Failure to Provide Timely Motorized Wheelchair to Support Resident Independence
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure a resident’s right to self-determination and freedom of movement by not providing a functional motorized wheelchair in a timely manner. A resident reported during the complaint investigation that their motorized wheelchair had been nonfunctional since 2025. The resident stated that a vendor had come to complete measurements for repair or replacement, but there had been no follow-up or communication regarding the status of the equipment. The resident reported that the lack of a functioning motorized wheelchair limited their mobility within the facility and affected their independence. Record review and staff interviews showed that the Physical Therapy Director had the resident measured for a motorized wheelchair by Freedom Mobility on 08/18/2025 and forwarded the vendor’s estimate to the Administrator because there was no Business Office Manager (BOM) in place at that time. The BOM, who started in December 2025, stated she became aware of the wheelchair issue on 01/16/2026 and learned from Freedom Mobility that authorization from Telligen had been received on 10/10/2025. The Administrator confirmed that from July 2025 through December 2025 there was no BOM and she had assumed Business Office responsibilities, which led to a breakdown in follow-up and tracking of the authorization process. She acknowledged that the facility did not follow up on the approved request and did not update the resident on the status, resulting in a delay in providing the necessary mobility equipment.
We Help Long-Term Care Teams Stay Survey-Ready
We process and analyze inspection reports and plan of correction using AI to extract insights and trends so providers can improve care quality and stay ahead of compliance risks.