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

Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity in Clothing, Catheter Privacy, and Dining Access

Pines Nursing And RehabEaston, Maryland Survey Completed on 03-12-2026

Summary

Facility staff failed to maintain resident dignity in multiple ways, beginning with inadequate clothing and linen management for one resident. On one observation, this resident was found lying in bed with no clothes on, covered only by a blanket that had a dried yellow stain, with a fitted sheet stained with dried food and yellow discoloration, and half of a diaper on the fall mat next to the bed. A hospital gown was observed on the floor near the bathroom alcove. Later, the same resident was observed in the dining/activity room crying, stating that they were cold and that women were supposed to wear long pants, while wearing only a short-sleeved shirt, khaki shorts, and slipper socks. A GNA reported that the resident had no other clothes in the room. In the laundry room, a large backlog of personal laundry was observed, and laundry staff reported that personal laundry had not been done over the weekend, that only one of three commercial dryers and a small non-commercial dryer were functioning, and that it was taking 4–5 days to complete laundry. The Director of Maintenance and Housekeeping confirmed that two dryers and one washer were not working and that staff were unable to keep up with personal laundry. Additional dignity concerns were identified for residents with Foley catheters. One resident was observed lying in bed wearing a hospital gown with a Foley catheter drainage bag hanging on the side of the bed, visible and not placed in a privacy/dignity bag. Another resident was observed lying in bed with a Foley catheter drainage bag visible from the hallway, also not covered by a dignity bag. The DON confirmed that residents with Foley catheters should have dignity bags and provided the facility’s Catheter Care Policy, which states that privacy bags will be available and catheter drainage bags will be covered at all times while in use. These observations showed that the facility did not follow its own policy regarding the use of privacy/dignity bags for catheter drainage bags. Residents also reported restrictions on their ability to dine in the dining room for dinner and on weekends, affecting their right to dignity, self-determination, and socialization. Multiple residents stated that they would like to use the dining room for dinner and to socialize with other residents, but that staff would not allow it, reportedly due to insufficient staffing. Observation of dinner service showed that residents on two units received dinner trays in their rooms, and the dining room was dark and empty during the dinner hour. Resident council notes documented prior concerns from residents about not being able to eat dinner and weekend meals in the dining room, and a council concern form showed that the Administrator had responded that the dining room was only open for breakfast and lunch on weekdays because there was not enough staff to support dinner or weekend meals. The Dietary Manager and Activities Director both stated they understood that dinner and weekend dining room service were not provided due to staffing limitations, and the Administrator confirmed that residents could not use the dining room for dinner and weekends because of lack of staff.

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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