hypotension, lack of coordination, reduced mobility, and communication deficit. The resident’s fall risk assessment showed a score of 50, indicating high risk for falling, and the care plan identified the resident as at risk for falls and fall-related injury due to a history of falls with fracture, cognitive impairment, and decreased safety awareness. During multiple observations, the resident was seen at the bedside and no fall mat was present on the right side of the bed or located in the room. The physician order dated 6/7/2026 specified a mat on the right side of the bed, but the MAR and TAR did not reflect the fall mat as an implemented intervention. The resident stated the fall mat had been removed after a new bed was placed and had been gone for a long time. An RN stated the resident was a fall risk and that the order for the fall mat should be followed or cancelled if no longer needed. The DON stated the bed had been changed out and the mat would get in the way, and the order should have been cancelled.
Smoking Safety Interventions Not Followed
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure adequate assessment and implementation of smoking safety interventions for four sampled residents who smoked. Residents #12 and #85 were observed smoking in the designated smoking area with staff supervision on multiple occasions, but neither was observed wearing a smoking apron even though the smoking binder and care plan indicated they needed one. During an interview, the ADON confirmed both residents were listed as needing aprons and stated the residents sometimes complained about the apron, but they should not smoke unless they put it on. The ADON also stated he does not go out with smokers often and does not know when assessments are completed. Resident #12 had diagnoses including COPD, muscle weakness, and epilepsy, and smoking evaluations noted tobacco use and balance problems while sitting or standing; smoking was added to the care plan with a clothing protector intervention. Resident #85 had diagnoses including hemiplegia and right-hand contracture, and although initial smoking evaluations indicated tobacco use with no impairments, smoking was later added to the care plan with a clothing protection requirement. Resident #52, who had CVA with right-sided weakness and paralysis, diabetes, mood disorder, major depressive disorder, and right hand and upper arm contracture, was observed smoking in a wheelchair without a smoking apron despite a care plan intervention requiring one. Resident #11, who had TBI, schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, paraplegia, and upper extremity contractures, was also observed in the smoking area in a wheelchair without a smoking apron, and no attempt was made by the smoking monitor to get the apron on. The DON confirmed that Residents #52 and #11 were supposed to wear smoking aprons when smoking, and the facility smoking policy required residents to be educated and evaluated for smoking upon admission, re-admission, and quarterly.
Failure to Use Required Mechanical Lift for Resident Transfer
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure Resident #5 was transferred with a mechanical lift as required. Resident #5 was admitted with diagnoses including cerebral palsy, BPH, and hypertension, and a quarterly MDS showed severe impairment in thinking with a BIMS score of 4. He required substantial to maximal assistance with toileting hygiene, used a wheelchair for mobility, and his care plan documented a history of falls with interventions initiated for a mechanical lift for all transfers to wheelchairs. A POC task also indicated he required a mechanical lift for transfers every shift, and he was listed among residents requiring a sling/mechanical lift. During observation, CNA C provided incontinent care and transferred Resident #5 from his specialized wheelchair to the bed and back without using a mechanical lift. Instead, she manually lifted him by placing her arms around his upper back and interlocking her fingers. In interview, CNA C stated she had been employed for a month, had completed lift competency during orientation, but did not use the lift because she felt comfortable transferring him without assistance and had never used the mechanical lift on him, although other staff did. The DON stated Resident #5 required a mechanical lift for all transfers and that staff could see this in the POC. The facility policy stated mechanical lifting devices shall be used for lifting and moving residents when necessary.
Failure to Supervise Resident at Risk for Elopement
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate supervision to prevent resident elopement for a resident who was identified as at risk for elopement and did not reside on a secured unit. The resident had diagnoses including hemiplegia, diabetes, and dementia, and the MDS indicated cognitive impairment. The record showed multiple elopement evaluations with changing results, including several assessments that identified the resident as at risk for elopement in July 2026, while earlier assessments had indicated not at risk or were incomplete. The care plan identified the resident as an elopement risk/wanderer related to impaired safety awareness, but the record contained only one incomplete intervention related to wandering, and no resident preferences were included. Behavior monitoring documented exit-seeking and wandering behaviors on multiple occasions in May, June, and July 2026, but progress notes did not document the behaviors noted on 5/21/26, 6/21/26, and 7/14/26. A physician order for a Wanderguard was created after the resident was found wandering outside on the curb, and staff notes described discussions with family and assessments after the resident was returned to the unit. The resident was later involved in additional elopement-related events. Staff statements and progress notes described the resident being found near a door, in the front hall, in the assisted living area, and off the unit near common areas, with staff searching for her after she was reported missing. One note stated the resident could escape through a security door because the alarm was broken and had not been fixed yet. Another investigation note stated the resident was found off the unit in a common area adjacent to the unit after being let off by an unknown visitor. The facility determined that the resident was cognitively unable to recognize the door requiring a code and would be physically unable to open it without assistance. The report states the facility was out of compliance with resident safety and supervision since 4/12/26.
Failure to verify correct sling size and safe lift use during resident transfers
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure staff followed accident prevention interventions and safe device use for three sampled residents who required total body lift transfers. The report states that four certified nursing assistants did not verify the correct sling size before transferring residents, despite care plans and the lift’s sling-size identification system directing staff to use specific sling sizes based on resident weight and transfer needs. Resident 39 had severe cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with behavioral disturbance, anxiety disorder, and muscle weakness. Her care plan and mobility assessments showed a progression from sit-to-stand lift use to total body lift use with two staff members and a medium sling. On 5/1/26, she was transferred from her wheelchair to her bed by a CNA using a sit-to-stand lift when the sling strap came loose from the hook on the lift and the chest strap clip broke, causing her to fall backward onto the floor. She sustained a skin tear on her right forearm, bruising to the right side of her face, redness to the right side of her body, and a bruise on her right frontal scalp. She was sent to the ER, where X-rays showed no acute findings or fractures. Observations later showed resident 39 being transferred with a total body lift using a large sling, and resident 8 and resident 25 were also observed with large total body lift slings on. Resident 8 had paraplegia, moderate cognitive impairment, and a care plan directing total body lift transfers with a medium and extra-large sling, while his mobility assessment indicated an extra-large sling and two staff members. Resident 25 had vascular dementia and muscle weakness; her care plan directed total body lift transfers with two staff members, and her mobility assessment indicated a large sling. Interviews with CNAs showed that staff sometimes relied on the sling already in the room or judged sling size by how it fit, rather than consistently referring to the care plan or Kardex. The DON and MDS coordinator stated that staff were expected to use the resident’s care plan or Kardex to determine sling size for safe transfers.
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