F0679 F679: Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
D

Failure to Develop Activity Care Plans for Residents’ Preferences

Ellicott City Healthcare CenterEllicott City, Maryland Survey Completed on 02-19-2026

Summary

The facility failed to develop or update activity care plans to address residents’ activity interests for 3 of 4 residents reviewed. Resident #12 had been in the facility for several years, was dependent on staff for mobility, had some cognitive impairment, and preferred family involvement in care discussions. The resident’s MDS indicated it was somewhat important to get fresh air when weather was good, and the care conference note recorded the resident statement, “I need to go outside.” However, the activity care plan did not include interventions related to taking the resident outside, and activity documentation for the prior 90 days did not show activities offered from 12/7/25 through 12/15/25 or any documentation that the resident had been offered fresh air outings during that review period. Resident #2 was admitted in January 2026, was cognitively intact, and was observed independently wheeling in the hallway. The MDS showed it was very important to the resident to listen to preferred music and to go outside for fresh air when the weather was good. The resident reported that the only way to go outside was with residents who smoke during scheduled smoking times. Staff interviews showed conflicting information about access to outdoor areas, including statements that residents could not sit outside unsupervised in front of the building, that the courtyard was available, and that the courtyard required a code and staff assistance to access. Review of the resident’s care plan failed to reveal an activities care plan, and the Activity Director acknowledged that a full assessment and activity care plan had not yet been completed. Resident #89, a long-term resident, also had no activities care plan. On review of the care plan, no activities care plan was found, and the DON confirmed that the resident did not have one. The Activity Director later confirmed that there was no activities care plan for the resident and stated that every resident should have one. The report also noted that the Activity Director was new to the position and that an audit of activities care plans for all residents would be conducted going forward.

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 F0679 citations
No Scheduled Outings for Residents Who Wanted Group Activities Outside the Facility
E
F0679 F679: Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Short Summary

A facility failed to plan group outings outside the facility for residents who said it was very important to them to go out in a group setting. Five cognitively intact residents on the Resident Council reported there had been no scheduled outings for over a year, and they described feeling sad, unhappy, lonely, or depressed because they could not go to restaurants, shop, socialize, or attend events like movies, bowling, Christmas lights, or parades. The AD and Administrator stated the facility had no van and relied on contract transport for medical appts only.

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 TV Accommodations for a Hard-of-Hearing Resident
D
F0679 F679: Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Short Summary

Failure to provide activity accommodations for a resident with highly impaired hearing. A cognitively intact resident with a fracture preferred watching older TV shows but stated he/she could not hear the television when wanting to watch it. Staff observed the resident in bed with the TV off on multiple occasions, and staff reported that headsets were used for hard-of-hearing residents, but one was not offered to this resident.

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 Planned In-Room Activities
D
F0679 F679: Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Short Summary

Failure to provide planned in-room activities for a resident who preferred not to attend group activities. The resident had intact cognition, anxiety around groups, and documented preferences for reading, news, TV, and one-on-one activities in her room. Records showed she was supposed to receive in-room activities, but no participation documentation was found, and the resident stated she had not received the activities she agreed to. The Activity Director acknowledged the resident had not received in-room activities since admission and said she forgot the resident was on the program.

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.
Activities Program Did Not Meet Resident Needs and Interests
E
F0679 F679: Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Short Summary

Activities program did not meet resident needs and interests for multiple residents. One resident wanted more 1:1 conversation but had very limited documented 1:1 activity time, another resident with severe cognitive impairment had minimal documented group participation despite a care plan to encourage involvement, and a third resident said he was not being told about church and group activities even though his MDS and activity preferences showed strong interest in them.

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.
Lack of Meaningful Activities in Memory Care Unit
E
F0679 F679: Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Short Summary

Lack of Meaningful Activities in Memory Care Unit: Two residents in the memory care unit were observed without meaningful engagement, with one resident wandering between areas and another sleeping on a couch in the common area. Staff reported that regular activities were not being provided, the unit did not really use the activity calendar, the TV stayed on the same show for two days, and there was no specific calendar developed to meet the needs of the memory care population.

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 Individualized Activity Programming
D
F0679 F679: Provide activities to meet all resident's needs.
Short Summary

Failure to Provide Individualized Activity Programming: Two residents with CVA-related paralysis and severe cognitive impairment did not have documented Section F activity preferences or care plans reflecting individualized activities for paralysis. One resident’s assessment showed preferences for fresh air, religious services, and activities throughout the day, but June activity records were inaccurate and the resident was observed in bed watching TV. Staff reported the AD position was vacant after the former AD moved to dietary, and they could not confirm that in-room activities were being provided to bedbound residents.

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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