Unsafe Shower Chair Transfers and Ineffective Brakes Leading to Resident Fall and Head Injury
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure safe transfers and prevent accidents during use of shower chairs and wheelchairs, resulting in a serious fall with head injury for one resident and unsafe transfer practices for others. One resident with diagnoses including atrial fibrillation, dementia, chronic kidney disease, obesity, sequelae of cerebral infarction, diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension, and osteoarthritis was care planned as at risk for falls and required partial/moderate assistance for transfers. During a transfer from a shower chair to a wheelchair after a shower provided by a CNA, the resident reported asking if both the shower chair and wheelchair were locked and being told they were. The resident stated she placed her hands on the arms of the shower chair, began to stand, and the shower chair moved backward; she was unable to sit back down and fell to the floor, striking her head. She reported that the CNA was in front of her near the wheelchair rather than behind the shower chair securing it, and that in the past staff had held the back of the shower chair during transfers. Hospital documentation following this event described a mechanical fall while the resident was getting out of the shower chair when it slipped, causing her to strike her head, with imaging showing a possible 2–3 mm subarachnoid hemorrhage and a minimal parieto‑occipital hematoma. Facility staff interviews provided differing accounts of the transfer mechanics but consistently indicated that the resident was transferring from the shower chair to the wheelchair when the incident occurred. The CNA involved stated he locked both the shower chair and wheelchair, that the resident declined assistance and transferred independently, and that she became weak, sat on the edge of the shower chair seat, and the back of the chair raised and tipped forward. The facility’s incident note documented that the CNA reported holding the wheelchair while the resident transferred and that one of the shower chair wheels came out, causing her to lose balance and fall. Nursing leadership interviews reflected conflicting recollections of whether the resident was holding the shower chair armrests or the wheelchair armrests at the time of the fall, but confirmed that the shower chair moved and that a wheel was reported to have come off. Further observations and staff interviews revealed that the plastic‑caster shower chairs used in the facility did not remain stationary even when their brakes were applied, and that staff were aware they could slide or roll on tile floors. Direct testing of the shower chairs showed that with the brakes locked, the chairs could still be propelled or rolled on the tile floor. A maintenance director initially stated he had no concerns about the brakes and that CNAs knew they had to hold the shower chairs because they slide on tile regardless of brake use, later acknowledging that the wheels did turn despite the brake mechanism being applied. An LPN and CNA demonstrated that locked shower chair wheels could roll when pushed, and another CNA stated she did not rely on the brakes, instead using her own strength to hold the chair and at times moving a shower chair and positioning a wheelchair for a resident without locking the wheelchair brakes before seating the resident. In another observed transfer, a cognitively intact resident who required only setup or cleanup assistance was able to pull a locked‑brake shower chair toward himself and cause it to slide backward as he sat, and was then transported down the hall with the shower chair brakes still locked while the wheels continued to roll. These observations occurred in the context of a facility transfer policy that required stabilizing or locking all surfaces, including wheelchairs and beds, and prohibiting residents from pulling up on assistive devices to achieve standing, indicating that the transfer practices and equipment performance did not align with the written policy. The residents involved in these events had significant medical and functional conditions relevant to safe transfers. The resident who fell and sustained a head injury had intact cognition per MDS but multiple comorbidities including prior cerebral infarction, morbid obesity, and dependence on renal dialysis, and was care planned as at risk for falls. Another resident had dementia, unsteadiness on feet, abnormal gait and mobility, lack of coordination, and weakness, and required supervision/touching assistance for all transfers; during an observed shower transfer, his shower chair rolled slightly back when he stood because the CNA was holding his incontinence brief and not securing the chair, and the CNA acknowledged that most shower chair brakes were not solid and that she did not put faith in them. A third resident with Parkinson’s disease with dyskinesia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, congestive heart failure, cardiomegaly, osteoarthritis, and prior cerebrovascular events was cognitively intact and required only setup or cleanup assistance for transfers, yet was able to move a locked‑brake shower chair toward himself and cause it to slide during transfer. Across these cases, the combination of shower chairs whose wheels rolled despite engaged brakes, staff reliance on physical strength rather than reliable braking mechanisms, and failure to consistently secure both the shower chairs and wheelchairs during transfers contributed to unsafe transfer conditions and the cited deficiency. The facility’s own transfer policy specified that all surfaces, including wheelchairs and beds, must be stabilized or locked, and that residents should push up from wheelchair armrests and not pull up from assistive devices to achieve standing. However, the observed practices showed residents pulling on shower chair armrests and moving chairs with brakes applied, staff not always locking wheelchair brakes before seating residents, and staff acknowledging that they did not rely on shower chair brakes because they allowed movement on tile floors. The facility was unable to provide a manufacturer’s instruction manual for the shower chairs in use, and staff interviews indicated awareness that the chairs could slide even when brakes were engaged. These documented actions, inactions, and equipment conditions formed the basis of the deficiency for failing to ensure the environment was free from accident hazards and that adequate supervision and safe transfer practices were provided to prevent accidents.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
Failure to Follow Fall Interventions: A resident with dementia, ESRD on dialysis, impaired mobility, and a history of falls was observed ambulating and self-transferring in her room and bathroom without staff assistance, despite orders and a care plan requiring one-person assist with a walker, call light use, frequent safety checks, and skid strips by the bed. Staff interviews confirmed the resident was transferring independently and that the skid strips were not in place as documented.
A resident assessed as high risk for falls did not receive the physician-ordered fall mat on the right side of the bed. Surveyors observed no mat during multiple checks, and the TAR did not reflect the intervention. The resident said the mat had been removed after a new bed was placed, while an RN and the DON acknowledged the order remained in place even though the mat was no longer being used.
Smoking safety interventions were not consistently implemented for four residents who smoked. Two residents were observed smoking with staff supervision but without the smoking aprons listed in their assessments and care plans, and two other residents were also observed smoking in wheelchairs without aprons despite care plan interventions requiring them. The DON confirmed the apron requirement for two of the residents, while the ADON stated residents sometimes complained about the aprons and that he did not know when smoking assessments were completed.
A resident with cerebral palsy, severe cognitive impairment, wheelchair use, and a care plan requiring a mechanical lift for all transfers was manually transferred by a CNA instead of using the lift. During observation, the CNA lifted the resident by the upper back and moved him between the wheelchair and bed without mechanical assistance, despite having completed lift competency training and despite the DON confirming the resident required a mechanical lift for all transfers.
Failure to supervise a resident at risk for elopement led to repeated exit-seeking and wandering events, including being found off the unit and near exterior areas. The resident had dementia with cognitive impairment, hemiplegia, and diabetes, and staff notes described missing documentation of several wandering episodes, an incomplete care plan intervention, and incidents involving a broken alarmed door, a Wanderguard, and an unknown visitor letting the resident off the unit.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment fell during a lift transfer when a sling strap came loose and the chest strap clip broke, and two other residents were observed being transferred with total body lifts using slings that were not verified against their care plans or mobility assessments. Staff interviews showed some CNAs relied on the sling already in the room or on how it fit, rather than consistently checking the care plan or Kardex for the correct sling size and transfer method.
Failure to Follow Fall Interventions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident's fall interventions were in place for one resident reviewed for falls. The resident had diagnoses of dementia and end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis, was documented as having intact cognition but needing supervision with ADLs, transfers, and walker use, and was identified as a fall risk due to ESRD, impulsive behavior, and impaired mobility. The resident's nursing and provider orders directed staff to assist with ambulation, remind the resident to use the call light and wait for staff, and complete frequent safety checks each shift. The resident had a documented fall in which she was found sitting on the floor between her drawer and walker with bleeding from a forehead injury and a skin tear to her jaw, and she was transferred to the hospital where she received stitches. The incident report stated the resident lost her balance when she walked to her drawer to close it. The resident's care plan later identified a self-care performance deficit related to actual falls, weakness, and impaired mobility, and included interventions such as assistance from one staff member with a walker and gait belt, assistance with transfers and toileting, use of assistive devices, skid strips next to the bed, and frequent monitoring for safety. During observations, the resident was seen ambulating and self-transferring in her room and bathroom without staff assistance and at times without using her walker or call light. Staff observed the resident walking independently in her room, and an unidentified staff member passed by without entering the room. The resident stated that she walked and used the bathroom by herself and did not need to follow instructions. Staff interviews confirmed that the resident transferred independently and ambulated without a walker or staff assistance, while another nurse stated the resident was not supposed to self-transfer and that skid strips were not present despite being listed in the care plan. The DON stated that staff were expected to follow resident orders and care plans for safety.
Missing Ordered Fall Mat for High-Fall-Risk Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a resident assessed as high risk for falls received the physician-ordered fall prevention intervention of a fall mat positioned on the right side of the bed. Resident #50 was admitted with diagnoses including orthostatic hypotension, lack of coordination, reduced mobility, and communication deficit. The resident’s fall risk assessment showed a score of 50, indicating high risk for falling, and the care plan identified the resident as at risk for falls and fall-related injury due to a history of falls with fracture, cognitive impairment, and decreased safety awareness. During multiple observations, the resident was seen at the bedside and no fall mat was present on the right side of the bed or located in the room. The physician order dated 6/7/2026 specified a mat on the right side of the bed, but the MAR and TAR did not reflect the fall mat as an implemented intervention. The resident stated the fall mat had been removed after a new bed was placed and had been gone for a long time. An RN stated the resident was a fall risk and that the order for the fall mat should be followed or cancelled if no longer needed. The DON stated the bed had been changed out and the mat would get in the way, and the order should have been cancelled.
Smoking Safety Interventions Not Followed
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure adequate assessment and implementation of smoking safety interventions for four sampled residents who smoked. Residents #12 and #85 were observed smoking in the designated smoking area with staff supervision on multiple occasions, but neither was observed wearing a smoking apron even though the smoking binder and care plan indicated they needed one. During an interview, the ADON confirmed both residents were listed as needing aprons and stated the residents sometimes complained about the apron, but they should not smoke unless they put it on. The ADON also stated he does not go out with smokers often and does not know when assessments are completed. Resident #12 had diagnoses including COPD, muscle weakness, and epilepsy, and smoking evaluations noted tobacco use and balance problems while sitting or standing; smoking was added to the care plan with a clothing protector intervention. Resident #85 had diagnoses including hemiplegia and right-hand contracture, and although initial smoking evaluations indicated tobacco use with no impairments, smoking was later added to the care plan with a clothing protection requirement. Resident #52, who had CVA with right-sided weakness and paralysis, diabetes, mood disorder, major depressive disorder, and right hand and upper arm contracture, was observed smoking in a wheelchair without a smoking apron despite a care plan intervention requiring one. Resident #11, who had TBI, schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, paraplegia, and upper extremity contractures, was also observed in the smoking area in a wheelchair without a smoking apron, and no attempt was made by the smoking monitor to get the apron on. The DON confirmed that Residents #52 and #11 were supposed to wear smoking aprons when smoking, and the facility smoking policy required residents to be educated and evaluated for smoking upon admission, re-admission, and quarterly.
Failure to Use Required Mechanical Lift for Resident Transfer
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure Resident #5 was transferred with a mechanical lift as required. Resident #5 was admitted with diagnoses including cerebral palsy, BPH, and hypertension, and a quarterly MDS showed severe impairment in thinking with a BIMS score of 4. He required substantial to maximal assistance with toileting hygiene, used a wheelchair for mobility, and his care plan documented a history of falls with interventions initiated for a mechanical lift for all transfers to wheelchairs. A POC task also indicated he required a mechanical lift for transfers every shift, and he was listed among residents requiring a sling/mechanical lift. During observation, CNA C provided incontinent care and transferred Resident #5 from his specialized wheelchair to the bed and back without using a mechanical lift. Instead, she manually lifted him by placing her arms around his upper back and interlocking her fingers. In interview, CNA C stated she had been employed for a month, had completed lift competency during orientation, but did not use the lift because she felt comfortable transferring him without assistance and had never used the mechanical lift on him, although other staff did. The DON stated Resident #5 required a mechanical lift for all transfers and that staff could see this in the POC. The facility policy stated mechanical lifting devices shall be used for lifting and moving residents when necessary.
Failure to Supervise Resident at Risk for Elopement
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate supervision to prevent resident elopement for a resident who was identified as at risk for elopement and did not reside on a secured unit. The resident had diagnoses including hemiplegia, diabetes, and dementia, and the MDS indicated cognitive impairment. The record showed multiple elopement evaluations with changing results, including several assessments that identified the resident as at risk for elopement in July 2026, while earlier assessments had indicated not at risk or were incomplete. The care plan identified the resident as an elopement risk/wanderer related to impaired safety awareness, but the record contained only one incomplete intervention related to wandering, and no resident preferences were included. Behavior monitoring documented exit-seeking and wandering behaviors on multiple occasions in May, June, and July 2026, but progress notes did not document the behaviors noted on 5/21/26, 6/21/26, and 7/14/26. A physician order for a Wanderguard was created after the resident was found wandering outside on the curb, and staff notes described discussions with family and assessments after the resident was returned to the unit. The resident was later involved in additional elopement-related events. Staff statements and progress notes described the resident being found near a door, in the front hall, in the assisted living area, and off the unit near common areas, with staff searching for her after she was reported missing. One note stated the resident could escape through a security door because the alarm was broken and had not been fixed yet. Another investigation note stated the resident was found off the unit in a common area adjacent to the unit after being let off by an unknown visitor. The facility determined that the resident was cognitively unable to recognize the door requiring a code and would be physically unable to open it without assistance. The report states the facility was out of compliance with resident safety and supervision since 4/12/26.
Failure to verify correct sling size and safe lift use during resident transfers
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure staff followed accident prevention interventions and safe device use for three sampled residents who required total body lift transfers. The report states that four certified nursing assistants did not verify the correct sling size before transferring residents, despite care plans and the lift’s sling-size identification system directing staff to use specific sling sizes based on resident weight and transfer needs. Resident 39 had severe cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with behavioral disturbance, anxiety disorder, and muscle weakness. Her care plan and mobility assessments showed a progression from sit-to-stand lift use to total body lift use with two staff members and a medium sling. On 5/1/26, she was transferred from her wheelchair to her bed by a CNA using a sit-to-stand lift when the sling strap came loose from the hook on the lift and the chest strap clip broke, causing her to fall backward onto the floor. She sustained a skin tear on her right forearm, bruising to the right side of her face, redness to the right side of her body, and a bruise on her right frontal scalp. She was sent to the ER, where X-rays showed no acute findings or fractures. Observations later showed resident 39 being transferred with a total body lift using a large sling, and resident 8 and resident 25 were also observed with large total body lift slings on. Resident 8 had paraplegia, moderate cognitive impairment, and a care plan directing total body lift transfers with a medium and extra-large sling, while his mobility assessment indicated an extra-large sling and two staff members. Resident 25 had vascular dementia and muscle weakness; her care plan directed total body lift transfers with two staff members, and her mobility assessment indicated a large sling. Interviews with CNAs showed that staff sometimes relied on the sling already in the room or judged sling size by how it fit, rather than consistently referring to the care plan or Kardex. The DON and MDS coordinator stated that staff were expected to use the resident’s care plan or Kardex to determine sling size for safe transfers.
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