Failure to Develop Comprehensive, Measurable Person-Centered Care Plans for Multiple Residents
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to develop and implement comprehensive, person-centered care plans with measurable objectives and timetables for multiple residents, despite clear policy requiring such plans within specific timeframes after MDS assessments. The facility’s written policy states that an interdisciplinary team, in conjunction with the resident and/or representative, must develop a comprehensive care plan within seven days of the required MDS and no more than 21 days after admission, including measurable objectives, timeframes, and services to meet physical, psychosocial, and functional needs. Interviews with the DON and ADON revealed that admitting nurses create temporary care plans, MDS staff are responsible for baseline care plans, and floor nurses are expected to update care plans, but there were gaps in execution, including the absence of an on-site MDS coordinator and reliance on remote and regional staff. One resident with a history of intracranial hemorrhage, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and multiple antihypertensive and anticoagulant medications did not have a comprehensive care plan addressing anticoagulant or blood pressure management. Although this resident had care plans for hypertension, arrhythmia, risk for bleeding, risk for decreased cardiac output, altered neurological status, impaired physical mobility, dehydration, and a no-added-salt diet, the care plans did not include monitoring for effectiveness and side effects of blood pressure medications and anticoagulant therapy. The goals for altered neurological status and impaired physical mobility were not aligned with those problem areas, focusing instead on skin integrity and pressure-relieving devices. The resident reported that staff had not reviewed the care plan or interventions with them. Another resident, admitted with anoxic brain injury, chronic respiratory failure, tracheostomy, ventilator dependence, gastrostomy tube, and hypotension, was assessed on admission as at risk for pressure injuries and dependent for mobility, but a skin integrity/pressure injury care plan was not initiated until approximately 10 weeks after admission. When the skin integrity care plan was eventually started, it did not specify how often the resident should be turned and repositioned, and there was no ADL care plan documenting transfer or bed mobility status. This resident also had an indwelling catheter documented on MDS, but a urinary catheter care plan was not initiated until about six months later. The bowel incontinence care plan for this resident, and the corresponding CNA Kardex, did not include how often the resident should be checked and changed for bowel incontinence, even though CNAs reported relying on the Kardex for direction on resident care. Several other residents who were always incontinent of bowel and/or bladder and dependent on staff for rolling left and right lacked care plan interventions specifying the frequency of incontinence checks and changes and repositioning. One resident with anoxic brain damage, dysphagia, chronic respiratory failure, quadriplegia, and a history of an indwelling catheter had bladder and bowel incontinence care plans that addressed peri care, clothing, staff assistance, and skin monitoring but did not state how often the resident should be checked and changed. Another resident with chronic respiratory failure, dysphagia, anxiety disorder, encephalopathy, gastrostomy tube, tracheostomy, and ventilator dependence had a bladder incontinence care plan without a defined frequency for incontinence care, no bowel incontinence care plan at all, and an ADL care plan that did not specify how often to reposition in bed or in the Broda chair. Additional residents with chronic respiratory failure, neuromuscular or neurologic conditions, feeding tubes, tracheostomies, ventilator dependence, and indwelling catheters were similarly affected. One resident with myotonic muscular dystrophy and chronic respiratory failure had bowel and bladder incontinence care plans that omitted how often to check and change for incontinence, and an ADL self-care deficit care plan that only stated to ensure proper positioning for comfort without specifying repositioning frequency. Another resident with ALS, chronic respiratory failure, dysphagia, and anoxic brain damage had an ADL care plan indicating total assistance by two staff to turn and reposition “as necessary,” but did not define how often repositioning should occur. A further resident with hemiplegia following stroke, chronic respiratory failure, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation had a bowel incontinence care plan that did not specify how often to check and change, and an ADL care plan that stated assistance by one staff to turn and reposition “as necessary” without a defined schedule. Across these cases, the surveyors found that the facility did not consistently translate assessed needs—such as incontinence, bed mobility dependence, catheter use, and complex medical conditions—into comprehensive, measurable, and time-specific care plan interventions.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
A resident with dementia, muscle weakness, and protein-calorie malnutrition had a care plan directing staff to offload his heels or use Prevalon boots while in bed. During observation, he was found in bed without the boots, and an LPN confirmed his heels were not offloaded even though they should have been.
Failure to care plan depression: A resident with MDD and ongoing depressive symptoms had psychology evaluations documenting depressed mood, loss of interest, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and appetite changes, and the MDS listed depression as an active dx. However, the care plan did not include depression as a focus area, and the MDS Coordinator and DON both stated it should have been care planned.
Incomplete care planning for ordered medications and diabetic footwear. The facility did not include ordered meds such as Eszopiclone, Lexapro, Mirtazapine, and Zolpidem in residents' comprehensive care plans, and one resident was not measured for diabetic shoes and insoles per MD order. The MDS Coordinator said the missing medication care plans were an oversight, while the DON and Administrator stated care plans are used to direct and guide resident care.
A facility failed to include person-centered comprehensive care plan focus areas for two residents receiving ordered meds. One resident with atrial fibrillation was receiving Eliquis, and another resident with insomnia was receiving Trazodone, but neither current care plan addressed the medication use. The MDS Nurse stated she was responsible for care plan development and said the omissions were due to oversight.
Failure to update a resident’s fall care plan with a Geri-chair intervention. A resident with dementia, osteoarthritis, diabetes, severe cognitive impairment, and a history of falls had a care plan listing multiple fall precautions, but after a witnessed fall and a physician order for a Geri-chair or tilt back WC, the care plan was not updated to include that intervention. Surveyors observed the resident in a Geri-chair, and the MDS Coordinator and DON acknowledged the care plan had not been updated.
Failure to care plan a resident’s impaired hearing. A resident with dementia and a history of hard of hearing was observed unable to hear normal conversation and stated he refused to use his hearing aid. The SSD and RN confirmed no care plan had been initiated for the hearing impairment or hearing aid refusal, and the DON stated the condition should have been care planned per facility policy and MDS triggers.
Failure to Offload Heels as Directed
Penalty
Summary
Resident #32, who was admitted with diagnoses including dementia, muscle weakness, and protein-calorie malnutrition, had a care plan revised on 6/18/21 directing staff to offload his heels or use Prevalon boots when he was in bed, as he allowed. During observation on 7/9/26 at 11:22 AM, Resident #32 was found in bed without Prevalon boots in place. At 11:23 AM, an LPN stated the resident should have had his boots on, then lifted the blanket and observed the resident's legs resting on a pillow. When asked whether the resident's heels were offloaded, the LPN stated they were not and confirmed they should have been offloaded.
Failure to Care Plan Depression
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement a comprehensive care plan for Resident #22, who had diagnoses including Major Depressive Disorder and was documented by psychology evaluations as having recurrent, moderate depression. The resident’s evaluation notes described decreased interest in activities, persistent depressed mood, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and changes in appetite, with symptoms occurring on more than half of the days and causing moderate subjective distress. A later psychology note again documented persistent depressed mood, marked loss of interest, altered sleep patterns, and fatigue with moderate distress. The resident’s quarterly MDS dated 6/13/2026 documented an active diagnosis of depression in Section I, but the care plan did not include a focus area for depression. During interview, the MDS Coordinator stated the resident had been followed by Balance Wellbeing since 12/2025, the diagnosis was entered on 5/20/2026, and depression was not included in the care plan but should be. The DON also stated the resident should be care planned for depression. The facility policy required a comprehensive person-centered care plan with measurable objectives and timeframes to meet the resident’s medical, nursing, and psychosocial needs and all services identified in the comprehensive assessment.
Incomplete Care Planning for Ordered Medications and Diabetic Footwear
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement a comprehensive person-centered care plan with measurable objectives and timeframes for 3 of 4 residents reviewed. Resident #12 had diagnoses including dementia, anxiety, malnutrition, and depression, and her physician orders included Eszopiclone for insomnia, Lexapro for depression, and Mirtazapine for protein-calorie malnutrition. Although these medications were active and administered, the comprehensive care plan dated 04/23/26 did not include care planning for Eszopiclone, Lexapro, or Mirtazapine. Resident #3 had diagnoses including PTSD, depression, and stroke, with a BIMS score of 08 indicating severely impaired cognition. Her physician order dated 06/01/26 included Zolpidem Tartrate 5 mg at bedtime for insomnia, and the MDS indicated she received a hypnotic medication during the look-back period. The comprehensive care plan did not indicate Zolpidem. During interview, the MDS Coordinator stated she reviewed the records and did not see care plans for Resident #12's medications or Resident #3's Zolpidem, and said it was an oversight. Resident #2 was also identified in the deficiency statement as not being measured for diabetic shoes and diabetic insoles per physician order. The facility's policy stated that a comprehensive, person-centered care plan with measurable objectives and timetables is developed and implemented for each resident and revised as conditions change. The DON and Administrator stated that care plans were a team effort and used to direct and guide resident care, and that if care plans were not done properly, care could be missed.
Missing Care Plan Focus Areas for Anticoagulant and Antidepressant Medication Use
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop a person-centered comprehensive care plan for a resident receiving anticoagulant medication. Resident #5 was admitted with atrial fibrillation and had a physician order for Eliquis 5 mg by mouth twice daily. The June 2026 MAR showed the resident received Eliquis as ordered, and the quarterly MDS assessment coded the resident as moderately cognitively impaired and receiving anticoagulant medication. However, the resident’s current comprehensive care plan, last reviewed on 6/19/26, did not include a care plan focus area for anticoagulant medication use. The facility also failed to develop a person-centered comprehensive care plan for a resident receiving antidepressant medication. Resident #8 was admitted with insomnia and had a physician order for Trazodone 50 mg by mouth at bedtime. The June 2026 MAR showed the resident received Trazodone as ordered, and the quarterly MDS assessment coded the resident as cognitively intact and receiving antidepressant medication. The resident’s current comprehensive care plan, last reviewed on 6/18/26, did not include a care plan focus area for antidepressant medication use. In both cases, the MDS Nurse stated she was responsible for developing the care plans and identified the missing care plan areas as an oversight.
Failure to Update Fall Care Plan With Geri-Chair Intervention
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement a comprehensive care plan that included all of Resident #1’s fall interventions. Resident #1, a [AGE]-year-old female with dementia, osteoarthritis, and diabetes mellitus, had a quarterly MDS showing a BIMS score of three, indicating severe cognitive impairment, and was assessed as having falls with one fall without injury. Her comprehensive care plan identified her as being at risk for falls related to debility, advanced age, and behaviors, and included interventions such as a low bed with fall mat, tilt back wheelchair, staff education, correct positioning in chair, nonskid tape under the fall mat, use of a call light, monitoring for changes in condition, and a pommel cushion added to the chair. After Resident #1 experienced a witnessed fall from her wheelchair in the TV area, a physician order was entered for safety devices including a low bed, fall mat, and Geri-chair or tilt back wheelchair. At the time of survey observation, Resident #1 was seen in a Geri-chair in the TV area and stated she liked it and was comfortable in it. However, the care plan did not include the Geri-chair intervention. The MDS Coordinator stated she had seen Resident #1 in the Geri-chair but had not yet updated the care plan, and the DON stated whoever had the resident should have seen the order for the Geri-chair and updated the care plan.
Failure to Care Plan Hearing Impairment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop an individualized, resident-centered care plan with measurable objectives, timeframes, and interventions to address Resident 33’s impaired hearing. Resident 33 was admitted with diagnoses including dementia, muscle weakness, and abnormal gait and mobility, and the H&P documented a history of hard of hearing. The MDS dated 6/5/2026 indicated the resident was moderately impaired in cognitive skills for daily decision making and had minimal difficulty hearing. During an observation and interview on 6/29/2026, Resident 33 was lying in bed and stated he could not hear the surveyor during a normal conversation, that he was hard of hearing, and that he refused to use his hearing aid. The SSD stated the resident had difficulty hearing, refused to use the hearing aid, and had no care plan initiated for impaired hearing. RN 2 later confirmed there was no care plan for the resident’s impaired hearing and that one should be in place to address the hearing impairment and refusal to use the hearing aid so staff could communicate effectively. The DON stated that a resident with impaired hearing should be care planned according to facility policy and that hearing impairment triggered on the MDS should be care planned, including refusal to use the hearing aid.
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