Pearl Of Evanston,the
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Evanston, Illinois.
- Location
- 820 Foster Street, Evanston, Illinois 60201
- CMS Provider Number
- 145803
- Inspections on file
- 27
- Latest survey
- December 16, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 4
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Pearl Of Evanston,the during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A resident experienced a decline in range of motion or mobility because the facility did not provide appropriate care to maintain or improve ROM, and there was no documented medical reason for the decline.
A resident with multiple medical conditions and a stage 3 sacral pressure ulcer did not receive daily wound care as ordered by the physician, with no documentation or evidence of treatment provided for two consecutive days. The wound care nurse confirmed the lack of documentation, and facility policy requiring both treatment and documentation was not followed.
The facility failed to investigate and report a potential abuse incident involving two residents who had a verbal altercation, during which a table was overturned. Despite the police being called, no internal investigation was conducted, and the facility's abuse prevention policy was not followed.
The facility failed to ensure all staff were trained on handling resident altercations, resulting in an incident where two residents were left alone during a dispute. A housekeeping aide, who had not received abuse training, left the scene to find help, leading to a flipped table. Interviews revealed inconsistent abuse training among staff, contrary to the facility's policy.
The facility failed to ensure controlled substances were kept in locked compartments, left medication carts unlocked during administration, did not store refrigerated medications properly, and failed to date ophthalmic medications upon opening.
A facility failed to ensure a resident with Dementia and Alzheimer's disease was treated with dignity and respect. A PTA repeatedly asked the resident to stand for exercises while standing behind him, despite his requests for her to stand in front so he could see her. The Acting Therapy Director confirmed that staff should stand in front of residents when communicating.
The facility failed to ensure that a resident's medications were not kept at the bedside without a physician's order and did not assess the resident for safe self-administration. Medications were found in the resident's bedside drawer without proper documentation or orders, and the facility did not follow its policies on medication administration and self-administration assessment.
The facility failed to obtain a hospice plan of care for a resident receiving hospice services. The hospice plan of care was missing from both the hospice binder and the electronic health records, despite facility procedures requiring its inclusion.
The facility failed to provide necessary services and treatment to maintain and prevent further decrease in range of motion for three residents, leading to unaddressed contractures and lack of appropriate devices such as hand rolls and carrot splints.
The facility failed to implement its safety smoking policy for a resident who smokes five times a day and uses a CPAP machine at night. The Social Service Director admitted that the smoking assessment and care plan were not completed until prompted by the surveyor, despite the facility's policy requiring these assessments upon admission.
The facility failed to implement enhanced barrier precautions for a resident requiring high contact care. An LPN administered medications and feeding via a gastrointestinal tube without donning a gown, and the resident's room lacked appropriate signage and accessible PPE. The Director of Nursing confirmed the resident should have been on the EBP list and that proper PPE should have been used.
Failure to Maintain or Improve Resident Range of Motion
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified regarding the facility's failure to provide appropriate care to maintain and/or improve a resident's range of motion (ROM), limited ROM, and/or mobility. The facility did not ensure that care was provided unless a decline was for a documented medical reason. This resulted in a resident experiencing a decline in ROM or mobility without evidence that the decline was medically unavoidable.
Failure to Provide and Document Ordered Pressure Ulcer Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow physician orders for wound care for a male resident with multiple complex medical conditions, including a femur fracture, cognitive deficits, chronic kidney disease, and a stage 3 pressure ulcer on the sacrum. Physician orders specified that the sacral wound should be cleansed, treated with Medi-honey and calcium alginate, and covered with a dry dressing once daily. However, review of the treatment administration record for two consecutive days showed no documentation that the wound care was provided as ordered, and the wound care nurse confirmed there was no evidence that the treatment was completed on those dates. Facility policy requires that dressing changes be performed according to physician orders and that completion of the procedure be documented in the treatment record. The wound care nurse stated that documentation is completed after the treatment is rendered, but no such documentation was available for the dates in question. There was also no documentation that the resident refused care on those days. Subsequent wound assessment indicated deterioration of the pressure ulcer, with increased necrotic and devitalized tissue, moderate exudate, and odor present.
Failure to Investigate and Report Resident Altercation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to thoroughly investigate and report an altercation between two residents, R1 and R2, which was a potential case of abuse. R1, a cognitively intact male with Parkinson's disease and other conditions, and R2, a severely cognitively impaired male with epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease, were involved in a loud verbal altercation in the dining room. A housekeeping aide, V9, witnessed the incident and left the room to find nursing staff, during which time a heavy dining room table was overturned. The police were called, but no internal investigation was conducted by the facility's administration. The Director of Nursing, V1, and the Administrator, V14, both acknowledged that no investigation was initiated following the incident. V14, who is responsible for investigating abuse allegations, admitted to not interviewing the housekeeper or conducting a thorough investigation. The facility's policy on abuse prevention, which mandates prompt and aggressive investigation of all abuse allegations, was not followed. This lack of action and failure to adhere to the facility's abuse prevention program resulted in a deficiency in handling potential abuse situations.
Failure to Train Staff on Abuse Prevention Leads to Resident Altercation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to its abuse policy by not ensuring that all staff were trained and knowledgeable on how to handle resident-to-resident altercations. This deficiency was highlighted by an incident involving two residents, R1 and R2, who were left alone during an altercation. R1, a male with intact cognition, and R2, a male with severe cognitive impairment, engaged in a loud argument in the dining room. A housekeeping aide, V9, who was present, became nervous and left the residents unattended to find nursing staff, resulting in a flipped dining room table. The aide admitted to not receiving any abuse training since starting work five months prior. Interviews with other staff members, including licensed practical nurses and a housekeeping supervisor, revealed a lack of consistent abuse training. Some staff members had not received any abuse training since their employment began, while others relied on previous training from different roles. The Director of Nursing confirmed that all new staff should be trained on abuse prevention and response, but the facility's policy was not effectively implemented. The facility's abuse prevention program outlined the need for orientation and annual training, but this was not consistently followed, leading to the incident involving R1 and R2.
Medication Storage and Security Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure controlled substances and narcotic medications were kept in locked compartments within the medication cart. During an observation, a nursing supervisor left two controlled substance medications on top of an unlocked medication cart and walked away, leaving the cart unattended for several minutes. Additionally, multiple instances were noted where the medication cart was left unlocked while the nurse administered medications to residents, compromising the security of the medications. The Director of Nursing acknowledged that the medication cart should always be locked when out of sight and that controlled substances should be stored in locked compartments within the cart. The facility also failed to store medications requiring refrigeration according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Controlled substances such as Hydromorphone, Lorazepam, and Morphine Sulfate, which require refrigeration, were found stored in the medication cart instead. The facility's policy mandates that such medications be kept in a locked refrigerator or a locked box within the refrigerator. Additionally, the temperature monitoring of the medication refrigerator was not consistently recorded, with several dates missing from the log. Furthermore, the facility did not date ophthalmic medications upon opening, as required by their policy. During medication preparation for a resident, two eye medications were found without the date of opening. The nurse confirmed that eye medications should be dated when opened. The Director of Nursing reiterated that all medications should be stored and dated according to the facility's policies and procedures, which were not followed in these instances.
Failure to Treat Resident with Dignity and Respect
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a resident was treated with dignity and respect. On 5/28/24, a Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) asked a resident to stand up for walking exercises while standing behind the resident's chair. The resident, who has Dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and a cognitive communication deficit, requested the PTA to stand in front of him so he could see her. Despite the resident's repeated requests, the PTA continued to ask the resident to stand and walk without moving to the front. The surveyor intervened and informed the PTA of the resident's request, to which the PTA acknowledged she should have stood in front of the resident when communicating with him. On 5/30/24, the Acting Therapy Director stated that their usual practice is to introduce themselves, stand in front of the resident with eye contact, and explain the procedure. The director was informed of the observation and concern. The facility's policy on Resident's rights, reviewed on 5/8/23, emphasizes that each resident has the right to be treated with dignity and respect, and all interactions should focus on maintaining and enhancing the resident's self-esteem and self-worth, incorporating their goals, preferences, and choices.
Failure to Ensure Safe Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that no medications were kept at a resident's bedside without a physician's order and did not assess the resident for safe medication self-administration. During an observation, a registered nurse (RN) mentioned that a resident had already taken his medications and kept them in his bedside drawer. The medications included Spiriva Handihaler, Budesonide-Formoterol Fumarate, Fluticasone-Salmeterol, Combivent Respimat, and Diclofenac Gel. However, the RN did not sign off on the medication administration, and some medications listed on the resident's medication administration record were missing from the bedside drawer. Additionally, there were medications found in the drawer that did not have a physician's order, such as Allergy relief and Emergen-C. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the facility does not allow residents to keep medications at their bedside without a physician's order and that an interdisciplinary team must evaluate the resident for safe self-administration of medications before allowing it. The resident in question was admitted with diagnoses including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Chronic Congestive Heart Failure, Age-related Nuclear Cataract Bilateral, and Osteoarthritis (OA). The active physician order sheet listed specific medications for these conditions, but there was no order for the resident to self-administer these medications or to keep them at the bedside. The facility's policy on self-administration of medication requires an interdisciplinary team to assess the resident's ability to safely self-administer medications and obtain a physician's order before allowing it. The policy also outlines specific criteria for determining if self-administration is clinically appropriate, including the resident's cognitive status, physical capacity, and ability to follow medication instructions. The facility's medication administration policy also states that medications should not be left at the bedside without a physician's order and that all medications must be administered by licensed personnel. The facility failed to follow these policies, resulting in a deficiency in medication safety for the resident involved.
Failure to Obtain Hospice Plan of Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to obtain a copy of the hospice plan of care for one resident (R76) who was receiving hospice services. During a record review, it was found that R76's hospice binder did not contain the hospice plan of care coordinated with the facility. Additionally, R76's electronic health records were also missing the hospice plan of care. Interviews with the Licensed Practical Nurse (V17) and the Director of Social Services (V8) confirmed that the hospice plan of care should be included in the hospice binder or scanned into the electronic health records for accessibility by all staff. R76 was admitted with diagnoses including unspecified dementia and moderate protein-calorie malnutrition, and had an order for hospice services dated 02/13/2024. The facility's Hospice Services Agreement and Hospice Program procedures clearly state that the hospice plan of care should be provided to the nursing facility and included in the resident's records. However, the facility did not adhere to these procedures, resulting in the absence of the hospice plan of care in R76's records.
Failure to Maintain Range of Motion for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide services and treatment to maintain and prevent further decrease in range of motion for three residents. One resident, who had been at the facility for a couple of weeks, was observed with a left-hand contracture and expressed concern about his nails digging into his skin. The Registered Nurse acknowledged that no device had been placed in the resident's hand to prevent further contracture and notified the Restorative Nurse. The Occupational Therapist later recommended a carrot splint for the resident's left hand, but this was only after the surveyor's observation and intervention. Another resident was observed lying in bed with right fingers touching the right palm without any hand roll or carrot splint. The Restorative Nurse confirmed that the resident should have had a hand roll or carrot splint and noted that the current restorative program did not include the right hand. The Director of Nursing stated that the resident was not initially eligible for a splint or hand roll but acknowledged that recent therapy recommendations included passive and active range of motion exercises for both upper and lower extremities. A third resident was observed with bilateral elbow and wrist flexion contractures without any hand rolls in place. The Restorative Nurse and other staff members confirmed that the resident should have had preventative measures such as hand rolls and elevation of the right hand to decrease swelling. The resident's care plan was updated only after the surveyor's intervention to include these measures. The Occupational Therapy recommendations had been made prior to the survey but were not implemented until the deficiency was noted.
Failure to Implement Safety Smoking Policy
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its safety smoking policy for a resident who is a smoker. The resident, who is alert, oriented, and ambulatory, was observed to have a CPAP machine at her bedside and reported smoking five times a day. Despite the facility's policy requiring smoking assessments upon admission, quarterly, and as needed, the Social Service Director admitted that the smoking assessment and care plan for this resident were not completed until prompted by the surveyor. The resident was admitted with diagnoses including obstructive sleep apnea, PTSD, and schizoaffective disorder, but her smoking assessment and care plan were only initiated after the surveyor's inquiry. The facility's policy on smoking residents, reviewed earlier in the year, mandates that residents be evaluated for their smoking habits upon admission and that any smoking-related privileges, restrictions, and concerns be noted on the care plan. However, the Social Service Director acknowledged that he had not completed the necessary assessments and care plans for the resident due to prioritizing other assessments and getting acclimated to the facility. This oversight resulted in a failure to adhere to the facility's established safety smoking practices, affecting the resident's care and safety.
Failure to Implement Enhanced Barrier Precautions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) when providing high contact resident care for one resident (R97) out of a sample of 25 reviewed for infection control protocol. On 5/28/24, it was observed that R97's room did not have an EBP sign posted at the door, nor was there a commonly shared isolation cart outside the door or in the hallway accessible to staff. An LPN administered medications and bolus feeding via a gastrointestinal tube to R97 while wearing gloves but did not don a gown, which is required for high contact care activities under EBP guidelines. On 5/29/24, the Director of Nursing presented an updated list of residents on EBP, which did not include R97. The Director confirmed that R97 should have been on the list and that the LPN should have worn both gloves and a gown when administering medications and feeding via the gastrointestinal tube. R97 was admitted with diagnoses including Dysphagia oropharyngeal phase, Gastrostomy status, Cachexia, and Apraxia, and had an active physician order indicating the need for EBP due to the presence of a gastric tube. The facility's policy on EBP, reviewed on 10/14/22, specifies that gown and gloves should be used during high contact resident care activities, including device care or use such as feeding tubes, and that PPE should be made available and accessible.
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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