Lakeland Community Care Center
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Jackson, Mississippi.
- Location
- 3680 Lakeland Lane, Jackson, Mississippi 39216
- CMS Provider Number
- 255116
- Inspections on file
- 26
- Latest survey
- January 27, 2026
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 3
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Lakeland Community Care Center during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Surveyors found that two residents’ rooms were not maintained in a clean, orderly, and homelike condition as required by facility policy. Observations included a urine collection device on a bathroom floor, cracked linoleum tiles, holes and missing sections of drywall and door frame, discolored and dusty baseboards, dark buildup on floors and exposed plumbing, and a dust-covered hand sanitizer dispenser with brown spots and streaks on nearby walls. Both residents, admitted with conditions including DM, HTN, and acute kidney failure and assessed as cognitively intact, reported dissatisfaction with the thoroughness of housekeeping and noted cluttered personal belongings and poor attention by staff to putting items away. The housekeeping supervisor confirmed that many of the observed residues should have been cleaned by housekeeping and that damaged surfaces required maintenance.
The facility failed to ensure that in-room meals were served hot and palatable for two residents who reported that their meals were usually cold or not hot enough to be enjoyable, despite a policy requiring staff to check that hot foods are hot. Both residents, who were cognitively intact and had diagnoses including DM and HTN (with one also having acute kidney failure), received meals on trays where insulated dome covers were used without the corresponding heat-keeper bases, and some dome covers did not fully cover the plates. Kitchen observation showed inconsistent and incomplete use of insulated components due to an insufficient supply, and dietary staff and the Administrator were unable to explain the improper use and lack of insulated bases for all in-room meal trays.
A resident who had recently undergone hip replacement surgery and required opioid pain management was discharged home without her prescribed as-needed Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, despite facility policy and physician orders requiring all current medications to be sent with her. Staff interviews confirmed that the medication was not provided due to unclear instructions and lack of consultation with the physician, and the remaining medication was destroyed after discharge. The resident later reported not receiving her pain medication.
The facility failed to provide sufficient nursing staff on four days in January 2025, as revealed by observations, interviews, and record reviews. The absence of a staffing policy and frequent call-ins led to inadequate CNA coverage, particularly on weekends. An LPN confirmed that a resident's medication was left unattended due to insufficient staff, highlighting the impact on resident care.
A resident's room had torn and buckling linoleum flooring, creating a potential fall hazard. The resident, who was moderately cognitively impaired and at high risk for falls, had been living with this issue for several months. Despite complaints from the resident's sister and reports from staff, the Maintenance Director had not repaired the floor due to being the only maintenance staff. The Administrator was aware of the problem and had plans for repair but had not yet acted.
A dietary staff member failed to sanitize a thermometer properly between food temperature checks, using a paper towel instead of an alcohol pad, leading to cross-contamination. The Dietary Manager confirmed that this practice was against training protocols and could cause gastrointestinal issues for residents.
A facility failed to follow Enhanced Barrier Precautions for a resident with a PEG tube, as observed during two care instances where LPNs did not wear gowns. Despite facility policy and signage indicating the need for gowns during high-contact activities, the LPNs did not comply, putting the resident at risk. The resident had a diagnosis of Metabolic Encephalopathy and was moderately cognitively impaired.
A facility inaccurately coded an MDS assessment for a resident discharged to home instead of a hospital. The resident, admitted for muscle weakness, was intended to return home after skilled care. Despite physician orders for home discharge, the MDS indicated a hospital discharge. Interviews confirmed the error, highlighting the importance of accurate MDS coding.
A facility failed to develop a person-centered care plan for a resident with impaired vision. The resident had diagnoses including Paralytic Ptosis and was seen by an optometrist who ordered glasses. However, the care plan did not address these needs due to a lack of awareness and documentation among staff, including LPNs and the Administrator. The Nursing Supervisors were responsible for updating the care plan, but the necessary information was not included, resulting in a deficiency.
The facility failed to secure medications, leaving them accessible to unauthorized individuals. An LPN left a medicine cup with various medications unattended on a cognitively impaired resident's bedside table. Another resident, cognitively intact, was found with medication cups containing Nystatin Cream on the bedside table, provided by a weekend nurse for self-application. Both instances violated the facility's medication storage policy.
The facility failed to document that residents were informed of their rights regarding Advance Directives. Three residents with various diagnoses, including dementia and heart disease, had incomplete Advance Directive forms that were not initialed to confirm receipt of information. The Social Services Director and Administrator acknowledged the oversight, confirming the forms did not reflect the residents' receipt of information.
Two residents reported disrespectful and demanding behavior by an LPN during procedures and medication administration, causing them anxiety. Despite complaints, the facility's response was inadequate, as the LPN continued to work in the same area. Both residents were cognitively intact, and the facility's investigation attributed the issue to personality conflicts.
Failure to Maintain Clean, Orderly, and Homelike Resident Rooms
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment as required by its own “Homelike Environment” policy, which states that residents are to be provided with a clean, sanitary, and orderly environment. During surveyor observations and interviews, one resident’s room contained a urine collection device on the bathroom floor, a hole in the drywall above the light, and six cracked linoleum tiles near the entrance. The resident reported being at the facility for therapy and expressed dissatisfaction with housekeeping services. The Housekeeping Supervisor acknowledged that blackish-brown discolored areas on the floor required stripping and scraping, confirmed that baseboards in both affected residents’ rooms were dust-covered, and stated that easily removable substances should have been cleaned by housekeeping, while missing plaster and broken tiles required maintenance. In another resident’s room, surveyors observed a three-inch piece of the bathroom door frame and the threshold between the room and bathroom missing, a dust-covered wall-mounted hand sanitizer dispenser, multiple brown pinpoint spots and streaks on the wall below the dispenser, discolored and dusty baseboards with residue that wiped off easily, and a floor area behind the door with brown to black discoloration in the corner. The exposed plumbing pipes under the bathroom sink were only partially covered with polyfoam and had a dark brown substance on them, and there was a six-inch by one-inch area of missing drywall in the bathroom. This resident, who was cognitively intact and admitted with diabetes and hypertension, stated that housekeepers came daily but did not do a thorough job, that she had limited ability to put belongings away, and that staff were not conscientious about putting her items away, resulting in clothing and other items scattered on all surfaces. Both residents involved were cognitively intact per their MDS BIMS scores, and the Administrator acknowledged awareness of housekeeping and maintenance needs in resident rooms.
Failure to Maintain Hot, Palatable Temperatures for In-Room Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide palatable food at an appetizing and safe temperature to residents receiving in-room meal service. Facility policy titled “Assisting the Resident with In-Room Meals” (revised 2013) directed staff to check that hot foods are hot. Two cognitively intact residents, both with diabetes and hypertension and one with additional acute kidney failure, reported that meals served in their rooms were usually cold or not hot enough to be enjoyable. One resident stated staff told her that her meals were not hot because she was the last served due to her room location, and the other resident reported that her meals were never served hot but that she continued to eat them without replacement or reheating. On a kitchen observation, the cook prepared meals while a dietary aide placed plates on trays and covered them with insulated dome covers but did not use the insulated heat-keeper bases/underliners. Nine of 25 meals had dome covers that did not fully cover the plates, leaving food not completely covered to conserve heat, including the meal for one of the affected residents. Six of 25 plates were covered only by heat-keeper bases instead of dome covers, again including a meal for one of the affected residents. During interviews, the dietary aide and dietary supervisor could not explain why heat-keeper bases were used instead of dome covers for some meals and acknowledged there were not enough heat-keeper bases for all residents receiving in-room meals. The Administrator stated she did not know why insulated bases were not being used and had not been informed of any shortage of insulated components.
Failure to Provide Discharge Medications to Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident was discharged with all prescribed medications, specifically an as-needed opioid pain medication, as required by facility policy and physician orders. The resident, who had recently undergone hip replacement surgery and had diagnoses including end stage renal disease and acute postprocedural pain, was discharged home with home health care. Despite having a current physician order for Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen 5-325 mg to be taken as needed for pain, the medication was not sent home with the resident at discharge. Interviews with facility staff, including an LPN, the MDS nurse, the DON, and the Administrator, confirmed that the standard procedure was to send all current medications with the resident unless otherwise directed by the physician. The LPN responsible for the discharge did not send the pain medication, citing unclear instructions and without consulting the prescribing physician or the resident's primary healthcare provider. The MDS nurse and DON both confirmed that there were no orders to discontinue the medication and that the resident was expected to continue all current medications at home. Documentation reviewed included the resident's admission record, MDS, history and physical, physician orders, and discharge instructions, all of which indicated the ongoing need for pain management and continuation of prescribed medications. The controlled drug record showed that the remaining Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen tablets were destroyed after the resident's discharge, rather than being provided to the resident as required. The resident later contacted the facility to report that the pain medication had not been sent home.
Inadequate Staffing Leads to Deficiency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure sufficient nursing staff to meet the needs of residents on four specific days in January 2025. The deficiency was identified through observations, staff interviews, and record reviews. The facility did not have a staffing policy in place, and anonymous complaints indicated that the 3-11 and 11-7 shifts were consistently short of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs). On one occasion, a single CNA was left to manage the Central Unit during the 3-11 shift. The Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) data for the 4th quarter showed a One Star Staffing Rating and excessively low weekend staffing, which corroborated the staffing issues. The Facility Assessment Tool indicated that the resident acuity and population required nine CNAs for the 3-11 shift and seven to eight CNAs for the 11-7 shift. However, the staffing grid revealed that on the days in question, the facility operated with fewer CNAs than required. Interviews with the LPN/Staffing Coordinator and the Administrator highlighted challenges in maintaining adequate staffing levels due to frequent call-ins and illnesses related to COVID-19. An LPN confirmed that a resident's medication was left unattended because there was insufficient staff to provide necessary care and encouragement, further illustrating the impact of inadequate staffing on resident care.
Failure to Maintain Safe and Homelike Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a homelike environment for a resident, identified as Resident #5, due to the poor condition of the linoleum flooring in the resident's room. The flooring was torn and folded back under the resident's wheelchair and was also buckling under the bed. This condition was observed during a survey, and it was reported that the flooring had been in disrepair for several months. The resident's sister had complained to the nursing staff and the Administrator, expressing concerns about the flooring being a fall risk. The resident, who was moderately cognitively impaired with a BIMS score of eight, was at high risk for falls and transferred herself from bed to wheelchair without assistance. Interviews with facility staff, including a CNA, an LPN, and the Maintenance Director, confirmed that the flooring issue had been known for at least a month. The Maintenance Director acknowledged the potential fall hazard but had not repaired the floor due to being the sole maintenance staff. The Administrator was aware of the issue and had plans to install new tile but had not yet completed the repair. The Administrator expected CNAs to elevate the bed to prevent further damage to the flooring, but the bed required manual adjustment, complicating the process.
Improper Food Handling and Sanitation Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper food handling and sanitation practices to prevent cross-contamination during a kitchen observation. Dietary staff member #2 was observed using a brown paper towel to clean a thermometer between checking food temperatures on the tray line, instead of using an alcohol pad as required. This improper practice was confirmed during an interview with the Dietary Manager, who stated that using a paper towel instead of an alcohol pad constitutes cross-contamination. Dietary staff had been trained to use alcohol swabs for this purpose. During a phone interview, the dietary staff member admitted to using a paper towel due to nervousness and acknowledged that this action could lead to cross-contamination and potential gastrointestinal issues for residents.
Failure to Follow Enhanced Barrier Precautions for Resident with PEG Tube
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) were followed during care for a resident requiring high-contact precautions. Specifically, during two separate observations, Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) did not wear gowns while providing care to a resident with a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube. The facility's policy, dated April 2024, mandates the use of gowns for residents with indwelling medical devices during high-contact care activities to prevent infection, especially for those at risk of being infected with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). The resident involved, admitted in June 2024, had a diagnosis of Metabolic Encephalopathy and a moderately impaired cognitive status. Despite the presence of signage on the resident's door indicating the need for gloves and gowns during high-contact activities, such as PEG tube care, the LPNs failed to comply. Interviews with the LPNs and the Infection Preventionist confirmed the oversight and acknowledged the risk posed to the resident due to the lack of proper personal protective equipment (PPE) usage.
Inaccurate MDS Coding for Resident Discharge
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to accurately code a Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment for a resident who was discharged to home, not to a hospital as recorded. The resident, admitted with a diagnosis of muscle weakness, was intended to return home after a brief stay for skilled care. A review of the Discharge MDS with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) indicated the resident was discharged to a short-term general hospital, contrary to the physician's telephone orders which specified discharge to home. Interviews with the Social Services Director and the MDS nurse confirmed the error, acknowledging that the MDS was incorrectly coded. The MDS nurse and the Administrator both recognized the importance of accurate MDS coding to reflect the care provided accurately.
Failure to Develop Person-Centered Care Plan for Impaired Vision
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop a person-centered care plan for a resident with impaired vision. The resident, admitted on 6/23/23, had diagnoses including Paralytic Ptosis of the left eyelid and was seen by an optometrist on 09/19/2024, who diagnosed him with Dry Eye Syndrome and ordered glasses. Despite these diagnoses and orders, the resident's care plan did not address his impaired vision. Interviews with various Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) revealed a lack of awareness regarding the resident's optometrist visit, diagnosis, and the need for glasses. The care plan remained generic due to the absence of documented information about the resident's vision impairment. The Administrator and LPNs were unaware of the resident's impaired vision and the optometrist's orders, as the eye examination documentation was not included in the medical records. The Nursing Supervisors were responsible for ensuring that such orders were incorporated into the care plan, with the Care Plan Nurse serving as a backup. However, the optometrist's report and the admission diagnosis were not addressed, leading to the deficiency in the resident's care plan.
Medication Security Lapses in Facility
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure medications were secured and inaccessible to unauthorized residents and staff during the survey. On one occasion, an LPN left a medicine cup containing Vitamin C, Multivitamin, Levothyroxine, Metoprolol, and Pravastatin unattended on a resident's bedside table. The resident, who had a moderately impaired cognition with a BIMS score of eight, was lying flat in bed without staff supervision. The LPN admitted to leaving the medication because the resident was slow to take her medication and acknowledged the risk of choking or another resident taking the medication. In another instance, a resident with a BIMS score of 15, indicating cognitive intactness, was found with two medication dispensing cups containing an unidentified cream on the bedside table. The resident stated that the weekend nurse provided the cream for self-application as needed for itching. Upon review, the cream was identified as Nystatin External Cream. An LPN confirmed that medications should not be left at the bedside, indicating a lapse in following the facility's medication storage policy.
Failure to Document Resident Rights on Advance Directives
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain complete and accurate medical records by not documenting that residents were informed of their rights regarding Advance Directives. This deficiency was identified in the records of three residents who were admitted with various diagnoses, including Unspecified Dementia, Atherosclerotic Heart Disease, and Vascular Dementia. The review of the Resident Rights/Advance Directive forms revealed that these forms were not initialed by the residents or their representatives, indicating that they had not been informed about formulating an Advance Directive. During interviews, the Social Services Director (SSD) confirmed her responsibility for completing the Advance Directive forms and acknowledged that they were incomplete. The Administrator also confirmed that the forms failed to reflect the residents' receipt of information related to Advance Directives. The responsibility for ensuring that all information related to the residents' choices was documented was attributed to the SSD.
Failure to Ensure Respectful Treatment of Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that nursing staff treated residents with respect and dignity during procedures and medication administration, affecting two residents. Resident #5 reported that an LPN was disrespectful and demanding when collecting a urine sample, a behavior she had experienced frequently. Despite her repeated complaints, the facility only transferred her medications to another nurse after the incident. The resident expressed anxiety about seeing the LPN, who continued to work in her hall. The facility's investigation concluded that the allegations of abuse were not valid, attributing the issue to a personality conflict. Resident #6 also reported similar issues with the same LPN, describing her as rude and demanding during medication administration and medical procedures. The resident had previously complained to the Administrator, which led to temporary improvement in the LPN's behavior. However, the LPN resumed her previous conduct, causing the resident anxiety. The resident's representative noted that the facility should have taken more decisive action, such as moving the LPN to another hall. Both residents were cognitively intact, as indicated by their BIMS scores. The facility's response to the complaints was inadequate, as the LPN continued to work in the same area despite the residents' discomfort and anxiety. The Administrator acknowledged the complaints but did not initially reassign the LPN or the residents' medications, which contributed to the ongoing issues.
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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