F0550 F550: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
D

Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity During Catheter Care and Meal Assistance

Armstrong Rehabilitation And Nursing CenterKittanning, Pennsylvania Survey Completed on 12-12-2025

Summary

The facility failed to provide care in a manner that maintained resident dignity for two residents. For one resident with a history of depression, neurogenic bladder, and quadriplegia, the clinical record indicated the use of an indwelling urinary catheter. Observation revealed that the resident's catheter drainage bag was left uncovered and hanging on the bed frame, contrary to the facility's catheter care policy, which requires privacy covers to be used at all times. This was confirmed by an LPN, who acknowledged that the lack of a privacy cover did not maintain the resident's dignity. For another resident with diagnoses including high blood pressure, cerebral infarction, and dementia, the clinical record and care plan indicated the resident was totally dependent on staff for self-feeding. During a lunch service, staff placed the resident's meal tray in front of her but did not provide the required assistance, leaving the resident without help to eat. This was confirmed by an LPN, who stated that the resident should have been assisted with lunch at the time the tray was delivered. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the facility failed to ensure care was provided in a manner that maintained the dignity of both residents. The findings were based on review of facility policies, clinical records, direct observation, and staff interviews, and were found to be inconsistent with both federal and state requirements for resident rights and nursing services.

Plan Of Correction

Resident R 3 had a catheter dignity bag placed on their catheter bag and resident R44 was fed their meal that day of survey. All residents with catheters will be reviewed to assure dignity bags are placed on catheter bags and residents with an order for assisted feeding will be reviewed and fed their meals. The Director of Nursing will educate nursing staff on placement of dignity bags on the catheter bags and all residents that are assisted with meals will be fed when their tray is delivered. The Director of Nursing or designee will audit catheter bags for dignity bag placement 3 times a week for 3 weeks, then 3 times a week for 2 weeks and 3 times a week for 1 week. Residents with orders for assistance to be fed will be reviewed and audited during mealtime that assistance was provided weekly times 3 and monthly times 2. Results will be turned into the monthly Quality Assurance meeting.

Penalty

No penalty information released
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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

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See other F0550 citations
Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity During Catheter Care and Dining
E
F0550 F550: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Short Summary

Failure to maintain resident dignity was identified when three residents with indwelling urinary catheters had drainage bags hanging on the bedframe without privacy covers, despite physician orders for privacy covers every shift. In addition, a resident who was ordered to be fed by staff was observed being fed by a nurse aide standing beside the bed during lunch, and the DON confirmed the dining experience was not dignified.

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 Maintain Resident Dignity During Dressing Assistance
D
F0550 F550: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Short Summary

A resident with dementia, anxiety, and osteoarthritis was observed sitting naked on the bed in full view of the hallway while a CNA assisted with dressing. The care plan directed staff to assist with dressing, and the CNA stated the curtain had not been pulled after returning the resident from the bathroom. The ED confirmed the facility failed to maintain the resident's dignity.

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 Dignified Dining Experience
E
F0550 F550: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Short Summary

Failure to provide a dignified dining experience: Four residents with significant diagnoses, including Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, cerebral palsy, TBI, and dysphagia, were brought to the assistive dining room for lunch but were not served their trays until more than 50 minutes after the posted mealtime. While other residents were already being assisted with eating, these residents were left watching the meal service, and the DON stated they should have been served at the same time as the others or not brought in until their trays were ready.

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 Protect Resident Dignity During Insulin Administration
D
F0550 F550: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Short Summary

A facility failed to protect the dignity of two residents when an LPN administered insulin injections in the commons area in full view of surveyors, staff, and other residents. The LPN lifted each resident’s shirt, cleansed the injection site, and gave the subcutaneous insulin injection publicly rather than in a private area.

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.
Late Meal Service and Public Medication Administration
E
F0550 F550: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Short Summary

A resident with dementia, depression, and anxiety was seated in the dining room while other residents ate, but the lunch tray was not served with the group on two occasions. In a separate event, an LVN administered oral meds to another resident with intellectual disability and cerebral palsy in the dining room while wearing gloves, rather than in a private setting, which staff stated was not the facility’s practice and could be seen as disrespectful.

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.
Unauthorized Shaving of Resident's Beard
E
F0550 F550: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Short Summary

A resident with dementia and Alzheimer's disease had his beard completely shaved by two CNAs without his RP's consent. The RP stated the resident had worn his beard for many years and had not been seen without it, and the DON stated the RP should have been notified because the resident lacked capacity to make decisions for himself. The facility policy required staff to ask the resident or, when appropriate, the resident representative about grooming preferences upon admission.

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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