Indianola Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Indianola, Mississippi.
- Location
- 401 Highway 82 West, Indianola, Mississippi 38751
- CMS Provider Number
- 255185
- Inspections on file
- 19
- Latest survey
- January 14, 2026
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 1 (1 serious)
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Indianola Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A resident with dementia, severe cognitive impairment (BIMS 3), and a documented history of wandering and exit-seeking behaviors eloped through a courtyard door and remained outside unsupervised in cold weather. The resident’s wander bracelet, originally ordered for exit-seeking behaviors, had been discontinued months earlier, and no increased monitoring or updated wandering interventions were implemented after documented exit-seeking episodes. Multiple CNAs and an LPN reported that the resident was known to exit-seek daily and required frequent redirection but assumed a wander guard was in place when it was not. A malfunctioning courtyard door allowed opening with sustained pressure on the handle without triggering an alarm, and staff near the door did not hear any alarm or notice the elopement. The resident was later found outside shivering and reported having sat outside for a long time before being let back in, with vital signs not obtained until the following day. The State Agency cited this as IJ and SQC under F689 (Free of Accident Hazards/Supervision/Devices).
Several cognitively intact residents repeatedly raised concerns about poor food quality, lack of variety, and improper food temperatures during council and committee meetings. Despite these ongoing complaints, staff failed to formally document the grievances or take effective action to resolve them, and meeting minutes lacked details on the issues raised or any corrective steps taken.
A medication cart was found unlocked and unattended in front of a nurses' station on two occasions, contrary to facility policy requiring carts to be locked when not attended. An RN admitted to leaving the cart unsecured and acknowledged the risk, especially with a known wanderer in the area. The administrator confirmed the policy and recognized the potential for unauthorized access.
A resident with osteoarthritis, anxiety disorder, and convulsions was repeatedly observed with her call light out of reach, preventing her from requesting assistance as needed. Staff and administrative interviews confirmed the call light was not accessible, contrary to facility policy, and the resident reported ongoing issues with staff not placing the call light within reach.
A resident's oxygen concentrator was found visibly soiled with dried tube feeding formula, with both housekeeping and nursing staff confirming that cleaning responsibilities were unclear and the device had not been cleaned as required by facility policy. The DON stated that nursing staff are expected to clean soiled medical equipment.
Two residents with significant ADL deficits did not receive person-centered hygiene care as outlined in their care plans. Both were observed with long, dirty fingernails and poor grooming, despite being fully dependent on staff for personal hygiene. Staff interviews confirmed that required nail and hair care were not performed as specified in the care plans.
Two residents who were dependent on staff for personal hygiene were observed with long, dirty fingernails and, in one case, unwashed hair. Staff interviews confirmed that required hygiene care, including nail trimming and hair washing, was not provided as expected by facility policy, and there was no documentation of refusals or completed care.
A resident in a long-term care facility suffered a serious eye injury after hitting his head during care, which went unreported and untreated for several hours. The CNA involved did not inform anyone of the incident, and the DON was not contacted until later. The resident was sent to dialysis with visible injuries, and only after returning was he sent to the ER, where fractures were discovered. The facility's lack of immediate assessment and documentation contributed to the neglect.
A resident with known behavioral issues resisted care, leading to an altercation with a CNA, resulting in the resident sustaining fractures. The CNA failed to follow the ADL care plan, which required notifying the charge nurse and obtaining additional staff assistance. Interviews with facility staff confirmed the CNA did not report the incident or seek help, and the care plan was not properly implemented.
Failure to Supervise Exit-Seeking Resident Resulting in Unnoticed Elopement to Courtyard
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide adequate supervision and prevent elopement for a resident with known exit-seeking behaviors, resulting in the resident leaving the building and remaining outside unsupervised in cold weather. The resident had a diagnosis that included unspecified dementia and was severely cognitively impaired, with a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 3. Earlier assessments identified the resident as high risk for wandering on 6/24/25, low risk on 11/7/25, and again high risk on 12/31/25. A wander bracelet ordered in June 2025 for dementia and exit-seeking behaviors was discontinued on 10/28/25. On 12/8/25, a Social Services Progress Note documented that the resident was agitated, sitting in the lobby doorway, yelling that he wanted to go home, tapping on the door, and requiring redirection by nursing staff. The Social Worker later confirmed that these were exit-seeking behaviors and acknowledged that additional interventions such as increased monitoring and a wandering assessment should have been implemented but were not. On 12/30/25, staff documented in the Plan of Care Response History at 11:18 AM that the resident exhibited behavioral symptoms of wandering, noted that these behaviors had occurred previously, and documented that the nurse was notified. Multiple staff interviews confirmed that the resident was known to be exit-seeking on a daily basis and required frequent redirection, yet several CNAs and an LPN assumed the resident already had a wander guard in place when he did not. That evening, the resident was last observed by his assigned CNA watching television in the lobby a little after 7:00 PM. At approximately 7:28 PM, the resident exited the facility through the smokers’ courtyard door. The door was later found by the Maintenance Director to have a malfunction in which sustained pressure on the handle allowed it to open without sounding an alarm. Staff near the courtyard, including a CNA who had been in the breakroom by the exit until about 8:30 PM, reported not hearing any alarm and did not observe anything unusual during that time. The resident was eventually discovered outside when a CNA walking down the hall looked through the courtyard door and saw someone sitting on the patio. The CNA obtained another CNA, who identified the individual as the resident. The resident was brought back inside, and staff observed that he was shivering, rubbing his hands together, and that his hands appeared white or pale. The resident later stated he had gone outside at night because he wanted to meet his girlfriend, walked around the yard, and tried to come back in but found the door locked. He reported sitting outside for a long time before someone opened the door and stated he was shaking and very cold when he returned inside. Vital signs, including body temperature, were not obtained until the following morning at 10:50 AM. The incident occurred when outside temperatures were documented as ranging from 32 to 34 degrees Fahrenheit between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM. The combination of the resident’s known exit-seeking behavior, lack of enhanced monitoring or wandering interventions after documented behaviors, discontinuation and absence of a wander bracelet, staff assumptions about his elopement protections, and a malfunctioning courtyard door that could be opened without an alarm led to the resident’s unsupervised exit and exposure to cold conditions. The situation was determined by the State Agency to constitute Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) and Substandard Quality of Care (SQC) at 42 CFR §483.25(d)(1)(2), Free of Accident Hazards/Supervision/Devices (F689), with an IJ level of scope and severity J beginning on 12/8/25, when the resident began exhibiting exit-seeking behaviors. The IJ and SQC were formally communicated to the facility’s Administrator on 1/12/26 at 4:30 PM, and the IJ template was provided. The IJ level was later reduced from J to D after validation that corrective actions in the facility’s removal plan had been completed, while the facility continued to develop and implement a plan of correction and monitor systemic changes for sustained compliance.
Removal Plan
- CNA found Resident #1 unattended on the courtyard patio, brought him back to the facility, and another CNA took him to his room and alerted the charge nurse.
- RN notified the DON that Resident #1 had exited the building and was found in the courtyard.
- DON notified the Administrator; Administrator instructed 1:1 monitoring for the remainder of the night, instructed DON to call Maintenance to check the door, and instructed that a head count of all residents be done immediately.
- DON notified Maintenance to return to the facility and check the door.
- Resident #1 was assessed by nursing with no ill effects.
- DON instructed a CNA to stay with Resident #1 1:1 for the remainder of the night.
- Maintenance checked the door, found it would open if the handle was compressed longer than 10 seconds, adjusted the bolt to disable the feature so the door would not open, and checked all doors and windows.
- Maintenance notified the DON that the door was corrected, room checks had been done, and all residents were accounted for.
- Resident #1 was assessed as a wandering risk and a signaling device was placed on his wrist for monitoring.
- Social Services updated the Residents at Risk for Elopement in the Elopement Binder.
- Elopement drills were started.
- The Administrator reported the incident to the Mississippi State Department of Health and Licensure.
- The Mississippi Attorney General's Office was notified of the incident.
- An Ad-Hoc QAPI meeting was held to discuss the incident and findings from the State Surveyor.
- The DON conducted an audit of residents at risk for elopement to review wander risk care plans for those residents identified as at risk for wandering.
- In-services began for all staff on elopement, resident rights, proper door functioning, abuse/neglect/reporting, and notifying staff of observed behaviors; staff were not allowed to work until the in-service was completed.
- A revised Ad-Hoc QAPI meeting was held to discuss the incident and findings from the State Surveyor.
- Audit findings for residents at risk for elopement were reviewed with the Administrator, DON, and ADON.
- The Ombudsman was notified.
Failure to Address and Document Resident Grievances Regarding Food Quality and Temperature
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to promptly resolve resident grievances related to food quality and temperature for five residents who participated in Resident Council meetings. These residents consistently voiced concerns about the poor quality, lack of variety, and improper temperature of meals, including complaints about cold food, overcooked vegetables, repetitive menus, and insufficient fresh fruits and vegetables. Despite these ongoing complaints being discussed in both Resident Council and food committee meetings, there was no evidence that the facility took effective action to address or resolve the issues. Documentation of these grievances was lacking. Resident Council and Food Committee meeting minutes did not record specific resident complaints or detail any actions taken to address the concerns. The Activities Director acknowledged hearing the complaints but did not formally document them, instead relying on the dietary manager to keep notes in a personal notebook. The dietary manager confirmed that grievances were not officially completed, and there was no documentation to show that the residents' concerns were addressed or resolved. Interviews with facility staff, including the Administrator, Dietary Manager, and Regional Dietary Manager, revealed awareness of the food-related complaints but also confirmed the absence of a formal grievance process or paper trail to track the resolution of these issues. All five residents involved were cognitively intact, as indicated by their Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) scores, and had repeatedly expressed their dissatisfaction with the food service without seeing meaningful changes or responses from the facility.
Medication Cart Left Unlocked and Unattended
Penalty
Summary
A medication cart was observed unlocked and unattended in front of the A Hall nurses' station on two separate occasions during the survey, with no staff present in the vicinity. Facility policy requires that medication carts remain locked and not be left unattended. During an interview, an RN admitted to leaving the cart unlocked and unattended, acknowledging that this was against policy and could allow a resident to access medications. The RN also noted that there was a resident known to wander in the area who could potentially access the cart. The facility administrator confirmed that medication carts must be locked whenever staff step away and recognized the risk associated with leaving the cart unsecured. No specific residents were reported to have accessed the cart or been harmed at the time of the deficiency.
Failure to Ensure Call Light Accessibility for Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident's call light was within reach, limiting the resident's ability to request assistance as needed over a period of two out of three survey days. Multiple observations showed the call light cord hanging from the wall by the foot of the bed and lying on the floor, making it inaccessible to the resident. The resident reported being unable to reach the call light and stated that staff did not place it within her reach. These observations were consistent across several times and dates, with the call light remaining out of reach for extended periods, including overnight. Staff interviews confirmed that the call light was not accessible and acknowledged that it should have been placed within the resident's reach. The facility's policy requires that call lights be accessible to residents at all times. The resident involved was cognitively intact, as indicated by a BIMS score of 15, and had diagnoses including osteoarthritis, anxiety disorder, and convulsions. The deficiency was corroborated by both staff and administrative personnel, who confirmed the expectation that call lights be accessible for resident safety and care.
Failure to Maintain Cleanliness of Oxygen Concentrator
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when an oxygen concentrator in use by a resident in room A-21-W was observed to be soiled with multiple dime-sized, light brown dried substances on top and a two-inch streak of a similar substance down the front. The soiling was confirmed to be formula from the resident's tube feeding. Facility policy requires that resident-care equipment, including durable medical equipment, be cleaned and disinfected according to CDC recommendations. During interviews, housekeeping staff stated they do not clean medical equipment currently in use, citing concerns about interfering with device settings, and indicated that the Nursing Department is responsible for cleaning such equipment. Nursing staff verified the soiling and acknowledged that it should have been cleaned to prevent attracting pests. The DON confirmed that it is the expectation for nursing staff to clean the oxygen concentrator if it becomes soiled.
Failure to Implement Person-Centered Hygiene Care Plans
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement person-centered care plans for personal hygiene for two residents with significant self-care deficits. For one resident with dementia, confusion, impaired mobility, and contractures, the care plan required staff assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), including personal hygiene and nail care as needed. Despite this, the resident was observed with long fingernails and a brown substance under every nail bed, and staff interviews confirmed that the care plan was not followed. Documentation showed the resident was dependent for personal hygiene, with no refusals recorded during the review period. Another resident, dependent on staff due to right-side hemiparesis, contracture, and impaired mobility, had a care plan specifying total dependence on staff for bathing and personal hygiene. Observations revealed the resident had unkempt, greasy hair and long, jagged fingernails with a brown substance underneath. Staff interviews confirmed that nail and hair care were not performed as required by the care plan, and that there was no set schedule for nail care. The care plan was acknowledged by staff to include these hygiene tasks, but they were not carried out, resulting in the resident not being kept clean and presentable as intended.
Failure to Provide Personal Hygiene for Dependent Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate personal hygiene care for two residents who were dependent on staff for activities of daily living. For one resident with dementia and joint contracture, observations on consecutive days revealed fingernails extending approximately half an inch past the fingertips with a brown substance underneath, and no evidence of nail care or documentation of refusals in the medical record for the previous month. Staff interviews confirmed that the resident did not refuse care and that the facility's expectation was for staff to maintain the resident's nail hygiene. Another resident, diagnosed with cerebral infarction, hemiplegia, hemiparesis, and dementia, was observed on multiple occasions with unkempt, greasy hair and long, jagged fingernails containing a brown substance. The CNA responsible for the resident's care admitted to not washing the resident's hair and only attempting to clean under the fingernails. Both the ADON and DON confirmed that the resident's personal hygiene needs, including nail and hair care, were not met as required by facility policy and staff expectations.
Neglect Leads to Untreated Injury in Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect a resident from neglect, resulting in a serious injury that went unreported and untreated for several hours. A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) did not report that the resident hit his head during care, leading to a significant right eye injury with fractures to the orbital bones. The incident occurred during the morning shift, but the CNA did not inform anyone about the resident hitting his head, and the Director of Nursing (DON) was not contacted until later in the day. The resident was sent to dialysis with visible injuries, including a swollen shut eye and a bloody nose, without prior assessment or documentation by the facility staff. Interviews with facility staff revealed a lack of communication and documentation regarding the incident. The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) on duty during the morning shift was informed of the resident's injuries but did not document the incident or ensure immediate medical evaluation. The DON was notified but did not come to the facility to investigate, resulting in a delay in addressing the resident's injuries. The resident was eventually sent to the emergency room after dialysis, where further evaluation revealed fractures and other injuries. The resident, who was cognitively intact, initially reported that he was involved in a tussle with the CNA, but later stated he might have hit himself. The facility's failure to promptly assess and report the incident, as well as the CNA's decision to continue care without assistance despite the resident's resistance, contributed to the neglect. The incident was reported to local authorities, and an investigation was initiated to determine the circumstances surrounding the resident's injuries.
Failure to Implement ADL Care Plan Leads to Resident Injury
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) care plan for a resident who was known to have inappropriate behaviors and was at risk for injuries and complications. The care plan included interventions such as monitoring behaviors, notifying the charge nurse or supervisor, and redirecting as needed. However, during an incident, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) did not follow these protocols when the resident resisted care. The CNA did not notify the charge nurse or obtain help from additional staff, resulting in the resident sustaining fractures to his orbital bones during an altercation. Interviews with facility staff, including the Director of Nursing (DON), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), and the Minimum Data Set (MDS) nurse, confirmed that the CNA did not report the incident or seek assistance when the resident became resistant. The CNA admitted that the resident hit his head on a bedside table during the altercation but did not report it because the resident did not complain of pain. The LPN acknowledged that the CNA should have called for help and documented the incident, while the MDS nurse confirmed that the ADL care plan was not appropriately followed, as staff are trained to leave the room and obtain additional assistance when a resident exhibits behaviors.
Latest citations in Mississippi
A resident with hemiplegia, hemiparesis, and cognitive impairment had a care plan directing staff to apply and remove a right ankle splint at specific times each day and to provide passive stretching to prevent decline in ROM. Observation found the splint not in use and lying on a chair, and the resident was unsure when it was last applied. A PTA reported the resident had developed foot drop and that the splint could no longer be applied without additional therapy, attributing this to the splint not being used daily as ordered. The DON confirmed that staff failed to follow the established care plan for splint application and ROM management.
A resident with hemiplegia and hemiparesis after a cerebral infarction, and severe cognitive impairment (BIMS 5), had physician and therapy orders for right-hand and right-ankle splinting with passive ROM to manage contractures and maintain ROM. Surveyors observed a foot splint lying unused and the resident’s right hand contracted into a fist without a hand roll. The resident could not recall when the foot splint was last applied and reported never having a hand roll. An LPN was unaware of the need for the splint and confirmed no hand roll was in use. Records showed the hand splint order was discontinued at the responsible party’s request due to pain, but OT was not notified and no alternative such as a hand roll was initiated. PT had documented improved ankle ROM and recommended a PODUS boot, while a PTA later reported the resident had developed foot drop related to the ankle splint not being applied as ordered. The DON confirmed that daily ankle splint orders existed and that the hand splint was discontinued without alternative interventions to prevent contracture.
The facility failed to protect resident narcotic medications from misappropriation when an LPN handed over a medication cart’s narcotic keys to an RN without performing required narcotic counts before and after the transfer, and the cart was later found unlocked in the nurses’ station. During the subsequent shift change count, staff discovered multiple missing doses of oxycodone-acetaminophen and hydrocodone-acetaminophen prescribed PRN for pain to four residents with conditions including dementia, COPD, dysphagia, and diabetic neuropathy. Review of individual controlled drug logs showed corrected balances to account for the missing tablets, confirming that controlled substances were unaccounted for during the period of unsecured cart access and improper key control.
Two ambulatory residents with dementia, severe cognitive deficits, and known wandering behavior, each wearing a wander guard bracelet, were able to exit through a unit door when a visitor held it open, despite the door alarm sounding and prior observations that they frequently walked together and approached doors. An LPN responded to the alarm and, along with other staff, initiated a search when the residents could not be found on the unit; staff ultimately located the residents across a four-lane highway and returned them to the building without injury. The incident occurred despite facility policies requiring use of a security system for residents unable to protect themselves from harm by wandering, and staff and leadership acknowledged that the residents had a history of walking the halls together and going to doors, and that increased monitoring and restricting visitor access to door codes could have prevented the elopement.
A cognitively impaired resident with dementia, agitation, and a history of wandering was previously assessed by the IDT as not being at risk for elopement and did not have elopement precautions in place. On one occasion, a visitor exited through the front door without realizing the resident followed outside, and staff later discovered the resident alone on the front porch after being missing for several minutes. An LPN and CNA participated in locating and returning the resident, and the incident revealed that supervision and elopement risk assessment were insufficient for this resident.
A resident with Type 2 DM and moderately impaired cognition had two unstageable heel DTIs documented on the MDS and physician orders for treatment to both heels, but the comprehensive care plan did not include any problem, goals, or interventions related to these pressure injuries. LPNs responsible for MDS and care plan completion acknowledged the omission and stated that although they periodically audit by comparing orders to the care plan, this situation was missed. The DON reported she expected the wound care nurse to update the care plan with new wound treatment orders, while an RN stated she could update interventions but had not been trained to create a new focused care plan and was unaware it was her responsibility to add the DTI treatment orders to the care plan.
A controlled substance prescribed for a cognitively intact resident with a left femur fracture was delivered and signed for by an LPN but was not entered on the narcotic accountability record or narcotic box package count and was later found to be missing. One LPN reported receiving the blister pack of thirty Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen 10-325 mg tablets from another LPN, placing it on the nurses’ station, and leaving the area, while both LPNs stated they were in the medication room as the medication remained unattended. The DON and Administrator confirmed that staff failed to secure the controlled medication as required by facility policy and that the missing tablets could not be located.
Surveyors found that staff failed to properly secure and store medications for two residents. For one resident, an LPN received a delivery of Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, passed it to another LPN, and the controlled medication was left unattended at the nurses’ station instead of being immediately locked and entered into the narcotic count, after which it could not be located. For another resident, two bottles of Lorazepam oral concentrate, documented on the narcotic record and labeled to be protected from light and refrigerated, were observed stored in a locked medication cart rather than in the designated medication refrigerator, even though staff acknowledged knowing the manufacturer’s refrigeration requirement.
A resident with hemiplegia and hemiparesis following cerebral infarction was transferred by facility van to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation and was later determined by the facility to be discharged due to aggressive behavior and threats, with staff stating they could not meet the resident’s needs. The Administrator and Social Services Director communicated with the psychiatric facility and the resident’s family about finding alternative placement and informed the family the resident would not be allowed to return, but no formal involuntary discharge notice or written appeal rights were provided, and no physician discharge order was documented, contrary to facility policies requiring a completed transfer form and written notice of transfer/discharge with appeal information.
The facility did not adequately investigate, address, or resolve repeated grievances about food quality and temperature raised through Resident Council meetings. Over several months, residents reported that weekend meals were bad, food was consistently cold, beverages lacked sufficient ice, and breakfast items were hard or unpalatable. While limited steps such as using temperature-holding containers, sending trays out faster, and in-servicing dietary staff were noted, there was no documented monitoring, follow-up, or evaluation of effectiveness. Cognitively intact residents continued to report cold, poor-tasting food, and staff, including the Dietary Manager and Social Services, acknowledged awareness of the complaints without evidence of thorough follow-up or resolution.
Failure to Implement Care Plan for Ankle Splint and ROM Management
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement a comprehensive, person-centered care plan for contracture management and splinting to prevent decline in range of motion for one resident. The facility’s policy on prevention of decline in range of motion required that, based on the comprehensive assessment, the facility provide interventions, exercises, and/or therapy to maintain or improve ROM. The resident’s care plan, initiated on 8/1/25, identified an ADL self-care performance deficit related to stroke, hemiplegia, and immobility, placing the resident at risk for functional decline. The care plan interventions directed staff to apply a splint to the right ankle after breakfast, provide passive stretch to the right ankle after applying the splint, remove the splint at lunchtime, reapply the splint after supper with passive stretch, and remove the splint at bedtime. On observation, the resident’s ankle splint was not in use and was found lying in a chair in the resident’s room, and the resident was unsure when the splint was last applied. The PTA reported that the resident had developed foot drop and that the ankle splint could no longer be placed without additional therapy, confirming this was related to the splint not being applied daily as ordered. The DON stated that the care plan was used to inform staff how to care for the resident and verified that staff failed to follow the care plan when they did not apply the ankle splint. Record review showed the resident was admitted with hemiplegia and hemiparesis following a cerebral infarction affecting the right dominant side, and an MDS assessment indicated a BIMS score of 5, reflecting cognitive impairment at the time of the deficiency.
Failure to Implement ROM and Splinting Orders Resulting in Contractures and Foot Drop
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide ordered range of motion (ROM) and splinting interventions to prevent decline in ROM for a resident with hemiplegia and hemiparesis following a cerebral infarction affecting the right dominant side. The resident was admitted with these diagnoses and had physician orders and therapy recommendations for contracture management and splinting. An OT evaluation documented decreased ROM in the right upper extremity and recommended a resting hand splint and a restorative splint and brace program, with a subsequent OT evaluation recommending continuation of the contracture management and splinting program. A physician order directed staff to apply a right-hand splint after breakfast, provide passive stretch to the right elbow, wrist, and hand once daily, and remove the splint before dinner. Another physician order required application of a right ankle splint after breakfast and after supper with passive stretching following application. The facility’s own policy stated that residents without limited ROM should not experience a reduction in ROM unless clinically unavoidable. During observation, surveyors noted a foot splint lying unused in the resident’s chair and the resident’s right hand contracted into a fist without a hand roll in place. The resident reported not knowing when the foot splint was last applied and stated she had never had a hand roll. An LPN stated she did not know why the splint was in the room, believed the resident was not required to wear it, and confirmed the resident did not have a hand roll. Record review showed the right-hand splint order was discontinued at the responsible party’s request due to pain, but the OT reported she had not been notified of this discontinuation and stated a hand roll should have been initiated when the splint was stopped; she further stated the resident’s hand was now contracted into a fist. A PT discharge summary documented improved right ankle ROM with therapy and recommended a PODUS boot daily for up to five hours, while a PTA later reported the resident had developed foot drop and that the ankle splint could no longer be applied without additional therapy, confirming this was related to the splint not being applied daily as ordered. The DON verified that there were physician orders for daily ankle splinting and acknowledged that the right-hand splint was discontinued without alternative interventions to prevent contracture. The resident’s MDS showed a BIMS score of 5, indicating severe cognitive impairment.
Failure to Secure Narcotic Medications and Maintain Key Control
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to protect resident medications from misappropriation on one of four medication carts, resulting in missing controlled substances for four residents. The facility’s abuse, neglect, and exploitation policy defines misappropriation of resident property as the deliberate misplacement, exploitation, or wrongful use of a resident’s belongings or money without the resident’s consent. On a specific date, during the 7:00 PM shift change narcotic count, staff identified that multiple doses of Percocet and Norco (hydrocodone-acetaminophen) were missing from the narcotic box on a single medication cart. Prior to this discovery, the assigned LPN had confirmed that the narcotic count was correct earlier in the day. The events leading to the deficiency included the LPN giving her medication cart narcotic keys to an RN while she left the area to perform a urine specimen collection. The LPN did not complete a narcotic count before or after transferring the keys, which was not in accordance with facility expectations for key control and chain of custody. When the LPN returned, she observed the medication cart in the nurses’ station and unlocked. The RN later confirmed that she had moved the cart into the nurses’ station but denied administering any medications during the time she had possession of the keys. During the subsequent 7:00 PM narcotic count, discrepancies were identified, and a search of the cart and nurses’ station did not locate the missing medications. Record review showed that four residents’ controlled medication logs required corrections to reflect missing tablets. One resident with dementia had an order for oxycodone-acetaminophen 5-325 mg every 12 hours as needed for pain; the narcotic log initially showed a remaining balance of 20 tablets after a documented administration, but was later corrected to 16 tablets to account for four missing tablets. A second resident with COPD had an order for oxycodone-acetaminophen 10-325 mg every eight hours as needed; the log was corrected from a remaining balance of five tablets to four, indicating one missing tablet. A third resident with dysphagia had an order for hydrocodone-acetaminophen 5-325 mg every 24 hours as needed; the log showed two tablets on hand after the resident returned from pass with no administrations documented, and was later corrected to zero, indicating two missing tablets. A fourth resident with type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic neuropathy had an order for hydrocodone-acetaminophen 7.5-325 mg every six hours as needed; the log was corrected from a remaining balance of eight tablets to seven, indicating one missing tablet. These discrepancies, combined with the unsecured cart and improper key transfer without counts, led to the determination that resident medications were not protected from misappropriation.
Failure to Prevent Elopement of Two Cognitively Impaired Wanderers
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide adequate supervision and prevent elopement for two residents with known wandering and elopement risk. Both residents were ambulatory, frequently walked throughout the facility together, and were known to staff as wanderers. Each resident had a diagnosis of dementia with severe cognitive deficits documented on their MDS assessments, and both had Wander/elopement alarms (wander guard bracelets) in place and used daily. The facility’s elopement/wandering policy stated that residents who are incapable of adequately protecting themselves and unable to determine when they are at risk for harm by wandering out of the facility should be placed on the resident security system to ensure safety. On the day of the incident, video surveillance later reviewed by the Administrator showed that a visitor entered an exit door on the B Unit at approximately 6:20 PM. The two residents at risk for elopement approached the door, and the visitor held the door open, allowing them to walk out of the building. The residents were wearing wander guard bracelets, and when they exited, the door alarm sounded. A nurse responded immediately to the alarm, exited the facility, and went down the walkway but did not see the residents. Staff were then alerted that the residents were missing, and a facility-wide search was initiated. Staff interviews and the facility’s documentation confirmed that the residents had previously been observed walking together throughout the facility and approaching doors, including the exit door involved in the incident. The Administrator reported that review of the video showed the two residents had approached the same door together two or three times prior to the elopement event. Despite their known patterns of wandering, severe cognitive impairment, and prior door-approach behavior, the residents were able to exit the facility unnoticed and unsupervised when the visitor held the door open. Staff ultimately located the residents across a four-lane high-capacity highway approximately 528 feet from the exit door and returned them to the facility, where body audits and assessments documented no injuries and intermittent confusion. The State Agency determined that the facility’s failure to provide adequate supervision to prevent the elopement of these residents, who had exhibited exit-seeking behaviors, placed them and other residents at risk for wandering and elopement in a situation likely to cause serious injury, harm, impairment, or death and cited the facility at F689 with Immediate Jeopardy and Substandard Quality of Care. The residents’ medical records and elopement reports documented that both were confused, had impaired memory, and were identified as wanderers. One resident had a BIMS score of 3 and the other a BIMS score of 0, both indicating severe cognitive deficits. Progress notes and elopement reports recorded that staff were notified when the residents were not on the unit and could not be located, that all staff were engaged in searching, and that the residents were ultimately found outside and assisted back into the building. Interviews with CNAs and an LPN described hearing a Code W called, running outside, and seeing the residents across the street after they had crossed the four-lane highway. The DON acknowledged that the residents were always walking in the facility, often together, and that they had wandered to doors and looked out, and agreed that increased monitoring and not allowing visitors to have door codes could have prevented the residents from leaving the building.
Removal Plan
- Conducted a facility search.
- Notified police of missing residents.
- Director of Nursing interviewed staff and residents.
- Notified the Medical Director and residents’ families.
- Administrator and Director of Nursing checked the wander guard system and facility doors to ensure proper functioning.
- Returned Resident #1 and Resident #2 to the facility.
- Completed an incident report.
- Completed an emergency Quality Assurance meeting.
- Initiated in-service training for all staff on the elopement policy, including a quiz to validate comprehension, and required staff (including contract staff) to complete the in-service before working their next scheduled shift, with Administrator monitoring compliance.
- Responded immediately to the door alarm by sending staff outside to locate residents and notifying additional staff to assist with the search.
- Reviewed video surveillance and confirmed a visitor held the door open allowing residents to exit.
- Held an emergency Quality Assurance meeting with the Medical Director, Director of Nursing, Administrator, Regional Director, involved staff, and Infection Preventionist.
- Changed the main entry door code.
- Verified entrance door signage was in place instructing not to allow residents to exit unaccompanied.
- Identified residents at risk for elopement and ensured elopement bracelets/transmitters were functional and doors were locking appropriately.
- Reviewed care plans for residents at risk for elopement.
- Completed body audits on Resident #1 and Resident #2.
- Conducted audits verifying resident location, elopement risk, and wander guard bracelet function.
- Medical Records updated care profiles of residents at risk for wandering.
- Assistant Administrator began audits of all doors for function and security.
- Provided in-services on elopement policy and procedure, Resident Rights, and incident and accident reporting.
- Conducted elopement drills on each shift.
- Implemented monitoring systems to sustain compliance.
- Director of Nursing to monitor wander guard system checks three times weekly for four weeks or until substantial compliance is attained.
- Director of Nursing to monitor resident behavior for elopement attempts via incident reports, observations, and communications weekly for four weeks or until substantial compliance is attained.
- Quality Assurance Committee to meet for four weeks to review compliance with the plan of action, then continue routine Quality Assurance monitoring if no further concerns are noted.
- Administrator to hold follow-up Quality Assurance meetings monthly for two months then quarterly thereafter to ensure sustained compliance.
- Updated entry screening kiosk to include an additional reminder and attestation to ensure resident safety, requiring visitors to agree that no resident comes in or out with them and triggering a staff alert if the visitor refuses.
- Administration spoke directly with the visitor to confirm visitor policies and procedures.
Elopement of Cognitively Impaired Resident Due to Inadequate Supervision
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate supervision to prevent a cognitively impaired resident with a history of wandering from exiting the building unattended. The resident had diagnoses including dementia with agitation and a BIMS score of three, indicating severe cognitive impairment. The resident had been readmitted from a geriatric psychiatric hospitalization and was known by the DON to have a history of wandering. Despite this, the interdisciplinary team had previously determined that the resident was not at risk for elopement, and no elopement interventions such as a wander guard were in place at the time of the incident. On the day of the event, a visitor observed the resident standing near the front door and exited the facility without realizing the resident followed him outside. Staff later became aware that the resident was missing, and an LPN assisted in locating the resident. A CNA ultimately found the resident outside on the front porch and returned the resident to the facility, with the investigation determining the resident had been outside unattended for approximately five minutes. Staff interviews confirmed that the resident ambulated in the halls and had not previously attempted to exit the building, and that the resident was only reassessed and provided with a wander guard after the incident.
Failure to Care Plan for Pressure Injuries and Treatment Orders
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop a comprehensive person-centered care plan for a resident with pressure injuries. The facility’s undated Care Plan Policy and Procedure stated that each resident’s care plan would remain current and inform staff of needs, strengths, goals, and approaches, and that a comprehensive person-centered care plan would be completed as needed. Record review showed that the resident was admitted with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with ketoacidosis without coma and, per the Discharge MDS with an ARD of 1/19/26, had a BIMS score of 12 indicating moderately impaired cognition. Section M of the MDS documented two unstageable pressure injuries presenting as deep tissue injuries (DTIs). Physician orders dated 12/10/25 directed treatment to right and left DTI pressure ulcers. Despite these documented DTIs and treatment orders, review of the resident’s comprehensive care plan revealed no care plan addressing the DTIs on the left and right heels, which was inconsistent with the physician orders. During interviews, two LPNs responsible for MDS and care plan completion confirmed that the care plan did not include the DTIs and stated that care plans are developed based on the MDS and physician orders, and that audits comparing orders to care plans are done periodically but this had been missed. The DON stated her expectation that the wound care nurse update the care plan with new wound care treatment orders. An RN reported she could update care plan interventions but had not been trained to develop a new focused care plan and had not added the physician’s DTI treatment orders to the care plan, and she was not aware it was her responsibility to do so.
Unsecured Controlled Medication Left Unattended and Lost
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to prevent misappropriation of resident property when a controlled substance prescribed for a resident was left unattended and subsequently went missing. Facility policies on abuse and neglect defined misappropriation of resident property to include missing prescription medications or diversion of resident medications, including controlled substances, and the Medication-Controlled Substances policy required that only authorized licensed nursing and pharmacy personnel have access to controlled medications, that all controlled substances be stored in a locked cabinet or compartment, and that accurate accountability of all controlled drugs be maintained. Despite these policies, a pharmacy courier delivered thirty Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen 10-325 mg tablets for a resident with a left femur fracture, and the medication was signed for by an LPN but was not signed onto the narcotic accountability record, was not documented on the narcotic box package count, and could not be located. The resident, who was cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 15 and had a physician’s order for Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen, was later informed that the tablets delivered had been lost. Interviews revealed that one LPN received the blister pack of thirty Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen tablets from another LPN and placed it on the nurses’ station before leaving the area, leaving the controlled medication unattended. Both LPNs reported being in the medication room while the medication remained unattended at the nurses’ station. The DON reported being notified that the medication was missing and that an investigation confirmed the medication could not be located and had been left unattended, and the Administrator confirmed staff failed to ensure controlled medications were secured and accessible only to authorized personnel and that the facility was unable to determine the location of the missing medication.
Failure to Secure Controlled Drugs and Follow Refrigerated Storage Requirements
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to store and secure medications, including controlled substances, in accordance with professional standards and manufacturer instructions. For Resident #1, who was admitted with a left femur fracture and was cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 15, the physician ordered Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen 10-325 mg tablets. A facility investigation documented that a pharmacy courier delivered 30 tablets of this controlled medication, which were received and signed for by an LPN but were never documented in the narcotic count system and were later unable to be located. One LPN reported that after receiving the Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen from another LPN, she left the medication unattended at the nurses’ station while she completed other tasks instead of immediately securing it in the locked medication cart. The LPN who initially received the medication from the courier confirmed that the controlled medication had not been immediately secured in the locked cart following delivery. For Resident #3, who was admitted with heart disease and had a BIMS score of 10 indicating moderately impaired cognition, the physician ordered Lorazepam (Ativan) oral concentrate. The narcotic record showed that two containers of Lorazepam were signed into the narcotic record on the date of admission. Manufacturer prescribing information for the Lorazepam oral concentrate specified that it must be protected from light and stored refrigerated at 36–46°F. During a controlled drug count, surveyors observed that two bottles of Lorazepam oral concentrate for this resident were stored in the locked medication cart rather than in a refrigerator, despite the label instructions requiring refrigeration. One LPN confirmed the manufacturer’s storage instructions on the label but was unsure why the medication had not been refrigerated, and another LPN acknowledged awareness that the medication required refrigeration but confirmed it had been stored in the medication cart instead of the designated medication refrigerator.
Failure to Provide Required Involuntary Discharge Notice and Appeal Rights
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide required written notice of an involuntary discharge, including appeal rights, and to obtain a physician’s discharge order before refusing readmission of a resident following a hospital transfer. Facility policy titled “Transfer Form” stated that it is the policy of the facility to provide a completed and accurate transfer form to residents transferred or discharged from the facility, and the policy titled “Appealing a Transfer or Discharge Notice” stated that residents have the right to appeal transfer or discharge notices and, upon notice of transfer or discharge, will be provided with a statement of their right to appeal. Record review showed that the resident, admitted with hemiplegia and hemiparesis following cerebral infarction, left the facility by facility van to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation. Progress notes dated several days after the transfer documented that the resident had been discharged from the facility due to aggressive behavior and that, per conversation with the psychiatric hospital, the Administrator and Social Services Director would assist in finding alternative placement and home health if needed. Documentation further indicated that, due to threats made, the facility stated it was unable to meet the resident’s needs and communicated with the resident’s family that the resident would not be allowed to return. During interview, the Administrator confirmed that neither the resident nor the family was provided a formal involuntary discharge notice or information on appeal rights and that no physician order for discharge could be located, acknowledging that the formal notice, appeal rights, and physician order should have been obtained prior to discharge.
Failure to Investigate and Resolve Ongoing Food-Related Grievances
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that grievances voiced through the Resident Council regarding food quality and temperature were thoroughly investigated, addressed, and resolved. Resident Council minutes over multiple months documented repeated complaints that weekend food was "bad," tasted sweet, and that food was cold by the time it reached residents. Additional concerns included insufficient ice in water and tea, hard breakfast biscuits and toast, and cold grits. Although the facility’s grievance policy stated that residents and families could voice grievances without reprisal and that the facility would make prompt efforts to resolve grievances, there was no documentation that the initial complaint about weekend food quality was addressed, and subsequent complaints continued without evidence of thorough investigation or resolution. Resident Council Department Response Forms showed limited actions, such as placing food in containers to maintain temperature, conducting an in‑service for dietary staff, sending food out faster, and instructing staff to pass trays promptly, but there was no documentation of monitoring, follow‑up, or evaluation of whether these measures were effective. Residents interviewed, all cognitively intact per their MDS BIMS scores, consistently reported that the food remained cold and did not taste good, with one resident noting that staff would reheat food only if requested. The Dietary Manager acknowledged awareness of the complaints and stated he had spoken with weekend staff and made changes like replacing tray carts and providing guidance on food preparation, but confirmed there was no documentation of ongoing monitoring or additional interventions. Social Services and the Administrator both acknowledged awareness of the complaints and that additional follow‑up and resolution efforts should have occurred, yet no evidence of such follow‑up was present in the records.
Trusted data from CMS and state health departments
Every citation, penalty and Plan of Correction is sourced from public CMS records (latest release May 27, 2026) and official state health department websites — never guesswork.
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