F0677 F677: Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
D

Failure to Provide Oral Hygiene Assistance

Fitchburg HealthcareFitchburg, Massachusetts Survey Completed on 02-11-2026

Summary

The facility failed to ensure ADL assistance was provided for one resident who was unable to complete oral hygiene independently. Resident #136 was admitted with diagnoses including muscle wasting and atrophy, hemiparesis, muscle weakness, and anoxic brain damage. The resident’s care plan identified an ADL self-care deficit with oral care assist/dependent, and the CNA care kardex listed mouth care as assist/dependent. The MDS indicated the resident was cognitively intact, had not demonstrated rejection of ADL care, and required partial/moderate assistance for oral hygiene. During multiple observations and interviews, Resident #136 stated that oral hygiene was not being offered or provided routinely and that staff did not set up toothbrush supplies, even though the resident could brush teeth if supplies were prepared. The resident was observed in bed with a thick white substance on the upper and lower gum line on more than one occasion. The resident also stated oral hygiene had not been provided since admission and had not been provided over the weekend. Staff interviews confirmed oral hygiene should be offered twice daily, that the resident needed set-up assistance, and that the resident did not have the ability to set up the supplies independently. CNA #4 acknowledged not assisting with oral hygiene on one day because she became too busy. The SW and MDS nurse observed extensive white plaque buildup and stated oral care was important because lack of it could result in infection or tooth loss.

Penalty

Inspection fine: $33,180
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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 F0677 citations
Failure to Provide ADL Assistance and Morning Grooming
D
F0677 F677: Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Short Summary

A resident with severe cognitive impairment, an indwelling catheter, and a need for assistance with dressing and personal hygiene was observed wearing the same soiled hospital gown and socks from the prior evening, with disheveled grooming and a strong urine odor in the room. A NA changed the catheter bag but did not offer a clean gown or morning cares, despite the care plan directing staff to provide peri-care and offer clothing assistance. The RN manager stated staff should have offered a clean gown and cares, and the DON stated staff were expected to offer cares and document refusals.

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 Assist Resident With Oral Hygiene
D
F0677 F677: Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Short Summary

Failure to assist a resident with oral hygiene. A cognitively intact resident admitted with a fracture required ADL assistance, including oral hygiene, per MDS and care plan. The resident stated staff did not provide a toothbrush or offer help brushing teeth, and the toothbrush was later found still in its original wrapper by the sink. The assigned CNA confirmed oral care was not provided, and the DNS stated residents should be offered oral care twice daily.

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 ADL Care and Hygiene Assistance
D
F0677 F677: Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Short Summary

Failure to provide ADL care and hygiene assistance: One resident with Parkinson’s disease, DM2, dysphagia, and polyneuropathy was scheduled for showers twice weekly but had no documented bath or shower for nearly two weeks and was observed with dirty clothing, skin flakes, messy hair, and facial stubble. Another resident with parkinsonism and Alzheimer’s disease, who required maximal assistance with personal hygiene, was repeatedly observed with dirty fingernails. Staff stated nails should be cleaned when dirty and checked daily, but the resident’s nails remained unclean.

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 Scheduled Bathing Assistance
E
F0677 F677: Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Short Summary

Failure to Provide Scheduled Bathing Assistance: Three residents who required help with ADLs did not receive bathing as scheduled. One resident had COPD, DM, and CHF and needed help with personal hygiene; another had a functional deficit and needed partial bathing assistance; all had bath schedules for 3 times weekly, but shower sheets showed missed or inconsistent baths. The DON stated showers should occur 3 times weekly and that refusals should be documented with a bed bath offered, while CNA and RN interviews indicated showers were sometimes missed and shower sheets were not always completed.

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 Nail Care During ADL Assistance
E
F0677 F677: Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Short Summary

Failure to Provide Nail Care During ADL Assistance: Multiple residents who required help with grooming and hygiene were observed with long, dirty, uneven fingernails and black/brown debris under the nails. Several residents stated they wanted their nails cleaned and clipped, and one resident with stroke-related R-sided weakness and hand contractures had overgrown nails, including nails digging into the palm. The DON stated nail care is part of grooming care, and one resident with multiple comorbidities and substantial/maximal assistance needs reported that no one offers to clean or cut his nails.

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.
Call Lights Not Kept Within Reach and ADL Grooming Not Provided
E
F0677 F677: Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
Short Summary

The facility failed to keep call lights within reach for multiple residents and failed to provide needed grooming assistance for a resident who required help with ADLs. Residents were observed in bed or in a wheelchair without accessible call lights, and one resident with dementia and neurocognitive disorder with lewy bodies had long facial hair despite needing staff assistance for shaving. Staff interviews confirmed the call lights were not properly accessible and that the resident needed help with personal hygiene.

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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