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

Dignity and Meal Assistance Failures During Shared Dining

Vantage At Sudbury LlcSudbury, Massachusetts Survey Completed on 03-05-2026

Summary

The facility failed to ensure that residents in the Concord West, Concord East, and Concord Split nursing units were served their meals at the same time as other residents seated at the same table or in the dining room. During lunch observation, 20 residents were seated in the shared dining room at seven round tables, but at one table three residents had been served while one resident was still waiting for a meal tray. At another table, two residents had been served while one resident remained without a meal and was observed reaching over the table to take a chocolate cake dessert from a resident who had already been served. The waiting resident at the first table continued to wait while the other residents at the table had already started eating. During breakfast observation, residents seated in the dining room were again served at different times rather than together. One resident had a breakfast tray while the remaining residents seated in the room did not. A second resident was served later, and another resident left the dining room to ask a staff member about breakfast before returning and being served. Two residents seated in the dining room were not served until 20 minutes after the other residents had already received their breakfast meals. Staff interviews confirmed that residents seated together should be served at the same time and that it was not dignified for some residents to eat while others at the same table waited and watched. The facility also failed to provide Resident #4 with the supervision and assistance at meals that were identified in the care plan. Resident #4 was admitted with diagnoses including weakness, lack of coordination, and dementia, and the MDS showed severe cognitive impairment with a BIMS score of 3 and partial to moderate assistance needed for eating. The care plan indicated nutritional risk and required supervision during meals, but the active Care Kardex did not reflect that need. During breakfast observation, a CNA set up the tray and left the room. Resident #4 then ate independently, spilled food on the chest, dropped the spoon, and began eating with fingers. Staff interviews stated that Resident #4 required supervision during meals and that staff should have been in the room during meal consumption.

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 Preserve Resident Dignity During Shower Transfer
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 hemiplegia, hemiparesis, and vascular dementia was transferred in a mechanical lift from her room into a hallway to a reclining shower bed while only partially covered with a bath sheet, leaving her hips and buttocks exposed to others in the area. The resident said she did not like being left exposed, and staff stated the bed was usually placed outside her room because of space limits, though the DON expected her dignity to be preserved during the transfer.

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 Assistance
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 facility failed to provide a dignified dining experience for two residents who needed feeding assistance. One resident was left waiting while another resident at the same table was assisted and a third fed himself, and another resident received a tray but was not helped until staff finished assisting someone else at a different table. A nurse aide stated there were only two staff in the room and four residents who needed feeds.

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.
Cell Phone Use During Resident Care
E
F0550 F550: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Short Summary

Cell Phone Use During Resident Care: CNAs were observed by 11 confidential residents using personal cell phones while providing showers, peri-care, and other hands-on care, as well as while walking in halls, at the nurses’ station, and in the dining area. Residents said the phone use made them feel ignored, embarrassed, and that their privacy was violated. The DON and ADM stated staff should give residents full attention and not use cell phones in patient care areas, and the facility policy required residents be treated with kindness, respect, dignity, and confidentiality.

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 Knock Before Entering Residents’ Room
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 PTA entered two residents’ shared room without knocking or announcing herself first. One resident had arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, tracheostomy dependence, and respirator dependence, and both residents had severely impaired cognitive skills and were dependent on staff for multiple ADLs. The PTA stated she should have knocked and introduced herself, and the DON said staff should knock and announce themselves before entering to respect residents’ dignity and rights.

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.
Missed Off-Campus Appointment Due to Poor Transportation Coordination
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 quadriplegia and spinal stenosis missed a standing off-campus PT appointment after transport was not properly coordinated. A CNA escorted him to the pickup area, where Driver 1 said no driver was available and sent him back to his room, while Driver 2 later documented the trip as canceled without notifying the unit that she was available. RN staff did not verify transportation, and the resident became upset and reported feeling neglected and that his care was less important than other residents’ care.

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.
Uncovered nephrostomy bag visible from hallway
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 moderate cognitive impairment, MS, neurogenic bladder, an indwelling catheter, and a left nephrostomy tube had his nephrostomy drainage bag left uncovered and visible from the hallway while seated in a Broda chair with his room door open. The care plan directed staff to ensure he was appropriately covered and dignity was provided, and the RNCM and DON confirmed the uncovered bag was a dignity concern.

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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