F0679 F679: Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
F

Failure to Complete Activity Evaluations and Document Resident Participation

Polaris Extended CareAnchorage, Alaska Survey Completed on 05-22-2025

Summary

The facility failed to develop, implement, and provide appropriate oversight of the activities program to support residents' choices and needs. Specifically, activity admission evaluations were not completed according to the facility's established policy for several newly admitted residents. In some cases, the required Activity - admission Evaluation forms were missing from the medical records, and in one instance, the form was present but left completely blank. The information regarding residents' activity preferences was primarily documented in the Minimum Data Set (MDS) rather than in the designated forms within the medical record, making it inaccessible to CNAs and LNs responsible for implementing activity choices. Oversight of the activities program was lacking, as the Activities Supervisor did not actively oversee the program for the facility, instead focusing on another LTC facility on the same property. The monthly activity calendar was created and implemented by Activities Staff, despite this not being within their job description, and the calendar had not been updated since a change in facility ownership. The Activities Supervisor's job description required planning, developing, organizing, implementing, and directing the activities program, but these responsibilities were not being fulfilled as intended. Additionally, the facility did not have a method to document specific resident participation in each activity offered. The electronic medical record's Point of Care (POC) charting section only allowed for a general, once-daily notation of activity participation by category, without specifying which activities a resident attended. This lack of detailed documentation prevented evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities program and whether it met residents' assessed needs and preferences.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $98,865
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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 F0679 citations
No Scheduled Outings for Residents Who Wanted Group Activities Outside the Facility
E
F0679 F679: Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Short Summary

A facility failed to plan group outings outside the facility for residents who said it was very important to them to go out in a group setting. Five cognitively intact residents on the Resident Council reported there had been no scheduled outings for over a year, and they described feeling sad, unhappy, lonely, or depressed because they could not go to restaurants, shop, socialize, or attend events like movies, bowling, Christmas lights, or parades. The AD and Administrator stated the facility had no van and relied on contract transport for medical appts only.

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 TV Accommodations for a Hard-of-Hearing Resident
D
F0679 F679: Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Short Summary

Failure to provide activity accommodations for a resident with highly impaired hearing. A cognitively intact resident with a fracture preferred watching older TV shows but stated he/she could not hear the television when wanting to watch it. Staff observed the resident in bed with the TV off on multiple occasions, and staff reported that headsets were used for hard-of-hearing residents, but one was not offered to this resident.

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 Planned In-Room Activities
D
F0679 F679: Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Short Summary

Failure to provide planned in-room activities for a resident who preferred not to attend group activities. The resident had intact cognition, anxiety around groups, and documented preferences for reading, news, TV, and one-on-one activities in her room. Records showed she was supposed to receive in-room activities, but no participation documentation was found, and the resident stated she had not received the activities she agreed to. The Activity Director acknowledged the resident had not received in-room activities since admission and said she forgot the resident was on the program.

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.
Activities Program Did Not Meet Resident Needs and Interests
E
F0679 F679: Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Short Summary

Activities program did not meet resident needs and interests for multiple residents. One resident wanted more 1:1 conversation but had very limited documented 1:1 activity time, another resident with severe cognitive impairment had minimal documented group participation despite a care plan to encourage involvement, and a third resident said he was not being told about church and group activities even though his MDS and activity preferences showed strong interest in them.

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.
Lack of Meaningful Activities in Memory Care Unit
E
F0679 F679: Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Short Summary

Lack of Meaningful Activities in Memory Care Unit: Two residents in the memory care unit were observed without meaningful engagement, with one resident wandering between areas and another sleeping on a couch in the common area. Staff reported that regular activities were not being provided, the unit did not really use the activity calendar, the TV stayed on the same show for two days, and there was no specific calendar developed to meet the needs of the memory care population.

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 Individualized Activity Programming
D
F0679 F679: Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Short Summary

Failure to Provide Individualized Activity Programming: Two residents with CVA-related paralysis and severe cognitive impairment did not have documented Section F activity preferences or care plans reflecting individualized activities for paralysis. One resident’s assessment showed preferences for fresh air, religious services, and activities throughout the day, but June activity records were inaccurate and the resident was observed in bed watching TV. Staff reported the AD position was vacant after the former AD moved to dietary, and they could not confirm that in-room activities were being provided to bedbound residents.

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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