Chalet Living & Rehab
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Chicago, Illinois.
- Location
- 7350 North Sheridan Road, Chicago, Illinois 60626
- CMS Provider Number
- 145670
- Inspections on file
- 31
- Latest survey
- March 19, 2026
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 13 (1 serious)
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Chalet Living & Rehab during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A cognitively impaired resident with bipolar disorder and autism was sexually abused by a male peer with intact cognition and a documented history of sexually oriented behavior, battery, and prior sexually inappropriate advances toward other residents. Despite a criminal history analysis identifying him as a moderate risk requiring closer supervision and social services’ prior direction that he be monitored closely and remain in his room at night, he was able to enter the resident’s room, sit on her bed, rub her leg, expose himself, masturbate while touching her, and ejaculate on her bed. The resident, fearful of harm, did not call out and later reported the incident to staff while visibly distressed and crying. A roommate corroborated that he entered the room, requested sexual favors, and remained despite being told to leave. The facility’s abuse policy defined such non-consensual sexual contact and forced observation of masturbation as sexual abuse, and social services acknowledged that, based on differing BIMS scores, the two residents were not on the same cognitive level for consent, yet the psychiatrist was not informed of the male resident’s escalating sexual advances, and effective preventive supervision was not implemented.
The facility failed to maintain adequate nurse and CNA staffing in accordance with its own facility assessment and staffing policy. The Scheduling Coordinator reported she schedules only CNAs based on a budget and was unaware of minimum staffing requirements, while the DON reported he schedules nurses and consistently staffs 2 nurses per floor per shift, totaling 18 nurses and 37 CNAs daily, without using agency staff. Review of weekend time punch reports over a fiscal quarter showed that on all reviewed weekend days, actual staffing did not meet the stated minimums for nurses and CNAs, and a CMS PBJ report flagged excessively low weekend staffing. The facility assessment contained conflicting CNA staffing numbers, listing both approximately 39 CNAs per day and 13 CNAs per day, and the written staffing policy committed to providing adequate staff and specific HPPD levels for residents needing skilled and intermediate care.
An LPN repeatedly left a medication cart unlocked and unattended during a morning medication pass, at times with medications prepared and left on top of the cart. These actions affected multiple residents who received medications from that cart. In interviews, the LPN admitted forgetting to lock the cart and acknowledged that medications should not be left on top when walking away, while the ADON confirmed that carts must remain locked when not in use per facility policy requiring all medication storage compartments to be secured.
Surveyors found that kitchen staff did not follow the Diet Guide Sheet portion sizes for a chicken entrée served to residents on pureed and regular diets. During lunch service, a cook prepared pureed chicken by blending unweighed chicken pieces with broth, later discovering that the pieces weighed only 2.5 oz instead of the required 3 oz per portion. On the tray line, the same cook served one small chicken piece to residents on regular diets; when a chicken thigh was weighed by the Food Service Director, the edible portion measured 1.4 oz rather than the required 3 oz of edible protein. The RD confirmed that the Diet Guide Sheets require 3 oz of edible chicken for regular diets and a #8 scoop (4 oz) of pureed chicken for pureed diets, and that these guides must be followed so residents receive correct items, consistencies, and nutritional portions.
A resident with COPD, gait impairment, anxiety, and depression, and with moderate cognitive impairment, reported that a CNA spoke hostilely to the resident and a roommate, blocked the resident’s path, used profanity, and threatened to throw the resident out of a window, causing the resident to feel extremely frightened and shaky. The resident reported the incident to nursing staff, a receptionist, the social worker, and the executive director, and wrote a letter that was placed in the administrator’s mailbox. Despite these reports and a facility policy requiring all abuse allegations to be reported to the state agency within two hours of the initial allegation, the allegation of verbal/mental abuse was not reported to the state survey agency within the required timeframe, leading to a deficiency for failure to timely report suspected abuse.
A resident with COPD, gait abnormalities, anxiety, and depressive disorders, and moderate cognitive impairment alleged that a CNA was verbally abusive, blocked her from leaving the room, and threatened to throw her out a window after the resident intervened on behalf of her roommate. The resident reported the incident to the nurse station, then to the receptionist, who provided pen and paper so the resident could write a letter that was placed in the administrator’s mailbox, and later spoke directly with the Executive Director and Social Worker. The receptionist acknowledged not following abuse-reporting protocol, and the Executive Director admitted he did not immediately treat the allegation as abuse or initiate an investigation, initially attributing the report to the resident’s mental status. Facility documentation later recorded a delayed awareness date and initially listed the perpetrator as unknown, while the CNA continued working on the unit until she was subsequently identified and suspended, demonstrating a failure to promptly investigate and report the abuse allegation as required by the facility’s abuse policy.
A resident was admitted with a hospital-completed Level I PASARR indicating no severe mental illness, intellectual disability, or related condition and no need for a Level II review. After admission, a psychiatrist documented a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, depressed type, with a past psychiatric history of schizoaffective disorder and ordered Seroquel, an antipsychotic medication. Despite this new or previously unreported mental health diagnosis, facility staff did not request a Level II PASARR, contrary to the facility’s PASARR policy requiring referral to the state-designated authority when a new qualifying psychiatric diagnosis is added by a physician.
Two residents with documented serious mental illness diagnoses and psychotropic medication use were not properly identified through the PASARR process, resulting in no referrals for required Level II evaluations. One resident with bipolar disorder with psychotic features and PTSD had a PASARR Level I that incorrectly indicated no need for a Level II due to no SMI/ID/RC. Another resident with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, and recurrent depressive disorders, who was receiving aripiprazole for psychosis and had a care plan noting severe mental illness, had a PASARR that listed only depression and stated no mental health condition requiring PASRR evaluation. The Admissions Director, responsible for entering diagnoses and medications into the PASARR system, relied on the screening agency’s alerts, was unsure who ensured accuracy of PASARR information before admission, and acknowledged that incorrect data entry led to inaccurate PASARR results.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple psychiatric and substance use diagnoses was found to have a box of cigarettes/cigars, additional unused cigarettes/cigars, and several used cigarettes/cigars stored in a coat pocket in their room, despite facility staff stating that all smoking materials must be kept at the front desk and only accessed during supervised smoke breaks. Staff interviews confirmed that residents are not allowed to keep cigarettes/cigars or lighters on the nursing unit or in their rooms, and the resident’s care plan and smoking agreement documented that smoking materials were to be removed and only used under supervision. The discovery of these smoking materials in the resident’s room showed that the facility did not follow or enforce its own smoking protocol.
Surveyors identified that controlled substance counts on one medication cart did not match the actual tablets present for two residents, with lorazepam and clonazepam blister cards each containing one tablet fewer than documented on the controlled drug administration records. An LPN reported administering the medications earlier in the morning while hurrying through the med pass and indicated they would sign out the narcotics after administration, rather than immediately. The ADON confirmed that facility policy requires controlled medications to be stored under double lock, counted at each change of custody, and signed out on the controlled medication sheet immediately after administration for accountability.
A resident with COPD, dysphagia, and severe cognitive impairment, ordered a mechanical soft diet with nectar thick liquids, was observed eating non-pureed cooked cabbage instead of the pureed cabbage specified on the meal ticket and had access to a bedside pitcher of ice water that was not thickened. The resident drank nectar thick juice rapidly and then coughed, and also sipped from the thin water and coughed again. A CNA reported she had filled the pitcher with ice and water and confirmed it was not thickened, while an RN, RD, and SLP all indicated the resident was to receive nectar thick liquids only and that the kitchen and staff were expected to follow the diet and liquid consistency orders and meal ticket specifications.
The facility failed to provide timely and private mail services when residents reported that no mail was delivered on Saturdays and that some mail arrived already opened. Staff interviews confirmed that mail was first held and sorted by front office staff, then passed to the receptionist, and finally to the activity department, with mail distribution occurring only on certain weekdays and not by the weekend activity aide. Staff also reported that residents were asked to open their mail in front of staff to check for contraband, and that some mail was already opened before reaching residents, contrary to stated residents’ rights requiring prompt delivery and prohibiting opening mail without permission.
A resident who tested positive for COVID-19 was not kept in isolation for the full 10-day period as required by CDC guidelines and facility policy. Instead, the resident was moved to share a room with another non-positive resident before completing quarantine, due to a miscalculation by staff. This failure affected two residents reviewed for infection control.
Multiple residents with known opioid abuse histories obtained and used illicit drugs within the facility, resulting in suspected overdoses and emergency interventions. The facility did not have effective care plans or monitoring in place to prevent access to illicit substances, and residents reported the ease of obtaining drugs and lack of addiction support programs.
The facility failed to follow its policies for food storage and labeling, with several items found unlabeled or expired. Additionally, the dishwashing machine did not reach the required sanitation temperature, confirmed by a test strip and thermometer. The Acting Dietary Supervisor acknowledged these issues, and meals were served on paper plates until repairs were made.
A resident reported a roach infestation in their room, with a large cockroach on the toilet seat and several on the floor. The maintenance assistant confirmed the issue, and the maintenance director attributed the problem to weather changes and food on the floors. Pest control services were scheduled, but the facility's pest control policy was not effectively implemented.
A resident with moderately impaired cognition was found without access to their call light, which was on the floor and out of reach. A CNA confirmed the call light should have been attached to the resident's bedsheets and corrected the issue. The DON stated that call lights should always be within reach, as per facility policy.
A resident with Alzheimer's and other conditions was observed with hand mittens on both hands, contrary to the physician's order for a right-hand mitten only. Despite documentation supporting the use of a single mitten, a Restorative Aide applied mittens to both hands, claiming instructions from the Restorative Director, who later denied giving such instructions. This miscommunication led to the inappropriate use of restraints.
The facility failed to properly use low air loss mattresses for two residents at risk for pressure ulcers by layering multiple linens, which compromised the mattresses' effectiveness. Staff interviews and facility guidelines confirmed that only a flat sheet and either an incontinent pad or brief should be used, not both.
A resident with multiple diagnoses, including hemiplegia, was not provided with a necessary hand splint or carrot to maintain their range of motion, despite having an order for such a device. The resident reported never having the device placed in their hand, and a Restorative Aide was observed attempting to apply the wrong device, causing the resident pain. The facility's protocol for ensuring residents receive appropriate care was not followed, as the aide did not remember the correct device for the resident.
A resident's nebulizer mask was found uncontained in bed, contrary to the facility's policy requiring oxygen equipment to be stored in a plastic bag when not in use. The resident, who is cognitively intact and uses the mask daily for treatments, reported no designated storage place. The facility lacked a specific policy for storing nebulizer masks, despite having general guidelines for oxygen storage.
The facility failed to monitor and maintain personal refrigerators for three residents, leading to incomplete temperature logs, lack of thermometers, and unclean conditions. Despite residents' intact cognition, the facility's housekeeping staff were responsible for these tasks, but inconsistencies and lack of a specific policy resulted in potential health risks.
A facility failed to post an Enhanced Barrier Precaution (EBP) sign for a resident with a gastric feeding tube, which is necessary to prevent the spread of multi-drug resistant organisms. The absence of the sign was noted during an observation on the dementia floor, and the Director of Nursing/Infection Preventionist later posted the sign. The facility's policy requires EBP signs and PPE bins to inform staff of the necessary protective equipment during high-contact care activities.
The facility failed to update the daily nursing staffing information, affecting 188 residents. A surveyor found the posting outdated by two days. Interviews revealed confusion among staff about who was responsible for updating the information, especially on weekends. The Assistant Administrator admitted oversight in informing the weekend receptionist about their responsibilities.
The facility failed to keep a garbage dumpster lid closed due to it being overfilled, forcing the lid to remain open. This was observed multiple times, with the Acting Dietary Supervisor acknowledging the issue and the Assistant Administrator initially attributing it to high winds. The facility's policy requires maintaining the area around the dumpster free of rubbish, which was not followed, leading to the deficiency.
The facility failed to ensure timely inspection and maintenance of elevators, leading to ongoing malfunctions and safety concerns. Observations showed an elevator out of order, and residents reported recurring availability issues. Maintenance staff admitted to a lack of coordination in scheduling necessary inspections and repairs, with overdue safety checks and unresolved issues since April 2023. A contract proposal for repairs was not yet accepted, contributing to the deficiency.
Two residents reported abuse and mistreatment by CNAs, including deliberate food throwing and verbal abuse. Despite these reports, the facility's administration was unaware of the allegations until a surveyor's intervention. The facility's investigation found no evidence of abuse, attributing incidents to accidental spills, but failed to adhere to its abuse policy requiring reporting and investigation.
The facility failed to report allegations of abuse involving two residents, both cognitively intact, who experienced mistreatment by CNAs. One resident reported a CNA throwing food at him, and another corroborated the mistreatment. An LPN was aware of the incidents but did not report them, citing inexperience. The facility's policy requires immediate reporting of abuse allegations, but the incidents were only reported after surveyor intervention.
A resident at high risk for falls, with a BIMS score indicating cognitive intactness, experienced a fall without subsequent fall prevention interventions being documented or implemented in their care plan. The Falls Nurse admitted to forgetting to update the care plan, and the Director of Nursing confirmed the oversight, violating the facility's policy on fall risk management.
Failure to Protect Cognitively Impaired Resident From Sexual Abuse by High-Risk Peer
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to protect a cognitively impaired resident from sexual abuse by another resident with a known history of sexually inappropriate behavior and battery. The abused resident was admitted with diagnoses including bipolar disorder, autistic disorder, and drug-induced subacute dyskinesia, and had a BIMS score of 9, indicating moderately impaired cognition. Her care plan identified a difficult past related to severe mental illness and risk factors for being a recipient or perpetrator of mistreatment, with an expectation that she would remain safe and free of mistreatment. The alleged perpetrator had diagnoses including schizoaffective disorder bipolar type and generalized anxiety disorder, and a BIMS score of 15, indicating intact cognition. His care plan documented sexually oriented behavior, including making crude, sexually oriented, profane, or suggestive remarks, and directed staff to implement limit setting and intervene if he attempted inappropriate touching. On the day of the incident, the newly admitted resident reported that the male resident approached her, asked if she was new, and obtained her room number. Later that night, video surveillance showed him entering her bedroom and remaining there for approximately 30 minutes before she went to the nurse’s station and he exited the room. The resident stated that while she was lying in bed, he entered her room, initially stood and talked, then sat on her bed, rubbed her leg, and asked for sexual favors. She reported that she told him to stop and said no, but he continued to rub her leg, unzipped his pants, exposed himself, masturbated while rubbing her leg, and ejaculated on her bed. She stated she did not scream because she feared he would harm her, and after he finished, she ran to the nurse’s station and informed staff of what had occurred. During interview, she was visibly shaken and crying, reported being afraid it would happen again, and said she cried every time she entered her room. A roommate reported observing the male resident enter the room, go to the abused resident’s side of the room, and ask for sexual favors, then hearing “wet noise” and sexual sounds before telling him to leave; she stated he asked for a minute, later adjusted his pants, and left. Nursing staff documented that the resident came to the nurse’s station and reported that a male resident had entered her room and behaved inappropriately. An LPN assessed her and found her crying and in emotional distress; the resident told the LPN that the male resident exposed himself, pleasured himself while rubbing her leg, and ejaculated on her sheets, which the LPN removed and bagged. Social services staff and another resident reported that, prior to this incident, the male resident had been sexually inappropriate with another resident and had repeatedly asked another female resident for sexual favors, including offering marijuana in exchange, leading social services to instruct nursing staff to monitor him more closely and keep him in his room at night. The psychiatrist stated he was not informed by the facility that the male resident was making inappropriate sexual advances toward other residents, despite his known sexual preoccupation and comments about women. The facility’s own criminal history analysis for the male resident identified him as a moderate risk requiring closer supervision and more frequent observation than routine, with regular monitoring for behavioral changes and periodic assessment of supervision sufficiency, yet he was able to access and remain in another resident’s room at night, resulting in the sexual abuse. The facility’s abuse policy defined sexual abuse as non-consensual sexual contact of any type with a resident, including forced observation of masturbation and coerced or extorted sexual activity, and stated that even if there is capacity to give consent, consent obtained through intimidation, coercion, or fear is considered sexual abuse. The policy also stated that sexual abuse includes non-consensual sexual relationships between residents or a consensual relationship involving a resident who lacks cognitive ability to consent. Social services staff stated that the facility uses BIMS scores to assess sexual appropriateness and that a sexual relationship is not consensual if residents’ BIMS scores are not on the same cognitive level, noting that the abused resident and the male resident were not on the same cognitive level. Despite the male resident’s documented sexually inappropriate behaviors, prior complaints from other residents, and a risk assessment recommending closer supervision, he was not effectively restricted from entering other residents’ rooms at night, and the psychiatrist was not made aware of his escalating sexual advances. These actions and inactions led to the incident in which the cognitively impaired resident experienced non-consensual sexual contact and exposure, constituting the cited abuse deficiency.
Removal Plan
- Resident R4 was discharged and is no longer a resident in the facility.
- Resident R1 was assessed for abuse risk identifying resident as high risk for abuse and an abuse care plan was initiated; R1 was reassessed for abuse risk and the care plan was reviewed.
- All current residents were reassessed for abuse risk using Screen for Abuse & Neglect UDA and each resident's abuse care plan was reviewed; Abuse UDA is completed on all new admissions within 72 hours of admission as well as quarterly, annually, and as needed by Social Services.
- A list was created of residents with a history of sexually inappropriate behaviors; the list is provided to the floors in a binder at the nursing station for identification/reference; the list will be updated as needed and reviewed at least weekly by Social Services; sources used include background check process, CHIRP, and Social Services assessment.
- Nursing staff including Social Services were in-serviced regarding the list of residents with sexually inappropriate behaviors to aid identification and ensure immediate reporting to the nurse supervisor and/or social service supervisor on call.
- Residents identified as exhibiting sexually inappropriate behaviors will be monitored every 2 hours by Nursing, Social Services and other designee with documentation on a monitoring tracker in the Residents Exhibiting Sexual Abuse Binder located at each nursing station.
- All newly hired nurses, CNAs, and Social Service workers will be in-serviced on the processes pertaining to the list of residents identified with sexually inappropriate behaviors prior to start date by the HR Director.
- All contracted workers will be in-serviced on abuse including reporting by the Administrator/designee.
- A protocol was created to provide various avenues to determine a resident's consent.
- All current residents were reassessed for cognitive ability to consent using the Brief Interview for Mental Status UDA by Social Services.
- An audit was completed to identify residents currently taking part in an intimate relationship; residents were identified and assessed by Social Services as able to consent based on BIMS score; their intimate relationship care plans were reviewed and updated.
- Residents identified as consenting to intimate relationships will be monitored weekly by Social Services to ensure continued consent; the list will be updated weekly and as necessary.
- Facility employees were in-serviced on the abuse policy with emphasis on sexual abuse.
- An additional all-in-house in-service was conducted on the abuse policy with emphasis on identifying and reporting inappropriate sexual behaviors.
- A QA audit tool was developed to monitor residents identified with sexually inappropriate behaviors to ensure identification and reporting is done immediately; to be completed 3 times per week for 12 weeks by Social Services/designee.
- A QA audit tool was developed to monitor residents identified as consenting to intimate relationships to ensure they continue to consent and are care planned; to be completed 3 times per week for 12 weeks by Social Services/designee.
- Results and trends from the QA audits will be discussed by the Assistant Administrator in the monthly QAPI meeting until resolution.
- The Medical Director was made aware of the abatement plan and agreed.
Failure to Maintain Adequate Nurse and CNA Staffing per Facility Assessment and Policy
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate nursing staff each day to meet resident needs as outlined in its own facility assessment and staffing policy. The Scheduling Coordinator reported she creates schedules only for CNAs and that the DON schedules the nurses. She stated that for day and evening shifts the facility should have 5 CNAs on the 4th floor, 5 CNAs on the 3rd floor, and 4 CNAs on the 2nd floor, and 3 CNAs per floor on night shift, and that the facility does not use agency staff. She also stated she staffs according to a budget, was told she could staff 15 CNAs for morning and evening and 9 CNAs for night shift, and was unaware of the facility’s staffing budget details or minimum staffing requirements. The DON stated he is responsible for nurse staffing, does not use agency staff, and always ensures 2 nurses per floor per shift, staffing a total of 18 nurses per day and 37 CNAs per day, and reported he was not aware of low nurse staffing on weekends or responsible for PBJ submissions. Review of nursing staff time punch reports for nurses and CNAs from 07/01/2025 to 09/30/2025 for weekend shifts showed that on all 26 weekend days reviewed, the facility did not meet the stated minimum requirements of 18 nurses and 37 CNAs per day as described by the Scheduling Coordinator, DON, and facility assessment. A CMS PBJ report for the same fiscal quarter documented that the facility triggered for excessively low weekend staffing. The facility assessment documented staffing of two nurses per shift per floor, five CNAs on morning shift, five CNAs on evening shift, and three CNAs on night shift for each of the three floors, equating to approximately 39 CNAs per day, but elsewhere in the same assessment it documented staffing for only 13 CNAs per day, which contradicted both the other portion of the assessment and the statements from the Scheduling Coordinator and DON. The facility’s written staffing policy stated it would provide adequate staff to meet resident needs and specified 3.8 hours of nursing and personal care per day for residents needing skilled care and 2.5 hours per day for residents needing intermediate care.
Unattended, Unlocked Medication Cart and Unsecured Medications
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves failure to keep medications secured in locked compartments as required by facility policy and professional standards. On multiple occasions during a single morning medication pass, an LPN prepared medications for several identified residents and then walked away from the medication cart, leaving it unlocked and out of sight. At one point, the LPN also left prepared medication on top of the cart while the cart remained unlocked and unattended. These observations were made repeatedly over the course of the morning for different residents, indicating that the cart and medications were accessible when the nurse was not present. During an interview, the LPN acknowledged forgetting to lock the medication cart and stated they were not focused, further noting that whenever they walk away from the cart there should not be any medication on top of it because another resident or unlicensed person could take the medication or access the cart. The Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed that the medication cart should always remain locked when not in use and when the nurse is not present, and that failure to do so could allow another resident or unlicensed personnel to take medications that could potentially harm them. The facility’s written policies require controlled substances to be stored under double lock and all drug storage compartments, including carts, to be locked when not in use and not left unattended if open or otherwise available to others.
Failure to Follow Diet Guide Portion Sizes for Chicken Entrée
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to follow prescribed portion sizes for both pureed and regular-consistency chicken as listed on the Diet Guide Sheets and required by facility policy. During observation of pureed food preparation, a cook stated she was preparing eight portions of pureed chicken, vegetables, and rice for lunch. She placed eight pieces of cooked chicken breast into a commercial blender with two cups of broth without weighing the chicken beforehand, and leftover pieces of cooked chicken remained in the container. When the surveyor later requested that one piece of the cooked chicken breast be weighed, it measured 2.5 oz, and the cook acknowledged she had not weighed the chicken prior to blending, despite the required portion being 3 oz. Further observation showed the cook transferring the pureed chicken to a metal container for reheating and then returning to prepare additional pureed chicken only after realizing the initial pieces were under the required weight. At the lunch tray line, the cook plated meals for residents on regular diets by placing one piece of chicken on each plate. The surveyor noted that the chicken pieces appeared small and requested that one chicken thigh be removed from a plate and weighed. The Food Service Director weighed the thigh at 2.4 oz including bone and skin, then reweighed the edible portion only, which measured 1.4 oz, below the required 3 oz edible portion documented on the Diet Guide Sheet. The Registered Dietitian confirmed that the Diet Guide Sheets should be followed so residents receive the correct items, consistencies, and portions to meet nutritional needs. She stated that for the lunch in question, regular diets should receive 3 oz of chicken and pureed diets should receive a #8 scoop (4 oz) of pureed chicken due to added liquid. She also confirmed that the 3 oz portion for regular diets refers to edible protein excluding bones and skin, and that a 1.4 oz edible portion was incorrect. Facility records showed five residents on pureed diets and 163 residents on regular diets for that meal. The facility’s menu policy requires menus to be planned in advance, meet residents’ nutritional needs, and be served as written, and the cook’s job profile requires following standardized recipes and nutritional guidelines, which were not followed in this instance.
Failure to Timely Report Resident’s Allegation of Verbal Abuse to State Agency
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to timely report an allegation of abuse to the state survey agency within two hours of the initial allegation. The resident involved, R44, has multiple diagnoses including COPD with acute exacerbation, gait and mobility abnormalities, anxiety disorders, depressive episodes, psychoactive substance abuse, and hypertension, with a BIMS score of 12 indicating moderate cognitive impairment. R44’s care plan notes a history of suspected abuse/neglect and behavioral symptoms, including involvement in other residents’ care and difficulty with adjustment and mood. On the evening of 01/04/26, R44 wrote a letter to the Administrator/Executive Director describing an incident in which a CNA (V17) allegedly spoke hostilely to R44’s roommate, told R44 to “shut up,” blocked R44’s path, threatened to throw R44 out of the window, and bumped R44 as the CNA left the room. R44 reported feeling like a “nervous wreck” and physically shaking, and stated she went to the nurse’s station and then downstairs to report the incident and write the letter, which the receptionist placed in the administrator’s mailbox. On 01/06/26, during an interview, R44 again described the incident, stating that the CNA refused to immediately change the roommate, used profanity toward R44, blocked her from leaving the room, and threatened to throw her out the window, causing significant fear and shaking. R44 reported that she informed the nurse at the nurse station, then went downstairs, where the receptionist provided pen and paper for her to write a letter that was placed in the administrator’s mailbox. R44 also stated she told the Executive Director and the Social Worker about the incident. The Social Worker (V6) confirmed that R44 complained that a staff member was very abusive and that V6 reported this to the Executive Director. The receptionist (V7) confirmed that R44 came downstairs, complained that someone had threatened to push her out the window, and wrote a letter that V7 placed in the administrator’s mailbox; V7 acknowledged that this could be considered an allegation of abuse and that she did not follow protocol, treating it more as a complaint. The Executive Director (V2) stated that R44 interrupted him on 01/05/26 and gave a generalized account of a confrontation with a CNA who had dropped off food and was to care for the roommate. V2 checked the schedule and identified that the CNA was on duty, and acknowledged that R44 said the CNA threatened her. V2 reported that he considered the situation abuse and that he “probably should have reported it yesterday,” explaining that he initially thought R44 was having psychosis based on her care plan. The facility’s Abuse Report Initial Form, dated 01/06/26 at 12:10 PM, documents that the facility became aware of the incident at 10:30 AM on 01/06/26, lists the Administrator as the first staff aware, and characterizes the allegation as verbal/mental abuse by an unknown CNA. The facility’s Abuse and Neglect policy requires that all allegations of abuse be reported to the Administrator immediately and that all allegations be reported to the state agency immediately, not exceeding two hours after the initial allegation is received. Despite multiple notifications and the written letter on 01/04/26, the allegation was not reported to the state agency within the required two-hour timeframe, resulting in the cited deficiency.
Failure to Immediately Investigate and Report Resident’s Abuse Allegation
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to immediately initiate an investigation and report an allegation of abuse made by a resident. The resident, identified as R44, had diagnoses including COPD with acute exacerbation, gait and mobility abnormalities, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, psychoactive substance abuse, and hypertension. R44’s BIMS score was 12, indicating moderate cognitive impairment, and the care plan documented a history of suspected abuse/neglect and behavioral symptoms, including involvement in other residents’ care. On a Sunday afternoon, R44 wrote a letter addressed to the Administrator or Executive Director stating that a CNA delivering food was hostile to the roommate, yelled at the roommate about being changed, told R44 to “shut up and mind my own business,” blocked R44’s path, threatened to throw R44 out the window, and bumped R44 while passing. R44 reported feeling like a “nervous wreck,” shaking, and expressed fear related to heart problems. R44 later reiterated the allegation in an interview, stating that two days earlier a CNA working the 3–11 p.m. shift, described as African American, came to deliver dinner trays and deferred changing the roommate for a couple of hours. When R44 questioned this, the CNA allegedly told R44 to get out of her face, used profanity, blocked R44 from leaving the room, and threatened to throw R44 out the window, causing significant fear and shaking. R44 reported going to the nurse’s station, speaking with the nurse and two other people there, then going downstairs to the receptionist, who provided pen and paper so R44 could write a letter that was placed in the administrator’s mailbox. R44 also stated that the Executive Director and Social Worker were informed. The receptionist confirmed that R44 complained that someone threatened to push her out the window, recognized that this could be considered abuse, and acknowledged not following protocol and “dropping the ball” by treating it as a complaint rather than an abuse allegation. The Executive Director stated that R44 interrupted him the day after the incident while he was busy, and he took time to speak with R44, who reported a confrontation with a CNA who had dropped off food and was supposed to care for the roommate. The Executive Director checked the schedule and identified the CNA, later identified as V17, and acknowledged that R44 said the CNA threatened her. He admitted he considered it abuse and that he “probably should have reported it yesterday,” explaining that he initially thought R44 was having psychosis based on the care plan. The Social Worker reported that R44 came to her office and complained that a staff member had talked to her in an incorrect way, and the Social Worker immediately informed the Executive Director. The facility’s reportable form documented that the facility became aware of the incident on a later date and initially listed the alleged perpetrator as unknown, despite the earlier letter and conversations. The facility’s abuse policy required immediate steps to protect residents, immediate notification to authorities not exceeding two hours after the initial allegation, and suspension of accused employees pending investigation. In this case, the allegation made to the receptionist and then to the Executive Director was not immediately reported or investigated, and the CNA continued to work on the unit until the Executive Director later identified and suspended the CNA after the Social Worker’s report. Additional interviews provided conflicting accounts of the incident but further highlighted the delay in response. The CNA, V17, stated that while passing trays she saw the call light on, dropped off the meal tray, and asked the roommate if she wanted to be changed, with the roommate requesting to eat first. According to V17, R44 then accused her of breaching a contract, was told to mind her own business, and began hitting V17’s leg with a walker and threatening to have her fired. V17 denied threatening to throw R44 out the window or doing anything to R44. Another CNA, V20, reported hearing R44 tell V17 at the elevator that she was going to report and fire V17, and that V17 responded she had not done anything. Despite these differing accounts, the key deficiency centers on the facility’s failure to treat R44’s initial report and written letter as an abuse allegation requiring immediate reporting and investigation, as required by the facility’s own abuse and neglect policy and federal guidelines. The facility’s own documentation shows that the reportable form listed the date and time the facility became aware of the incident as a later date and time, even though R44 had already reported the threat to the receptionist and had written a letter that was placed in the administrator’s mailbox earlier. The receptionist acknowledged not contacting the administrator as required when an allegation or witness of abuse occurs. The Executive Director acknowledged that he did not submit an initial reportable or start an investigation when he first spoke with R44 and that he should have reported the abuse allegation the previous day. As a result, the alleged perpetrator continued to work on the unit until the Executive Director later identified the CNA and suspended her pending investigation. This sequence of events demonstrates that the facility did not respond appropriately and immediately to the alleged violation of abuse, contrary to its written policy requiring immediate protection of residents, prompt notification to authorities, and timely initiation of an investigation.
Failure to Obtain Level II PASARR After New Schizoaffective Disorder Diagnosis
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to obtain a Level II PASARR evaluation for a resident who was later identified as having a serious mental disorder. The resident’s Level I PASARR, completed at the hospital prior to admission on 7/17/2024, documented that no Level II was required because there was no known or suspected severe mental illness, intellectual disability, or related condition, and no mental health medications at that time. The resident was admitted on 7/25/2024. Subsequently, the admission record reflected a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder with an onset date of 1/17/2025. A psychiatrist’s progress note dated 8/08/2024 documented a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, depressed type, with a past psychiatric history of schizoaffective disorder and historical use of lithium, and included an order to add Seroquel 50 mg at night. Interviews and record review showed that, despite the new or previously unreported diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder and the initiation of antipsychotic medication, the facility did not request or obtain a Level II PASARR for this resident. The nurse consultant confirmed that the resident did not have the schizoaffective diagnosis at the time of admission based on hospital and referral paperwork and acknowledged that the facility did not resubmit for a Level II PASARR. The admissions director stated that the initial Level I PASARR was done at the hospital and acknowledged that if a new schizoaffective diagnosis was made or missed during the first assessment, a new PASARR should have been obtained. The facility’s own PASARR policy, adopted 7/16/2025, states that when a new psychiatric diagnosis under mental disability or intellectual disability is added by a physician, or when the facility suspects such a condition, the facility will notify the appropriate state-designated authority by requesting a PASARR screening via AssessmentPro, which was not done in this case.
Failure to Ensure Accurate PASARR Screenings and Level II Referrals for Residents With Serious Mental Illness
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure accurate PASARR Level I screenings and appropriate referrals for Level II evaluations for two residents with known serious mental illness diagnoses. One resident was admitted with documented diagnoses including bipolar disorder, current episode depressed, severe, with psychotic features, and post-traumatic stress disorder, yet the PASARR screening dated 06/09/2024 indicated the resident did not require a Level II PASARR due to no SMI/ID/RC. Another resident was admitted with diagnoses including schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, other recurrent depressive disorders, and mild neurocognitive disorder due to a known physiological condition without behavioral disturbance. This second resident’s orders showed ongoing treatment with aripiprazole for psychosis, and the care plan documented a diagnosis and history of severe mental illness requiring psychotropic medication. Despite these documented mental health conditions and treatments, the second resident’s PASARR screening dated 02/13/2023 stated that the resident did not have a mental health condition requiring evaluation through the PASRR process, noted only depression as a DSM diagnosis, and concluded that no further PASARR evaluation was required. The Admissions Director, who had been responsible for completing PASARR screenings for 2.5 years, reported that he enters resident diagnoses and medications into the screening agency’s website and relies on the agency’s alerts to determine if a Level II PASARR is needed. He stated he was unsure who is responsible for ensuring PASARR information is accurate prior to admission and acknowledged that incorrect information entered into the Level I PASARR can result in inaccurate screening results. He further stated that one resident’s current PASARR screening was inaccurate and required a new screening due to the resident’s severe mental health diagnosis, demonstrating that the facility did not ensure accurate PASARR Level I screenings and appropriate referrals for Level II evaluations as required by its PASARR policy.
Failure to Enforce Smoking Policy Allowing Resident to Keep Cigarettes/Cigars in Room
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to follow its smoking protocol by allowing a resident to keep smoking materials in their room. During observation, the resident was first seen lying in bed and reported smoking cigars, stating that he did not keep a lighter in his room and that others lit his cigars for him, while he kept the cigars in his coat pocket. Shortly thereafter, the resident was observed going to his closet, removing his coat, and taking out a box filled with brown cigarettes/cigars, followed by an additional 8–10 brown cigarettes/cigars from the same coat pocket. Later, the social worker entered the resident’s room and found in the coat pocket a box of cigarettes/cigars, three additional unused cigarettes/cigars, and six used cigarettes/cigars of various lengths, and stated the resident should not have these items in his room for safety reasons. Staff interviews confirmed that the facility’s practice and policy require all smoking materials, including cigarettes/cigars and lighters, to be stored at the front desk and not kept on the nursing unit or in resident rooms. The activity aide, receptionist, and social worker each stated that residents are only allowed to have smoking materials on their person during supervised smoke breaks and must return all materials to the front desk afterward. The resident involved had multiple diagnoses including metabolic encephalopathy, bipolar disorder, unspecified dementia, cocaine abuse, schizophrenia, mild cognitive impairment of uncertain etiology, auditory hallucinations, tobacco use, alcohol use, and altered mental status. His MDS showed severely impaired cognition with a BIMS score of 3/15. His care plan identified him as a smoker who wished to smoke at the facility, with interventions including explaining the consequences of smoking and removal of all smoking materials except during supervised smoking. A smoking behavior agreement and smoking program evaluation documented that he was considered a safe smoker and could access smoking materials consistent with facility policy, yet the presence of multiple cigarettes/cigars in his room demonstrated that the facility did not ensure adherence to its own smoking protocol.
Failure to Maintain Accurate Controlled Substance Accountability
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain accurate records of usage and accountability for controlled substances on one of six medication carts for two residents. During a narcotic reconciliation count conducted at 10:21 AM, surveyors found that one resident’s Controlled Drug Administration Record Sheet documented seven tablets of lorazepam 2 mg available, while the corresponding blister card contained only six tablets. For a second resident, the Controlled Drug Administration Record Sheet documented twenty-nine tablets of clonazepam 1 mg, but the medication card contained twenty-eight tablets. These discrepancies showed that the documented counts on the controlled drug administration records did not match the actual number of tablets present in the blister cards. At 10:33 AM, the LPN responsible for the medication cart stated that they had administered the first resident’s medication around 7:45 or 8:00 AM and the second resident’s medication around 8:15 AM, and acknowledged that they were trying to hurry with the morning medication pass and believed they would sign out the narcotics after administration. At 11:10 AM, the Assistant Director of Nursing stated that after a nurse administers medication, they are required to immediately sign out that medication on the appropriate documents, and that controlled substances must be signed out on the controlled medication sheet for quick reference and accountability. Facility policy on controlled substances and medication pass, dated August 2020 and July 2025 respectively, requires controlled medications to be securely stored, counted at each change of custody, and documented immediately after administration, which did not occur in these instances.
Failure to Follow Nectar-Thick Liquid and Pureed Vegetable Orders for Dysphagic Resident
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide diet and liquid consistencies as ordered for a resident with dysphagia and COPD. During a lunch observation, the resident was seen eating mashed potatoes and cooked cabbage that contained various thicknesses of cabbage strands with thin liquid pooling around the edges, rather than the pureed seasoned cabbage specified on the meal ticket for his mechanical altered/ground diet. The meal ticket for that lunch listed a mechanical altered/ground diet with nectar thick liquids and specifically called for pureed seasoned cabbage, but the vegetable served was not pureed. At the same meal, the resident’s tray included a closed container of nectar thick apple juice and, next to the tray, a large bedside pitcher filled about one-third with ice and water. The resident drank the entire container of nectar thick juice at once and then coughed multiple times, and later took a sip from the bedside water pitcher and coughed again. The resident stated that he likes to drink water and that staff put ice in the pitcher and fill it with water. A CNA reported that she had filled the resident’s pitcher with ice and water that morning and confirmed that the water in the pitcher was not thickened. She also stated that CNAs were not allowed to thicken liquids and that only nurses could do so. A nurse confirmed that the resident was on nectar thick liquids due to swallowing problems and risk for aspiration and acknowledged that residents were not allowed to get ice themselves. The registered dietitian stated that kitchen staff should follow the meal ticket, that if the ticket specified pureed cabbage that is what should have been served, and that residents on nectar thick liquids should not have a bedside pitcher of ice and water because ice melts to a thin liquid. The speech language pathologist reported that the resident had been on a mechanical soft diet with nectar thick liquids due to COPD and swallowing discoordination, with prior recommendations for all liquids, including water, to be thickened to nectar consistency and no water pitcher within reach. At the time of the lunch observation, the physician’s order and care plan documented a mechanical soft diet with nectar thick liquids and aspiration precautions, and facility policies required that thickened liquids and therapeutic diets be provided as ordered.
Failure to Provide Timely and Private Mail Services to Residents
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide timely mail services and to protect the privacy of residents’ mail. During a resident council meeting, multiple residents reported that no mail is delivered to them on Saturdays and that they must wait until weekdays to receive their mail. Residents also reported that sometimes their mail is opened when they receive it. The facility census documented 194 residents residing in the facility. The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program Residents' Rights document states that the facility must deliver and send residents’ mail promptly and may not open mail without the resident’s permission. Interviews with staff confirmed that mail handling practices delayed delivery and involved multiple layers of processing by front office staff, the receptionist, and the activity department. The receptionist stated he works only Monday through Friday, places resident mail in a bin in the front office, and that front office staff come twice a week to sort and disperse mail. The Activity Director reported that three activity aides work weekdays and one works weekends, but the weekend aide does not distribute mail. He stated he was instructed by the front office to hold residents’ mail until Monday and that mail is distributed approximately three days during the week. He also stated that staff ask residents to open their mail in front of staff to check for contraband and that sometimes mail arrives to the activity department already opened, with front office staff providing explanations. These practices resulted in delayed delivery and compromised privacy of residents’ mail.
Failure to Quarantine COVID-19 Positive Resident for Required Duration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper infection prevention and control by not quarantining a resident who tested positive for COVID-19 for the required 10-day period before cohorting with a non-positive resident. Specifically, a resident with a recent positive COVID-19 PCR test was moved into a room with another resident before completing the full isolation period as outlined by CDC guidelines. The resident's care plan and facility policy both indicated that a 10-day quarantine was necessary, with day 0 being the day of the positive test swab. Interviews with facility staff, including the Assistant Director of Nursing and the Infection Preventionist, confirmed that the expectation was to maintain isolation for 10 days from the date of the positive test. However, the resident was moved to share a room with another resident on the ninth day, prior to the completion of the required quarantine. The Assistant Administrator acknowledged a miscalculation in the isolation period, leading to the premature cohorting of the COVID-19 positive resident.
Failure to Prevent Illicit Drug Use and Overdoses Among Residents with Substance Abuse Histories
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to supervise, monitor, and develop an effective plan to prevent residents with known histories of substance abuse from obtaining illicit drugs while in the facility. Three residents with documented opioid use histories experienced suspected overdoses while under the facility's care, despite not having community passes or leaving the facility. The facility did not have adequate care plans or interventions in place to address the risk of illicit drug use and distribution among these residents. One resident with a history of opioid abuse and moderate cognitive impairment was found unresponsive and required Narcan administration after a suspected heroin overdose. This resident later admitted to purchasing heroin from another resident within the facility. The care plan for this resident did not include specific interventions to prevent access to illicit substances, and there was a lapse in the continuation of prescribed Suboxone, which may have contributed to the resident's relapse. Another resident with a history of opioid abuse and mental health disorders experienced two suspected opioid overdoses, both requiring emergency intervention. This resident's care plan addressed general abuse and neglect factors but did not specifically address substance abuse or the risk of illicit drug use within the facility. A third resident, with a history of opioid dependence and intact cognitive function, was found with used syringes at the bedside after experiencing seizure activity and requiring hospital transfer and intubation. This resident reported that it was not difficult to obtain drugs within the facility and noted the lack of addiction support programs. The facility's failure to implement effective monitoring, individualized care planning, and substance abuse interventions for residents with known substance use histories directly resulted in multiple incidents of illicit drug use and suspected overdoses within the facility.
Removal Plan
- Administrator and Assistant Administrators were in-serviced and educated on doing a thorough investigation by the President of Operations and Nurse consultant.
- Administrator and Assistant Administrators reviewed and investigated the incidents thoroughly and concluded that the common factor was a resident with a history of distribution who was no longer in the facility.
- Leadership team interviewed each employee of the facility regarding awareness of any individuals, staff, or residents distributing illicit drugs within the facility.
- Leadership team interviewed all residents with a history of substance abuse regarding awareness of any individuals, staff, or residents distributing illicit substances within the facility.
- Background checks were pulled and reviewed for all residents with a history of substance abuse to identify any history of drug distribution; if found, the care plan would be amended to include this history. This process will be ongoing for new admissions.
- A form listing all residents with a history of substance abuse will be reviewed weekly by Social Services and Leadership to ensure compliance with substance abuse protocols. This list will be placed in each nursing station and updated weekly.
- The facility will conduct a QA Audit to ensure comprehensive and thorough investigation of any illicit drug distribution, promoting safety, accountability, and transparency. These audits will be conducted by the Administrator and Assistant Administrators when there is suspicion or allegation of illicit drug use or distribution.
- Package Security Procedure: All packages arriving by mail are checked in at the front desk, placed in a secured office, and delivered to residents by Activities staff, who will have the resident open the package in front of them. If unsafe, Security will secure the package.
- For packages delivered by individuals, the family member/other must open the package in front of Security for inspection before it is given to the resident.
- Security, Activities, and Front Office staff were in-serviced on identifying unauthorized items, including illicit substances, to prevent them from entering the facility.
- All residents were informed of the new package security process.
- The package security process will be posted at the Front Desk to inform visitors.
- The package security process will be reviewed at the emergency Resident Council Meeting and monthly for 3 months.
- All new admissions will be informed of the Package Security Procedure upon admission by Admissions Director/Designee.
- The facility will conduct a QA Audit 2x/weekly for 12 weeks to ensure new admissions are aware of the Package Security Procedure and that the process is being implemented.
- Independent/Community Out on Pass Protocol: A protocol was developed to prevent residents and visitors from bringing illegal substances into the facility after returning from out on pass.
- A sign will be placed in the Front Lobby notifying all residents and visitors not to bring illicit substances into the facility, with consequences stated.
- A statement will be printed on the resident out on pass log warning of consequences for bringing illicit substances into the facility.
- A destination section is added to the Resident Out on Pass Log for residents to declare their destination each time they go out on pass, with Security/Front Desk staff responsible for ensuring it is filled out.
Food Storage and Dishwashing Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to its policies for food storage and labeling, as well as maintaining proper sanitation temperatures in the dishwashing process. During an inspection, it was observed that several food items in the walk-in freezer and refrigerator were not labeled with preparation and expiration dates, including garlic toast, meatballs, tuna salad, cheese cubes, and raw chicken. Additionally, greens and carrot vegetables were found with expired dates. The Acting Dietary Supervisor acknowledged that dietary staff are required to label all foods before storage, but this was not done. Furthermore, two bags of white bread were found with delivery dates exceeding the facility's policy for discarding after 14 days. The facility also failed to ensure the dishwashing machine reached the required sanitation temperature. During a test cycle, the temperature test strip did not change color, indicating the machine did not reach the necessary 160 degrees Fahrenheit. A subsequent test with a thermometer confirmed the final rinse temperature was only 137.3 degrees Fahrenheit. The Acting Dietary Supervisor acknowledged the issue and stated that meals would be served on paper plates until repairs were made. The Maintenance Director later confirmed that the dishwasher was serviced, and recommendations were made to de-lime the machine more frequently to prevent future failures.
Pest Control Deficiency Due to Roach Infestation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program, resulting in the presence of roaches in a resident's room. On December 8, 2024, a resident requested a surveyor to observe their bathroom, where one large cockroach was seen on the toilet seat and four small cockroaches were on the floor. The resident expressed dissatisfaction with the presence of roaches, indicating that this was not the first occurrence. The maintenance assistant confirmed the presence of roaches and mentioned that pest control services are utilized by the facility. The maintenance director acknowledged a recent increase in roach problems, attributing it to changing weather conditions and residents keeping food on the floors. The pest control company had visited the facility the previous Friday, and another visit was scheduled for the following Wednesday. The maintenance director noted that the resident's room was on the list for pest control services. The facility's pest control policy, dated August 16, 2024, states that there should be an effective pest control process in place.
Call Light Accessibility Deficiency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident's call light was within reach, which is a critical aspect of accommodating the needs and preferences of residents. The deficiency was identified during an observation where a resident, who had a moderately impaired cognition with a BIMS score of 09, was unable to locate their call light. The resident's medical conditions included acute osteomyelitis, aftercare following surgery, cataracts, hypertensive retinopathy, hypertension, a benign neoplasm, peripheral vascular diseases, and a chronic ulcer. During the survey, the call light cord was found on the floor, out of the resident's reach, which the resident confirmed by stating they did not have a call light. A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) acknowledged that the call light string was misplaced and should have been attached to the resident's bedsheets to ensure accessibility. The CNA then corrected the situation by attaching the call light to the resident's bedsheets. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the call light should always be within the resident's reach, as per the facility's policy and the CNA's job description. The facility's policy explicitly states that call lights must be placed within reach of residents who can use them at all times, highlighting a lapse in adherence to established procedures.
Failure to Follow Physician's Orders on Restraint Use
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to physician's orders regarding the use of physical restraints for a resident identified as R25. The resident, who has a medical history including Alzheimer's, bipolar disorder, emphysema, anxiety, scoliosis, and motor and sensory neuropathy, was observed on multiple occasions with hand mittens on both hands, despite the physician's order specifying the use of a mitten on the right hand only. The resident's care plan, consent form, and restorative assessment all documented the use of a right-hand mitten only, indicating a clear deviation from the prescribed care. The deficiency was further highlighted during interviews with facility staff. A Restorative Aide (V33) admitted to placing mittens on both of the resident's hands, stating they were instructed to do so by the Restorative Director. However, the Restorative Director (V34) confirmed that the resident should only have a mitten on the right hand and denied instructing the aide to apply mittens to both hands. This miscommunication and failure to follow the physician's orders resulted in the inappropriate use of restraints on the resident.
Improper Use of Low Air Loss Mattresses for Pressure Ulcer Prevention
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper use of low air loss mattresses for two residents, R44 and R66, who were at risk for pressure ulcers. Both residents were observed lying on low air loss mattresses with multiple layers of linens, including flat sheets, incontinent pads, and briefs, which is contrary to the intended use of these mattresses. The low air loss mattresses are designed to relieve pressure and prevent or treat pressure injuries, but the excessive layering of linens defeats this purpose. R44, with severe cognitive impairment and a Braden Scale Score of 14, was at moderate risk for skin alterations, while R66, also with severe cognitive impairment and a Braden Scale Score of 15, was at risk for pressure injury development. Interviews with facility staff, including a CNA, the Director of Nursing, and the Wound Nurse, confirmed that the low air loss mattresses should only have a flat sheet and either an incontinent pad or brief, not both. The facility's Wound Care Guidelines and the manufacturer's operation manual for the mattresses also support this practice. The failure to adhere to these guidelines and instructions led to the deficiency, as the improper layering of linens on the low air loss mattresses compromised their effectiveness in pressure relief and wound prevention.
Failure to Provide Necessary Equipment for Resident's Range of Motion
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident, identified as R169, received the necessary equipment to maintain or improve their range of motion and mobility. R169, who has a diagnosis of Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, Hypertension, Cognitive Communication Deficit, Bipolar Disorder, Hemiplegia, and Hemiparesis following a cerebral infarction affecting the right dominant side, was observed without a hand splint or carrot in their left hand, despite having an order for such a device. The resident, who is cognitively intact with a Brief Interview of Mental Status score of 15, reported that staff had never placed a rolled-up hand towel or carrot in their left hand to prevent further contracture. During the survey, a Restorative Aide (V20) was observed attempting to apply a hand brace to the resident's right hand, which was not contracted, and then to the left hand, causing the resident to grimace and moan in pain. The aide was then handed a carrot by another staff member (V19) and successfully placed it in the resident's left hand. The resident stated it was the first time a device had been placed in their left hand. The Restorative Director (V34) later confirmed that restorative aides are expected to apply residents' devices and are trained to do so, with a list available indicating which devices each resident should have. However, the Restorative Aide admitted to not remembering what device R169 used, indicating a lapse in the facility's protocol for ensuring residents receive appropriate care to maintain their range of motion.
Improper Storage of Nebulizer Mask
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to properly contain oxygen equipment for a resident, specifically a nebulizer mask, which was observed uncontained in the resident's bed. The resident, who is cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 15, reported using the nebulizer mask daily for treatments and stated that there was no designated place to store it, leading to the mask being kept in bed. The resident has a medical history that includes atherosclerotic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, venous insufficiency, and hypertensive heart disease with heart failure. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the facility's policy requires oxygen equipment to be stored in a plastic bag when not in use to prevent infection. However, the Assistant Administrator admitted that there was no specific policy available to guide staff on storing nebulizer masks when not in use. The facility's existing documentation on oxygen storage emphasizes safe and proper storage but lacks specific instructions for nebulizer masks. The resident's physician's orders include regular nebulizer treatments, highlighting the need for proper storage of the equipment.
Deficiencies in Monitoring Personal Refrigerators
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to properly monitor and maintain the personal refrigerators of three residents, leading to potential health risks. For one resident, R113, the temperature log for their personal refrigerator was incomplete, with missing entries for several days. R113, who has intact cognition, reported that no staff checked the refrigerator temperature while they were out of the facility, and they were not provided with a new temperature log upon their return. This oversight left the resident's insulin pens and food items potentially exposed to improper storage conditions. Another resident, R145, had a personal refrigerator without a thermometer and no temperature log was observed. The refrigerator contained expired and improperly stored food items, and it was visibly unclean. Despite the resident's intact cognition and preference to clean the refrigerator themselves, the facility's housekeeping staff were responsible for monitoring and maintaining the cleanliness and temperature of the refrigerator, as stated by the Housekeeping Director and the Director of Nursing. For resident R135, the temperature log for their personal refrigerator was also incomplete, with missing entries. The resident, who is cognitively intact, stated that the staff documents the temperature whenever they check the refrigerator. However, the facility lacked a specific policy for documenting these checks, and the Assistant Administrator acknowledged the absence of such a policy. The facility's document titled 'Freezer Temperature Log for Non-24-Hour Operation' was presented as the log sheet for recording temperatures, but it was not consistently used, leading to gaps in monitoring.
Failure to Post Enhanced Barrier Precaution Sign for Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that an Enhanced Barrier Precaution (EBP) sign was posted for a resident on EBP, which is crucial for preventing the spread of multi-drug resistant organisms. This deficiency was identified during an observation on the fourth floor, which is designated as the dementia floor. A registered nurse confirmed that the resident, who has a gastric feeding tube, was on EBP, but no sign was posted by the resident's room. The absence of the sign was acknowledged by the Wound Care Coordinator, who then contacted the Infection Preventionist. The Director of Nursing and Infection Preventionist later posted the EBP sign, explaining that the facility's policy requires a PPE bin and an EBP sign to be posted by the resident's door to inform staff of the necessary personal protective equipment during high-contact care activities. The resident's care plan indicated the use of EBP due to the presence of a feeding tube, which poses a risk for the spread of infection. The facility's policy mandates the use of gowns and gloves during high-contact care activities for residents with indwelling medical devices, such as feeding tubes, to prevent the transmission of multi-drug resistant organisms.
Failure to Update Daily Nursing Staffing Information
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to post the current daily nursing staffing information, which has the potential to affect all 188 residents residing in the facility. On December 8, 2024, a surveyor observed that the daily staff posting displayed in a glass casing was dated December 6, 2024, indicating that it had not been updated for two days. Interviews with staff revealed a lack of clarity and responsibility regarding the updating of the daily staff posting, particularly on weekends. The weekend receptionist, V26, stated that they do not change the daily staff posting and believed it was the responsibility of the weekday receptionist. V26 was unaware of how often the posting should be updated. Further interviews with V27, the weekday receptionist, revealed that they update the daily staffing in the computer and change the posting in the glass casing manually from Monday through Friday. However, V27 was unsure who was responsible for posting the daily staffing on weekends. The Assistant Administrator, V3, acknowledged oversight in ensuring that the weekend receptionist was aware of the daily staff posting responsibilities. V3 admitted that V26 was not informed about the importance of the daily staff posting due to their previous evening shift role. The facility's document titled 'Facility Assessment' emphasizes the importance of having enough staff with appropriate competencies to care for residents' needs, highlighting the significance of accurate daily staff postings.
Improper Garbage Disposal Due to Overflowing Dumpster
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a garbage dumpster lid in a closed position due to the dumpster being overfilled with garbage, which forced the lid to remain open. This situation was observed on multiple occasions, with the first observation occurring during rounds with the Acting Dietary Supervisor, who acknowledged that the lid should be closed to prevent attracting rodents. The Assistant Administrator initially thought the lids were open due to high winds but was informed that the overflow of garbage was the cause. The facility's policy requires coordination between the Dining Services Director and the Director of Maintenance to ensure the area around the dumpster is free of rubbish, but this was not adhered to, leading to the deficiency.
Elevator Safety and Maintenance Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that all elevators were timely inspected and maintained according to city regulations, which has the potential to affect all residents, staff, and visitors using the elevators. Observations revealed that one of the elevators was out of order, and residents reported that elevator availability was a recurring issue. The facility's elevators were overdue for Category 1 Testing, which includes critical safety checks such as oil buffers, safeties, governors, and emergency operations. The facility had five violations noted in a city report, and all elevators failed reinspection. Interviews with maintenance staff revealed a lack of coordination and responsibility in scheduling necessary inspections and repairs. The Maintenance Assistant Director acknowledged that the facility's maintenance staff could not fix certain issues due to the need for a licensed professional. The Maintenance Director admitted that the testing for Category 1 was not scheduled, as it was the contractor's responsibility, and there was no fixed schedule for cleaning the elevators. The facility's elevators had been cited for issues such as non-functioning door restrictors since April 2023, and these problems remained unresolved. The facility provided a contract proposal from a contractor to install new mechanical door restrictors and test the elevators, but the proposal had not yet been accepted. The Maintenance Director explained that door restrictors are crucial for preventing elevator doors from opening when not in a proper position, and the restrictors were not functioning correctly. The facility's failure to address these issues in a timely manner resulted in ongoing elevator malfunctions and safety concerns, as evidenced by the report and interviews with staff and residents.
Failure to Protect Residents from Abuse and Mistreatment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow its policy to ensure residents were free from abuse and mistreatment, as evidenced by the experiences of two residents, R2 and R3. R2, who has a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury and other conditions, reported an incident where a CNA deliberately threw spaghetti at him while feeding him, causing him distress. Despite R2's request to speak with the Nurse Supervisor, V10, about the incident, no follow-up occurred, and the LPN, V3, did not report the incident to higher authorities. R3 corroborated R2's account, stating that CNAs were mean to R2, throwing food at him and swearing. R3 also reported that the evening and night CNAs were unhelpful and rude, and he had to empty his roommate's urinals himself. Another resident, R4, mentioned witnessing CNAs yelling and swearing at residents. Despite these reports, the facility's administration, including the Administrator, V1, and the DON, V2, were unaware of these allegations until the surveyor's intervention. The facility's investigation into the incident concluded that there was no evidence of abuse, attributing the spaghetti incident to a possible accidental spill. However, the facility's abuse policy mandates reporting and investigating any suspected abuse, which was not adhered to in this case. The lack of communication and failure to report the incidents to the appropriate authorities contributed to the deficiency in protecting residents from abuse and mistreatment.
Failure to Report Allegations of Abuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to its policy of reporting allegations of abuse to the administrator or the administrator's designee, as evidenced by the cases of two residents, R2 and R3. R2, who is cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 15, reported an incident where a CNA, identified as V9, allegedly threw spaghetti at him while feeding him, causing him distress. R2 attempted to report this incident to V3, an LPN, and requested to speak with the nurse supervisor, V10, but his concerns were not escalated as required by the facility's policy. R3, also cognitively intact, corroborated R2's account, stating that CNAs were mean to R2, threw food at him, and swore at him. V3, the LPN, admitted to witnessing a disagreement between R2 and V9 and acknowledged that R2 had complained about the spaghetti incident. However, V3 did not report the incident to the appropriate authorities, citing her inexperience and uncertainty about the situation being classified as abuse. The interim administrator, V11, and the administrator, V1, were unaware of the abuse allegations until informed by the surveyor, indicating a breakdown in communication and reporting within the facility. The facility's abuse policy mandates immediate reporting of all allegations or suspicions of abuse to the administrator or their designee, and to the state surveying agency within two hours. Despite this, the initial report to the state was only submitted after the surveyor's intervention. Interviews with the DON, V2, and the nurse supervisor, V10, revealed that they were not informed of the incidents involving R2 and V9, further highlighting the failure to follow established reporting protocols.
Failure to Update Care Plan with Fall Interventions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to update a resident's care plan with fall prevention interventions after a fall incident. The resident, who is at high risk for falls and has a BIMS score indicating cognitive intactness, was observed ambulating with an unsteady gait and reported frequent falls without adequate intervention. Despite the resident's fall on 02/17/24, no fall interventions were documented or implemented in the care plan. The Falls Nurse admitted to forgetting to document and implement the necessary interventions after discussing them with the resident, who denied the fall and any injuries. The Director of Nursing confirmed that no fall interventions were put in place following the resident's fall on 02/17/24, and the Falls Nurse acknowledged the oversight. The facility's policy mandates that residents identified as high risk for falls should have interventions implemented and documented in their care plans. However, this procedure was not followed, leading to a deficiency in ensuring the resident's safety and preventing further falls.
Latest citations in Illinois
A resident with end stage renal disease on dialysis, right below-knee amputation, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease, who was care planned as high risk for falls, slid from a high-back wheelchair and sustained a left femur fracture. The care plan called for proper seating, posture reminders, and use of a non-skid/dycem pad in the wheelchair, but on the day of the fall the RN found the resident on the floor with the chair in an upright position and no non-slip pad in place. CNAs described differing routines for how the resident was transferred and positioned after dialysis and dinner, including expectations that the chair be slightly reclined and the resident monitored in a TV room, while the DON’s investigation did not confirm whether required fall-prevention devices were in use and acknowledged the resident had previously slid from his wheelchair.
A resident with hemiplegia, gait abnormalities, lack of coordination, and cognitive deficit, who required substantial assistance with ADLs including turning in bed, fell from bed during peri-care when a CNA asked the resident to turn onto her side and the resident’s legs went over the bed edge. Staff later reported that residents should be positioned in the middle of the bed before turning to prevent falls. An RN assessed the resident after the fall, and the resident was subsequently evaluated by an NP and sent to the hospital, where an intertrochanteric femur fracture associated with a traumatic event was diagnosed.
Two cognitively intact residents reported separate incidents in which CNAs used profane, disparaging, and humiliating language toward or about them during personal care. In one event, a male CNA providing incontinence care to a roommate refused to close the room door, argued with a resident about the request, and repeatedly used the term “mother f***er” in reference to that resident while care was being given. In another event, two CNAs entered a resident’s room after a recent hospice bath, with one CNA stating the resident “stinks” and that no one, including hospice, wanted to care for him because he always complained. Both residents had no documented history of making false abuse allegations, and the reported staff statements are inconsistent with the facility’s abuse policy defining mental and verbal abuse as including humiliation, harassment, and disparaging or derogatory terms.
A resident with ESRD on dialysis, right BKA, osteoporosis, dementia, and Alzheimer’s fell in his room and was assisted back to bed by an RN and CNA. The RN documented an assessment and later gave PRN tramadol, while the CNA reported the resident said “Oww” when his left leg was moved and screamed during care. The next day, a CNA reported that the resident screamed that his left leg hurt when being dressed and informed two RNs, and another CNA later heard the resident repeatedly say he was in pain but did not notify a nurse. Despite multiple pain complaints, documentation shows only one PRN tramadol dose and no thorough assessment of the left leg pain or MD notification for change in condition. The resident was later sent from dialysis to the ER for leg pain, where an X-ray showed a distal femur fracture requiring surgical repair, and the hospital record noted it was unclear if any evaluation had been done after the fall.
A resident had an active order for enhanced barrier precautions due to a PICC, with signage posted instructing staff to wear gloves and a gown during device care and use. A RN was observed performing PICC care and disconnecting the resident from IV antibiotic therapy while wearing gloves but no gown. The infection control nurse confirmed that enhanced barrier precautions require both gloves and a gown for PICC handling, and facility policy specified glove and gown use for high-contact device care activities.
A resident re-admitted after right femur fracture repair, with dementia and multiple comorbidities, had a PRN order for oxycodone 5 mg q4h for moderate to severe pain. Nursing documentation later that day described the resident yelling, screaming, and exhibiting severe pain, but the MAR shows no pain medication was given at that time, and only acetaminophen 325 mg was administered hours later. The RN and DON acknowledged that the resident was non-verbal, that oxycodone was ordered and available from the emergency supply, and that acetaminophen alone was not adequate for post-surgical pain, yet the narcotic was not administered until many hours after delivery from the pharmacy, contrary to the facility’s pain management policy.
Two residents experienced failures in required physician and family notification. For one resident on Lithium with multiple comorbidities, staff did not notify the psychiatrist of a documented high Lithium level and continued administering Lithium at the increased dose until the resident became lethargic and was later hospitalized with Lithium toxicity. For another resident with Parkinson’s disease and high fall risk who requires total assistance with ADLs, staff did not document physician or family notification after unwitnessed falls that resulted in bruising to the buttock, hip discoloration, and a head abrasion, despite internal policy requiring immediate notification for significant changes in condition and injuries.
Two residents experienced deficiencies in assessment and monitoring when staff did not adequately evaluate or document significant changes in condition and post-fall injuries. One resident with multiple chronic conditions and on lithium became markedly lethargic, unable to sit upright, and had difficulty swallowing, with CNAs repeatedly reporting these changes to an RN who documented only a bruise and no detailed assessment or frequent monitoring; a previously elevated lithium level had not been reported to the psychiatrist. Another resident with Parkinson’s disease and high fall risk had an unwitnessed fall and was later found by CNAs to have a large dark purple bruise covering most of the right buttock, but nursing staff either assessed only exposed skin or gave conflicting accounts of having noted the bruise, and documentation and post-fall assessments did not reflect this injury as required by facility policy.
A resident with multiple chronic conditions, moderate cognitive impairment, and independent ambulation was placed in a Geri-chair by a CNA who was not assigned to the resident, and a sheet was tied around the resident’s waist and the back of the chair, preventing the resident from getting up. The CNA stated she used the sheet as a seat belt and safety precaution because the resident was wandering into other residents’ rooms and disturbing them, acknowledging that tying a sheet in this way is considered a restraint and is not allowed. The resident, who does not use a wheelchair or Geri-chair and normally ambulates without assistive devices, remained in the chair until discovered by a day-shift CNA, who noted the resident could not get up as usual and saw the sheet restraining the resident. Facility leadership, including the administrator, DON, physician, and social services, confirmed that the Geri-chair and tied sheet constituted a physical restraint applied without assessment, IDT involvement, physician order, consent, or documented medical symptoms warranting restraint, contrary to facility policies prohibiting such use and requiring immediate reporting of potential abuse. A subsequent skin assessment documented discoloration/bruising to the resident’s upper and lower extremities.
Staff failed to follow the facility’s mandatory gait belt policy and individual transfer care plans for multiple cognitively impaired residents with conditions such as DM, CHF, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, cerebral infarction, and Alzheimer’s disease. CNAs repeatedly transferred residents between bed, wheelchair, and toilet without gait belts, instead lifting under the axillae, pulling on clothing, and moving wheelchairs into place while residents were partially supported. In one instance, a wheelchair was not locked during a transfer, causing a resident to end up on the edge of the bed and nearly fall. CNAs later acknowledged that gait belts are supposed to be used for transfers, and facility policy specifies that gait belts are mandatory for all physical assist transfers.
Failure to Implement Fall-Prevention Interventions for High-Risk Resident
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to implement and maintain fall prevention interventions for a resident identified as high risk for falls, resulting in the resident sliding from a high-back wheelchair and sustaining a left femur fracture. The resident had multiple diagnoses, including end stage renal disease with dialysis dependence, right below-knee amputation, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, lack of coordination, abnormal posture, anxiety, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. The resident’s care plan identified him as high risk for falls and included interventions such as reminding him of good posture in the wheelchair, redirecting him to bed if slouching or fatigued, ensuring he was properly seated, and placing a non-skid mat/dycem non-slip pad in the wheelchair to prevent sliding. On the evening of the fall, the RN responded to the resident yelling and found him on the floor between his recliner (high-back wheelchair) and nearby furniture; the resident stated he had been sleeping in the recliner in front of the heater and slid down. The RN observed that the wheelchair was in the upright position rather than reclined as usual and that there was no non-slip pad on the chair. Interviews and record review showed inconsistent implementation of the resident’s fall-prevention plan and lack of clear follow-through on the circumstances of the fall. One CNA reported that on the day of the fall, the resident returned from dialysis already in his chair, likely transferred there by transport staff using a sheet, and that she did not transfer him into the chair herself. Another CNA, who routinely cared for the resident, stated that transport staff typically placed him in bed on return from dialysis and that staff would later transfer him to his high-back wheelchair with a mechanical lift before dinner, recline the chair slightly after dinner, and position him in the TV room so staff could monitor him and prevent him from falling asleep and sliding out. The DON, who investigated the fall, did not recall speaking with the RN or the CNA involved, did not know whether a non-slip pad was in place at the time of the fall, and acknowledged that the resident had slid out of his wheelchair in the past. The DON identified sliding from the wheelchair as the root cause of the fall and stated that the resident’s left leg fracture was from this fall.
Failure to Maintain Bed Safety During Peri-Care Resulting in Resident Fall and Fracture
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure a resident’s safety during incontinence/peri-care, resulting in a fall from bed and a fracture. The resident had been readmitted with diagnoses including hemiplegia and hemiparesis affecting the right dominant side, multiple neoplasm sites, lack of coordination, and abnormalities of gait and mobility. A recent Minimum Data Set indicated the resident had a cognitive deficit and required partial to substantial assistance with ADLs such as turning in bed, bathing, toileting, dressing, and personal hygiene. During peri-care, a CNA reported completing cleaning of the resident’s front and then asking the resident to turn onto her side; the resident turned onto her right side, her legs went over the side of the bed, and she fell out of the bed. Another CNA stated that when providing peri-care, staff should ensure the resident is in the middle of the bed before turning them so they do not go too far and fall out. Following the fall, an RN reported being informed by the CNA that the resident had fallen out of bed while being cleaned and was asked to assess the resident. After the resident was returned to bed, the RN noted the resident nodded when asked if she had pain. A nurse practitioner later saw the resident in her wheelchair and noted she did not show signs of pain until her right hip and thigh were palpated, after which the resident’s power of attorney requested hospital transfer. Hospital records showed the resident was admitted with an intertrochanteric right femur fracture and was transferred to another hospital for surgery. The medical director stated that this type of fracture is associated with a traumatic event.
Failure to Protect Residents From Verbal and Mental Abuse by CNAs
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to protect residents from verbal and mental abuse by CNAs. One cognitively intact resident, R1, reported that on a morning the prior week, a Black male CNA entered the shared room around 5:55 AM to provide incontinence care to R2 and left the door open. When R1 told the CNA the door needed to be closed, the CNA replied that he does not close doors when working. After R1 stated he could make a complaint to the state, the CNA responded, “Do what you have to do mother f***er.” R1 then got out of bed, closed the door himself, and went to the bathroom. R1 reported this incident that morning to the Activity Director (V3), describing that an African American male CNA had used unkind words toward him related to his request to close the door. R2, who is also cognitively intact, corroborated the incident, stating that while he was receiving perineal care from a CNA, R1 and the CNA argued about the door being closed. R2 reported that during the care, while the CNA was wiping his perineal area, the CNA called R1 a “mother f***er.” After R1 closed the door and went to the bathroom, R2 stated that the CNA continued talking about R1 and referred to him as a “mother f***er” multiple times, with the term directed toward R1. The Administrator (V1) later interviewed the Black male CNAs and contacted an agency CNA (V10) who had worked that night; V10 admitted to swearing in the room while providing care to R2, stating he hit his foot and yelled out profanity, but denied swearing at residents. R1’s care plan and staff interviews indicated he had no history of making false abuse statements, and R2’s records similarly showed no history of false abuse allegations. A second incident of verbal and mental abuse involved R2 and two CNAs, V7 and V8. R2 stated that on a day shortly after a hospice aide had given him a bath, V7 and V8 entered his room to clean him and get him up. According to R2, V7 said, “You stink.” When R2 responded that he should not smell because he had just received a bath the day before, V7 allegedly stated, “Everyone in this place hates taking care of you.” R2 reported that these comments made him upset and feel bad about himself. R1, who was present in the room, stated that as soon as V7 entered, she told R2 that he stinks, and when R2 replied that he had just had a bath, V7 said, “No one want to take care of you, you are always complaining, not even hospice.” The facility’s abuse policy defines mental abuse as including humiliation and harassment, and verbal abuse as the willful use of disparaging and derogatory terms to residents or within hearing distance, which aligns with the language reported in both incidents.
Failure to Timely Assess and Treat Post-Fall Leg Pain Leading to Delayed Fracture Diagnosis
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure a resident received timely medical evaluation and treatment after a fall resulting in a fractured leg. The resident had multiple diagnoses including end stage renal disease with dialysis dependence, right below-knee amputation, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, lack of coordination, abnormal posture, anxiety, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. According to the fall incident note, the resident fell in his room and was found on the floor between his recliner and nearby furniture. The RN who responded reported performing a full assessment, including range of motion, and stated the resident could not move his left leg very much but considered this baseline and noted no pain complaints. She administered PRN tramadol later that night, documented for pain at a level 3, but stated she sometimes gives tramadol and melatonin to help him sleep and was unsure why pain was marked on the MAR. A CNA present after the fall reported that when the RN moved the resident’s left leg, he said “Oww” and began cussing, and that he screamed during incontinence care, though this was described as normal for him. On the following day shift, a CNA reported that when attempting to dress the resident, he screamed that his left leg hurt and stated he had fallen the previous day. The CNA immediately informed two RNs, who, according to the CNA, acknowledged the prior fall and said they were taking care of it; one RN later stated she did not recall being told about pain, and the other said she was leaving at end of shift after being told the resident had leg pain. Another CNA caring for the resident later that day and night reported the resident repeatedly said “don’t touch me, I’m in pain,” but she did not report this to a nurse because she believed it was normal for him to yell. Progress notes and records from this period show only one PRN tramadol dose given and no documented assessment of the resident’s left leg pain or notification of the physician regarding a change in condition between the fall and his transfer out. The next day, at the dialysis center, the resident appeared agitated and pointed to his left leg, prompting transfer to the ER, where imaging revealed a minimally displaced distal femur fracture requiring intramedullary nailing. The hospital history and physical noted it was unclear if any evaluation had been performed after the fall at the facility.
Failure to Use Required PPE During PICC Care Under Enhanced Barrier Precautions
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency in the facility’s infection prevention and control program when staff did not follow required personal protective equipment (PPE) use for a resident on enhanced barrier precautions. The resident (R4) had a physician order dated 3/31/26 for enhanced barrier precautions related to a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC), with a start date of 3/26/26. An enhanced barrier precaution sign was posted on the resident’s bathroom door, instructing staff to wear gloves and a gown during device care and use. On 3/31/26 at 11:12 AM, a registered nurse (V16) was observed in the resident’s room handling the PICC line and disconnecting the resident from an antibiotic while wearing gloves but no gown. During an interview, the infection control nurse (V7) stated that enhanced barrier precautions are used to help limit infections and that staff are required to wear both gloves and a gown when handling a PICC. The facility’s Enhanced Barrier Precautions Protocol, revised 7/26/21, specified that gloves and gowns were to be used during high-contact care activities, including device care or use. This sequence of observations, interviews, and record review showed that despite existing orders, signage, and policy requiring both gloves and gowns for high-contact device care under enhanced barrier precautions, the registered nurse did not wear a gown while performing PICC care for the resident.
Failure to Administer Ordered PRN Narcotic for Severe Post-Surgical Pain
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide ordered pain medication to a resident following right femur fracture repair. The resident was re-admitted with diagnoses including peripheral vascular disease, late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, unspecified dementia, falls, diabetes, and osteoarthritis. Physician orders dated December 2025 included oxycodone 5 mg every 4 hours as needed for moderate or severe pain. On 12/27/25 at 1:38 PM, nursing notes documented the resident exhibiting yelling and screaming behaviors and severe pain, with interventions listed as scheduled pain medication and PRN medication administration. However, the Medication Administration Record for December 2025 shows no pain medication was administered at 1:38 PM, and instead acetaminophen 325 mg was given later at 3:34 PM. During interviews, the RN stated the resident was confused and non-verbal, with pain indicated by facial grimacing and behaviors, and confirmed the resident had scheduled acetaminophen and PRN oxycodone available, noting that if waiting for pharmacy delivery, narcotics could be pulled from the emergency supply. The DON reported that discharge instructions from the hospital included narcotic prescriptions and that oxycodone was available in the emergency supply box. The DON confirmed the resident arrived at 10:27 AM, that the nurse’s note at 1:38 PM documented severe pain, and that no pain medication was administered at that time despite an order for oxycodone 5 mg for moderate to severe pain. The DON also stated that acetaminophen alone would not be adequate for pain control following hip surgery and was unsure why nursing did not administer the narcotic. The controlled substance record shows oxycodone was delivered to the facility at 10:00 PM and first administered at 1:00 AM the following day. The facility’s pain management policy states that pain management will be provided to residents who require such services, consistent with professional standards of practice and the person-centered care plan.
Failure to Notify Physician and Family of Abnormal Labs and Post-Fall Injuries
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to notify a physician of an abnormal laboratory result for a resident receiving Lithium, as well as failure to notify a physician and family of injuries following unwitnessed falls for another resident. One resident, a 65-year-old with multiple medical diagnoses including paranoid schizophrenia, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerotic heart disease, anxiety disorder, and restlessness/agitation, had a physician order for Lithium that was increased over time to 300 mg twice daily as of early March 2026. A laboratory result dated March 10, 2026, showed a Lithium level of 1.40 mmol/L, flagged as high, with no documentation that the physician was notified of this abnormal result. The MAR shows that staff continued to administer Lithium 300 mg twice daily from March 5 through March 15, 2026, without documented physician notification or dose adjustment in response to the elevated level. On March 15, 2026, progress notes document that this resident became very lethargic, unable to stand or transfer, and unable to answer questions, with continued lethargy and inability to respond even to simple questions later that evening. The notes indicate that the physician and DON were contacted at that time and that the resident was sent to the hospital via emergency services. Hospital records show the resident was admitted with a primary diagnosis of Lithium toxicity and that a subsequent Lithium level was critically high at 1.73. The resident’s psychiatrist later stated he was not aware of the elevated Lithium level obtained on March 10, 2026, and that facility staff were expected to notify him of high or low Lithium levels so that medication doses could be adjusted and the resident monitored for changes in condition. The deficiency also includes a second resident, a 64-year-old with multiple diagnoses including altered mental status, Parkinson’s disease, lack of coordination, muscle wasting and atrophy, and difficulty walking, for whom the facility failed to notify the physician and family of injuries after unwitnessed falls and subsequent bruising. This resident requires total assistance for toileting, hygiene, and dressing. An incident report dated March 20, 2026, documents a fall by the nurses’ station with no initial injury noted and physician and family notification at that time; however, a large dark purple bruise covering most of the right buttock was later observed, and the post-fall follow-up assessment dated March 23, 2026, does not show documentation that the physician or family were notified of this bruise. Staff interviews show inconsistent accounts regarding when the bruise was noticed and who was informed, and a CNA reported that the bruise had been observed and reported to the nurse. Additionally, an earlier incident report dated February 23, 2026, documents an unwitnessed fall with yellow discoloration to the left hip and an abrasion to the posterior head, with no progress note documentation that the physician or family were notified of these injuries, despite facility policy requiring immediate notification of the physician and family for significant changes in condition or injuries.
Failure to Assess Change in Condition and Complete Post-Fall Body Assessment
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to adequately assess and respond to a change in condition for one resident (R1) and to perform a complete post-fall body assessment for another resident (R5). R1, a 65-year-old with multiple medical diagnoses including hypotension, hypertension, coronary artery disease, paranoid schizophrenia, urinary retention, anxiety disorder, and restlessness/agitation, was documented on the MDS as alert and oriented and requiring substantial to maximum assistance with ADLs. On the morning of March 15, 2026, R1’s nurse (V5) observed her leaning to one side in her wheelchair after breakfast and instructed CNAs to put her to bed to prevent a fall. V5 noted a bruise on R1’s left shoulder but did not document any further assessment of her condition. Despite multiple CNAs (V8, V9, V10) recognizing that R1 was very lethargic, leaning forward and to the side, unable to sit upright, having difficulty swallowing food and water, gagging, and appearing in a daze, there was no detailed nursing assessment or frequent monitoring documented for R1 during the morning shift. Later that day, during shift change, another nurse (V7) observed R1 to be very lethargic, barely responsive to her name, and unable to stand or transfer. V7 had not been informed of any change in condition and was unfamiliar with R1’s baseline. After R1’s family expressed alarm at her condition, V7 confirmed with CNAs that R1 usually got up with assistance and used a bedside commode but was now unable to get up or sit on the commode even with assistance from three staff. V7 obtained vital signs, which were stable, but R1 remained lethargic. V7 notified the physician and the DON and arranged for R1 to be sent to the hospital via emergency services. Progress notes from the evening documented that R1 was very lethargic, moaning but unable to speak or answer even simple questions. Hospital records showed R1 was admitted with a primary diagnosis of lithium toxicity, with a critically high lithium level of 1.73 mmol/L. A prior lab result from March 10, 2026, showed an elevated lithium level of 1.40 mmol/L, with no documentation that the physician was notified. R1’s psychiatrist (V14) stated he was not aware of the elevated lithium level and that facility staff were expected to notify him of high or low lithium levels so that dosing and monitoring could be adjusted. The deficiency also includes the facility’s failure to conduct and document a complete post-fall body assessment for R5, a 64-year-old with altered mental status, Parkinson’s disease, lack of coordination, muscle wasting and atrophy, difficulty walking, dysphagia (oral phase), and cognitive communication deficit. R5 required total assistance for toileting, hygiene, and dressing. An incident report dated March 20, 2026, documented that R5 had an unwitnessed fall by the nurses’ station, was on a blood thinner, and was sent to the hospital, with no injury initially noted. Upon R5’s return from the hospital on March 22, 2026, a progress note stated that a full body assessment was conducted and no new skin issues were noted, and subsequent post-fall assessments through March 23, 2026, also documented no skin issues. However, CNAs (V16 and V17) later observed a large dark purple bruise covering almost the entire right buttock during a full body assessment on March 23, 2026. CNA V17 reported seeing this bruise the evening of March 22, 2026, when assisting R5 to the toilet and stated she immediately notified nurse V6. CNA V21 confirmed being informed of the bruise during shift change. Nurse V5, who cared for R5 on the morning of March 23, 2026, stated he only assessed exposed skin and did not see the bruise. V6 initially stated she was unaware of the bruise but later changed her statement to say she had done a complete body check on admission and noted the bruise. The ADON (V20) stated that when a bruise is found, staff must document its size, location, color, tenderness or pain, and notify the physician of injuries or changes in condition. The facility’s Accident and Incident Policy requires documentation of the extent of injury, assessment, and at least 72 hours of daily documentation after an incident, which was not reflected in R5’s records regarding the buttock bruise.
Resident Improperly Restrained in Geri-Chair With Sheet and No Medical Justification
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves a resident who was physically restrained in a Geri-chair using a sheet without a physician’s order, consent, or documented medical justification. The resident is an older adult with multiple medical diagnoses including type 2 diabetes mellitus with hyperglycemia, COPD, hypertensive heart disease without heart failure, hyperlipidemia, urinary incontinence, edema of unspecified eye, and bipolar disorder. The MDS documented a BIMS score of 9, indicating moderate cognitive impairment, and showed the resident required only supervision or touching assistance for sit-to-stand and ambulation tasks, did not use a wheelchair or scooter, and was ambulatory without assistive devices. The care plan documented the resident as an adult with chronic health conditions and co-morbidities living in LTC, with recognition that such circumstances may be viewed as a form of trauma, but did not document any history of being a perpetrator or recipient of mistreatment, abuse, neglect, or exploitation. On the night in question, a CNA who was not assigned to the resident placed the ambulatory resident into a Geri-chair on the third floor and tied a sheet around the resident’s waist and the back of the chair, using it as a seat belt. The CNA stated she did this around 3:30 a.m. because the resident was walking from room to room, entering other residents’ rooms, pulling on residents while they were sleeping, and other residents were getting upset. The CNA reported that the resident was awake, clapping, able to move arms and legs, but could not get out of the Geri-chair because it was reclined “like a couch.” The CNA acknowledged that wheelchairs do not come with seat belts, that tying a sheet over a resident who does not use a Geri-chair is considered a restraint, and that using a sheet in this way is not allowed, but stated she believed she was helping and using it as a safety precaution to keep the resident from falling out and to keep the resident with her while she went from room to room. The resident remained in the Geri-chair with the sheet tied until discovered by a day-shift CNA after 7:00 a.m., who found the resident in the dining room, noted that the resident could not get up as usual, and on closer inspection saw the sheet restraining the resident from getting out of the chair. The day-shift CNA reported the situation to a nurse and the resident was removed from the chair around 7:10–7:15 a.m. Subsequent review of security footage by the administrator and DON confirmed the resident sitting in the hallway in a Geri-chair with a sheet tied over the lap, and multiple staff, including the administrator, DON, attending physician, and social services director, identified the Geri-chair and tied sheet as a restraint, noting that the resident is ambulatory and does not utilize a Geri-chair. A skin/shower worksheet dated several days later documented skin discoloration/bruising to the resident’s upper and lower extremities. The facility’s written policies state that physical restraints are to be used only as a last resort after alternatives have been tried and failed, based on assessment and IDT determination, and that the facility prohibits abuse, neglect, exploitation, and mistreatment, with employees required to immediately report any incident, allegation, or suspicion of potential abuse or neglect to the administrator or an immediate supervisor who must immediately report it to the administrator. In this incident, the resident was restrained without assessment, IDT involvement, physician order, consent, or documented medical symptoms warranting restraint, and the restraint was applied solely at the CNA’s discretion. Additional staff interviews further described the circumstances and staff awareness. The DON confirmed that the resident is ambulatory, does not use assistive devices, does not utilize a Geri-chair, and is able to transfer independently, and stated that placing the resident in a Geri-chair and tying a sheet over the resident would be considered a restraint. The attending physician stated that someone took it upon themselves to place the resident in a Geri-chair and used a sheet to tie the resident down, described this as wrong and never okay, and characterized it as the aide’s misguided independent action. The social services director stated the resident ambulates independently with moderate cognitive impairment, does not require a wheelchair or Geri-chair, and that having something wrapped around the resident’s legs or thighs in this manner is technically a restraint. The administrator stated that the Geri-chair was considered a restraint because it was not assigned to the resident, and the sheet was also a restraint because it was tied over the resident’s lap, and confirmed that the resident is mobile and does not use a chair or other devices. The report also details staff knowledge and recognition of the restraint and the reporting chain. The CNA who discovered the resident in the morning stated she had received abuse prevention training and knew that use of restraints is prohibited and considered abuse, and that there are different levels of restraints. She reported the situation to a nurse but did not directly notify the administrator. The house supervisor LPN stated she was told by the CNA that the resident was in a Geri-chair and was wet, but she did not hear that the resident was tied with a sheet; she stated that if she had heard that the resident was restrained, she would have immediately assessed the resident and notified the administrator, acknowledging that restraints are not allowed and that the resident ambulates independently and does not use a Geri-chair. The night-shift LPN assigned to the resident stated he saw the resident in the Geri-chair, with hands visible and no distress, but did not see the sheet tied around the waist and was not aware the resident was restrained; he stated he had received abuse prevention and restraint education. Another CNA on orientation reported seeing the resident rolled into the dining room and giving the resident water but did not see the sheet being tied and acknowledged that such use would be considered a restraint. Facility documentation, including the final incident investigation report and policy excerpts, confirms that the resident was physically restrained in a Geri-chair using a sheet, without physician orders, consent, or medical justification, and that this constituted inappropriate use of a physical restraint and a failure to protect the resident from abuse and to follow facility policies on restraint use and abuse prevention.
Failure to Use Gait Belts and Follow Transfer Care Plans
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency in which staff did not follow the facility’s mandatory gait belt transfer policy or residents’ care plans requiring gait belt use for physical assist transfers. One resident with Type 2 DM, CHF, severe cognitive impairment, and a care plan requiring a walker, gait belt, and one-person assist for transfers was observed being transferred from wheelchair to bed by a CNA who did not use a gait belt, instead pulling under the resident’s arm and by the waistband of his pants. Another resident with Parkinson’s disease, severe cognitive impairment, and a care plan requiring a gait belt and walker or sit-to-stand device with one-person assist for transfers was transferred to and from the toilet by a CNA without a gait belt or walker; the CNA used one hand to guide the resident’s hip and the other to pull the wheelchair into position behind the resident. A third resident with dementia, cerebral infarction, severe cognitive impairment, and a care plan requiring a gait belt, sit-to-stand device, and one-person assist for transfers was repeatedly transferred without a gait belt. The CNA lifted the resident under both axillae from bed to a high-back wheelchair, then into and out of the bathroom using the handrail and lifting under one axilla, again without a gait belt. During a subsequent transfer from wheelchair to bed, the CNA did not lock the wheelchair and did not apply a gait belt; as the resident grabbed the bed rail and the CNA lifted under the axilla, the wheelchair rolled away, leaving the resident sitting on the edge of the bed and nearly falling before the CNA was able, after several attempts, to get the resident’s legs and feet onto the bed. A fourth resident with Alzheimer’s disease, severe cognitive impairment, and a care plan requiring a gait belt and walker with one-person assist for transfers was transferred between wheelchair and toilet by a CNA who did not use a gait belt, instead pulling the resident up by her pants and under her arm and then holding onto the pants while pulling the wheelchair into position. Multiple CNAs later stated that gait belts are used for transferring residents, and the facility’s written policy states that use of a gait belt for all physical assist transfers is mandatory.
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