The Greens At Maple Leaf
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Statesville, North Carolina.
- Location
- 1101 Maple Care Lane, Statesville, North Carolina 28625
- CMS Provider Number
- 345340
- Inspections on file
- 18
- Latest survey
- December 22, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 8
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at The Greens At Maple Leaf during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and limited mobility fell from bed during incontinence care after misunderstanding a nurse aide's instruction, resulting in a hip fracture, femur fracture, and scalp hematoma. The aide was unable to prevent the fall as her hands were occupied, and the resident moved quickly. The incident occurred while the resident was assessed as a one-person assist for bed mobility and did not have bed rails.
Surveyors found two medication carts with numerous loose, unsecured pills and observed that DuoNeb inhalation vials were not stored in their original foil packaging or dated as required. Medication Aides and nursing staff demonstrated inconsistent understanding and execution of responsibilities for maintaining clean, orderly carts and proper medication storage, as confirmed by interviews with the Unit Manager and DON.
Two residents had errors in their MDS assessments: one was not coded for receiving anticonvulsant and hypoglycemic medications despite documented administration, and another was incorrectly coded as receiving an anticoagulant when none was prescribed or given. MDS nurses acknowledged the miscoding during interviews.
A resident admitted with multiple mental health diagnoses and prescribed antipsychotic and antidepressant medications did not have a required PASRR reevaluation submitted, as the process was overlooked by staff following an audit completed prior to the resident's admission.
A resident sustained a skin tear and bruise after a nurse aide ignored his requests to let go of his arm during incontinent care. The incident was not documented in the medical record, and the facility's staff provided inconsistent accounts of the event. The facility failed to protect the resident from potential abuse and ensure accurate medical documentation.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment exited the facility unsupervised through an unlocked door. The resident was found in the parking lot and brought back inside without injury. The door had been left unlocked after a delivery earlier in the day, and no staff heard the alarm. The resident's care plan was updated, and a wander guard bracelet was applied.
A resident reported that a nurse aide grabbed his arm too tightly, causing a bruise and skin tear. The incident was not documented or reported immediately, and the facility failed to follow its abuse policy and procedures, leading to a delay in investigation and protection of the resident.
The facility failed to remove expired medications from a medication refrigerator. Two open vials of PPD solutions were found with open dates exceeding the 30-day usage limit. Interviews revealed that neither the Unit Manager nor the Nurse were aware of the 30-day limit, and the Unit Manager had not identified the expired solutions during a previous inspection.
The facility's QAA committee failed to maintain procedures and monitor interventions, resulting in repeat deficiencies in abuse prevention and infection control. A resident was injured during incontinent care, and another resident was attacked by a cognitively impaired peer. Additionally, staff failed to follow infection control policies, such as changing gloves and performing hand hygiene.
The facility failed to follow infection control and hand hygiene policies during wound care and incontinent care for two residents. The Wound Nurse did not change gloves after removing a soiled dressing, and the Unit Manager did not change gloves or perform hand hygiene after cleaning a resident's soiled buttocks and before applying a moisture barrier cream.
Resident Fall During Incontinence Care Due to Inadequate Supervision
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with severe cognitive impairment and limited mobility rolled out of bed and fell during incontinence care, resulting in significant injuries. The resident, who had diagnoses including coronary artery disease and dementia with agitation, required substantial assistance for bed mobility and positioning. At the time of the incident, the resident was being assisted by a nurse aide who asked her to roll over during care. The resident misunderstood the instruction and rolled in the opposite direction, falling off the bed onto the floor. The nurse aide reported that she was unable to prevent the fall because her hands were occupied holding a brief and pad, and the resident moved quickly. Following the fall, the resident was found on the floor with a bleeding scalp hematoma and a left leg that appeared shorter than the right. The nurse practitioner and nursing staff assessed the resident, who was subsequently sent to the emergency department. Medical evaluation revealed a non-displaced left hip fracture, a distal left femur fracture, and a scalp hematoma. The resident was treated with pain medication and a knee immobilizer, and her family opted against surgical intervention. The resident's care plan prior to the incident indicated she was a one-person assist for bed mobility, and she did not have bed rails on her bed. Interviews with staff indicated that the resident was considered able to roll herself and hold onto the bed during care, but confusion led to her rolling in the wrong direction. The nurse aide involved stated she did not anticipate the resident's action and could not intervene in time. The incident highlighted a failure to provide adequate supervision and ensure a safe environment during bed mobility and incontinence care for a resident at risk due to cognitive impairment and physical limitations.
Unsecured Medications and Improper Storage of DuoNeb Solution
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that two medication carts (100 and 200 Hall) contained numerous loose and unsecured pills of various shapes, sizes, and colors in the bottom drawers. Medication Aides interviewed during the observations acknowledged that it was their responsibility to keep the carts clean and orderly, but there was inconsistency in their understanding and execution of this duty. The Unit Manager and DON also confirmed that maintaining clean and orderly medication carts was expected of the staff, with the DON noting that an extra nurse had been assigned to clean the carts during a recent shift. Additionally, the 200 Hall medication cart was found to have five DuoNeb inhalation vials stored loosely in a plastic cup, not in their original foil packaging, and without any indication of the date they were removed from the foil pack. Manufacturer guidelines require that DuoNeb vials be stored in the foil pouch to protect from light and be used within seven days of opening. Staff interviews revealed a lack of knowledge regarding proper storage and labeling of the DuoNeb solution, with both the nurse and Unit Manager stating that the vials should be dated and kept in the foil pouch, but this was not being done.
Inaccurate MDS Coding for Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to accurately code the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments for two residents. For one resident with a history of diabetes mellitus, physician orders and the Medication Administration Record confirmed the administration of gabapentin for diabetic neuropathy and metformin for diabetes. However, the resident's quarterly MDS assessment was not coded to reflect the use of an anticonvulsant or a hypoglycemic medication. The MDS nurse acknowledged the miscoding during an interview and could not provide a reason for the error. In another case, a resident with atrial fibrillation was not prescribed or administered any anticoagulant medication, as confirmed by physician orders and the Medication Administration Record. Despite this, the resident's quarterly MDS assessment was incorrectly coded as receiving an anticoagulant. The responsible MDS nurse admitted to the coding error during an interview. In both instances, the facility administrator stated an expectation for accurate completion of MDS assessments.
Failure to Submit PASRR Reevaluation for Resident with Mental Health Disorders
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to submit a request for an updated Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) evaluation for a resident who was admitted with mental health disorders. The resident had a Level I PASRR determination with no expiration date and was admitted with diagnoses including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and dementia without behavioral disturbance, as well as psychotic and mood disturbances. The resident's medical record showed active physician orders for antipsychotic and antidepressant medications, and the admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment indicated the resident was not currently considered by the state Level II PASRR process to have a serious mental illness or intellectual disability. Despite ongoing use of psychotropic medications, there was no evidence that a PASRR reevaluation request had been submitted or completed since the initial Level I determination. Interviews with facility staff revealed that the social worker was responsible for submitting PASRR reevaluation requests but was not always informed when residents with mental health diagnoses were admitted. The administrator confirmed that a PASRR audit had been completed prior to the resident's admission, and the need for a reevaluation for this resident was overlooked because the admission occurred after the audit. As a result, the required PASRR reevaluation was not requested for the resident with significant mental health diagnoses and ongoing psychotropic medication use.
Failure to Protect Resident from Abuse During Incontinent Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect a resident's right to be free from abuse when a nurse aide (NA) ignored Resident #17's repeated requests to let go of his arm during incontinent care. Despite the resident's complaints of pain, the NA continued to hold his arm, resulting in the resident pulling his arm away and sustaining a small skin tear with a red/purple bruise on his right forearm. The incident occurred during the night when the NA was alone in the room with the resident, contrary to the usual practice of having two staff members present for such care. Resident #17, who was cognitively intact and had a history of verbal behaviors, reported that the NA laughed at him when he complained about the pain. The resident's medical record revealed no documentation of the incident, the bruise, or the skin tear, and there was no order for treatment of the skin tear. The nurse on duty cleaned the area and applied a dressing but did not complete an incident report or document the change in the resident's condition. Interviews with the NA, nurses, and administrative staff revealed inconsistencies in the accounts of the incident. The NA initially stated she grabbed the resident's elbow but later denied it, claiming she only held his shoulder and hip. The Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator were unaware of the incident until later and did not initially identify it as abuse. The facility's failure to document the incident and properly investigate it highlights a significant deficiency in protecting residents from potential abuse and ensuring accurate medical records.
Resident Elopement Due to Unlocked Exit Door
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to prevent a resident with severe cognitive impairment from exiting the facility unsupervised and without the knowledge of the staff. On the evening of 04/23/24, a nurse aide observed the resident in the back parking lot, approximately 30 yards away from the exit door, holding a plastic bag with her clothes. The resident was redirected back into the facility by the nurse aide, and it was later determined that the resident had exited through an unlocked door at the end of the 400 hall, which was the hall the resident resided on. The door had been left unlocked after a delivery earlier that day, and no staff admitted to hearing the alarm that should have sounded when the door was opened. The resident was assessed for injuries and none were found. The resident, who had a history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and cerebral vascular accident (CVA), was admitted to the facility with severely impaired cognition. The resident was known to ambulate independently with a walker and had not previously exhibited wandering behaviors. On the day of the incident, the resident had to be redirected multiple times back to her room. The nurse aide assigned to the resident's hall was working a different shift than usual and was not familiar with the resident's behaviors. After the incident, the resident was found to be carrying a water pitcher and a bag of clothes and was wearing a sweat outfit. The resident was brought back inside the facility, and a full body skin assessment was conducted, revealing no injuries. Interviews with staff revealed that the exit door at the end of the 400 hall was unlocked, and the power to the door was turned off. The maintenance supervisor had unlocked the door for a delivery earlier in the day and insisted that he had locked it afterward. However, the door was found to be unlocked during the investigation. The facility conducted a resident head count and checked all exit doors to ensure they were locked and alarming properly. The resident's care plan was updated, and a wander guard bracelet was applied to the resident to prevent future elopements.
Failure to Identify and Report Potential Abuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to identify and report an incident of potential abuse involving Resident #17. The resident, who was cognitively intact and required extensive assistance for bed mobility, reported that a nurse aide (NA #1) had grabbed his arm too tightly while attempting to turn him, resulting in a bruise and a small skin tear. Despite the resident's complaint and visible injury, the incident was not documented in the medical record, and the appropriate reporting and investigative procedures were not initiated immediately as required by the facility's abuse and neglect protocol. Nurse #1, who attended to the resident's injury, did not complete an incident report, mistakenly believing that another nurse (Nurse #3) had done so. The Director of Nursing (DON) later discovered the lapse and instructed Nurse #1 to complete the necessary documentation. The DON and the Administrator both interviewed the involved staff and the resident, but initially did not consider the incident as potential abuse, attributing the injury to the resident's own actions during the turning process. The facility's failure to follow its abuse policy and procedures, including immediate reporting, documentation, and suspension of the accused staff member, was evident. The Administrator and DON only initiated the investigative process after being prompted by the surveyors, highlighting a significant delay in addressing the potential abuse incident. This delay and lack of proper documentation and reporting compromised the facility's ability to protect the resident and ensure a thorough investigation in a timely manner.
Expired Medications in Medication Refrigerator
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to remove expired medications from a medication refrigerator in the medication room. During an observation, two open vials of Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) solutions were found with open dates of 04/01/24 and 04/03/24, exceeding the manufacturer's recommendation of discarding PPD vials after 30 days due to possible oxidation and degradation. Interviews with the Unit Manager and Nurse revealed that neither was aware of the 30-day usage limit for PPD solutions. The Unit Manager had inspected the refrigerator the previous evening but did not identify any out-of-date PPD solutions. The Director of Nursing was informed of the findings and confirmed the oversight.
Repeat Deficiencies in Abuse Prevention and Infection Control
Penalty
Summary
The facility's Quality Assessment and Assurance (QAA) committee failed to maintain implemented procedures and monitor interventions following the Recertification and Complaint Survey. This failure resulted in repeat deficiencies in the areas of abuse and neglect (F600) and infection control (F880). Specifically, a resident's right to be free from abuse was violated when a nurse aide did not release the resident's arm during incontinent care, leading to a skin tear and bruise. Additionally, the facility failed to prevent a cognitively impaired resident from attacking another resident, resulting in injuries that required emergency room evaluation and treatment. The facility also failed to adhere to infection control policies. The Wound Nurse did not change gloves after removing a soiled dressing and before cleansing a sacral wound, and the Unit Manager did not perform hand hygiene after providing incontinent care and before applying a moisture barrier cream. These actions were observed during the current Recertification and Complaint Survey, mirroring similar deficiencies cited in the previous survey. The Administrator, who was not in position during the last survey, considered the current citations to be isolated issues rather than systemic failures.
Infection Control and Hand Hygiene Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow their infection control policy when the Wound Nurse did not change her gloves after removing a soiled dressing from a resident's sacral wound. The Wound Nurse proceeded to cleanse the stage 3 sacral wound with the same gloves, which were contaminated with brown drainage. This action was observed during a wound care procedure, and the Wound Nurse later admitted that she did not realize her mistake due to nervousness from being observed. The Director of Nursing was informed of the incident and acknowledged the need for the Wound Nurse to be more careful in following proper procedures. Additionally, the facility did not adhere to their hand hygiene policy during the provision of incontinent care for another resident. The Unit Manager failed to change her gloves and perform hand hygiene after cleaning the resident's soiled buttocks and before applying a moisture barrier cream. The Unit Manager also touched other environmental surfaces with the same gloves. This lapse in protocol was observed during a continuous observation period, and the Unit Manager later admitted to forgetting to change her gloves and perform hand hygiene. Interviews with the Infection Preventionist and the Director of Nursing confirmed that staff are expected to perform hand hygiene before and after providing care to prevent contamination. The Director of Nursing stated that the Unit Manager was nervous during the observed procedure and immediately recognized her mistake. The Director of Nursing reeducated the Unit Manager on the hand hygiene policy and initiated reeducation for all staff members.
Latest citations in North Carolina
A cognitively impaired, exit-seeking resident with dementia, insomnia, gait abnormalities, orthostatic hypotension, and high fall risk repeatedly wandered at night and was known by staff to push on an emergency exit door. On two consecutive nights, the resident left the building unsupervised through a west hall emergency exit that had been manually left unlocked and with its door alarm turned off, so no alarm sounded when it was used. After the first elopement, the nurse and NA did not verify that the door’s lock and alarm were re-engaged, and no new monitoring was implemented, allowing the resident to exit again a few hours later. Maintenance later confirmed the door hardware and alarm were functioning properly and could only be disabled manually, meaning staff actions and inactions in securing and monitoring the door directly enabled both elopements.
Surveyors identified multiple failures in food labeling, storage, and sanitation, including dirty water spigots above the cooking range, a scoop stored with its handle in direct contact with rice, and unsealed croissants without open or use-by dates in a walk-in cooler. In three nourishment rooms, open food items such as a half-eaten creme pie with used forks, a reusable container of dressing, a pudding cup, a fast-food sandwich, and a milkshake were found without required open and/or use-by dates. The Dietary Manager reported that all nourishment room food must be labeled with both an open date and a 7-day use-by date and noted that new staff and nursing staff were not consistently labeling items as required.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment who used a wheelchair for mobility was observed being quickly pulled backward down a hallway while reclined in a geriatric chair, instead of being pushed forward in a dignified manner. The NA reported he pulled the chair backward because he felt it was harder to push forward, and he was unaware of any equipment problems. A SW later tested the same geriatric chair and found it functioned properly. Facility leadership, including the Staff Development Director, DON, and Administrator, stated that staff are educated on residents’ rights, dignity, and wheelchair use, and confirmed the expectation that residents be pushed forward in wheelchairs and geriatric chairs at a normal, dignified pace.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and ADL deficits, including dependence on staff for bathing and grooming, was observed multiple times with long, stringy, visibly greasy and dirty hair despite being scheduled for twice-weekly showers. Nursing staff reported providing bed baths instead of full showers and only wetting the resident’s hair, while hospice staff provided intermittent bed baths with no-rinse shampoo and were unsure of the facility’s regular shower routine. The resident had not been to the beauty shop for hair care in over two months due to being mistakenly left off the beauty shop list. Facility leadership expected that the resident’s hair would be properly washed on scheduled shower days but could not identify when the hair was last washed, resulting in a failure to provide appropriate hair washing services.
Staff failed to follow Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) by not wearing gowns during high-contact care activities for two residents on EBP. In one case, a nurse provided catheter care to a resident with an EBP sign and available PPE but wore only gloves, later stating she believed gowns were needed only when changing the catheter. In another case, two NAs used a mechanical lift to transfer a resident with a gastrostomy tube, again with EBP signage and PPE present, but wore only gloves; one NA stated he did not view transferring as high-contact care, and the other reported she did not always use gowns for transfers. These actions conflicted with the facility’s EBP policy and posted instructions requiring both gown and gloves for high-contact activities such as catheter care and transfers.
The facility failed to obtain and document informed consent for psychotropic medications for three residents. One resident with dementia and behavioral symptoms received quetiapine and divalproex, including a dose increase, without documented evidence that the responsible party was informed of risks and benefits or consented. Another resident with anxiety and depression, severe cognitive impairment, and disruptive behaviors was started on duloxetine and given multiple doses of PRN lorazepam, again without documentation that the responsible party was informed or consent obtained. A third cognitively intact resident with depression and anxiety received escitalopram 20 mg daily with no record that she was informed of the medication’s risks and benefits or that she consented. The Nurse Team Lead, identified as responsible for obtaining psychotropic consents, and the DON both confirmed that the expected notifications and consent documentation were not present in the medical records.
A resident with intact cognition was discharged to the community without a complete discharge summary that recapitulated the course of treatment. The electronic Transfer/Discharge Report contained basic demographic and clinical data but left key sections blank, including advanced directives, diet type/texture/fluid consistency, and resident-specific information on behaviors, ambulation, bladder/bowel status, feeding, and usual level of functioning, and lacked a signed acknowledgment that a copy was provided to the resident or representative. The SW reported she arranged post-discharge services, provided a medication list and satisfaction survey, and documented discharge arrangements, but was unaware that a comprehensive discharge summary with a recapitulation of the stay was required, and the Administrator confirmed the form used did not include this required summary with interdisciplinary input.
A resident admitted with bipolar disorder and receiving routine antipsychotic and antidepressant medications had only a prior Level I PASRR on file, with no Level II PASRR request submitted despite ongoing documentation of an active psychiatric diagnosis and psychotropic treatment in MDS assessments, NP notes, and the care plan. The SW confirmed she verified the existence of a PASRR before admission but did not request a Level II evaluation, believing it was only necessary if the resident exhibited behaviors, and the administrator acknowledged that no Level II PASRR request was made for this resident with a mental health diagnosis.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple comorbidities, including Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, severe protein-calorie malnutrition, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension, was not seen face-to-face by a physician within 30 days of admission as required. The resident was evaluated by a PA and later by an NP, but the Nurse Team Lead relied on a tracking report that combined all provider visits (NP, PA, and physician) without distinguishing physician-required visits. As a result, the resident did not appear on the physician-visit list when the physician was on-site and was inadvertently overlooked, a fact confirmed by both the Nurse Team Lead and the Administrator.
A resident with dementia, osteoporosis, and prior femur fracture experienced an unwitnessed fall and subsequently developed severe hip pain and decreased ability to ambulate and transfer. Nursing staff failed to document the fall on the day it occurred, did not complete comprehensive lower‑extremity or mobility assessments, and repeatedly charted pain scores of 0 despite the resident’s complaints and nurse aide reports of significant pain with movement and increased assistance needs. An NP evaluated the resident for hip pain but was not informed of the fall, did not assess the hips or legs, and treated the pain as baseline neuropathic discomfort. Over several days, PRN acetaminophen was given intermittently without consistent pain scoring, multiple shifts lacked progress notes or assessments, and aides assumed nurses were aware of the resident’s worsening pain and functional decline. Bilateral hip x‑rays were eventually ordered after internal communication about hip pain, and the report later showed an acute displaced femoral neck fracture, after which the resident was sent to the hospital and underwent a left hip hemiarthroplasty.
Unsecured Emergency Exit Allows Repeated Elopement of High-Risk Resident
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to keep an emergency exit door secured and alarmed, which allowed a cognitively impaired, exit-seeking resident at high fall risk to leave the building unsupervised on two consecutive nights. The resident had dementia with psychotic disturbance, severe cognitive impairment, a history of wandering and exit-seeking, orthostatic hypotension, gait abnormalities, and muscle weakness. Care plans and assessments identified wandering, exit seeking, fall risk, and insomnia, and interventions included a wander guard bracelet, frequent safety checks, environmental monitoring, and redirection from exits. Despite this, the resident routinely wandered at night, roamed the halls, entered other residents’ rooms, and was known by staff to push on the emergency exit door in attempts to leave. On the first night, in the early morning hours while it was still dark, the nurse noticed the resident was no longer in the hallway or in his room. The assigned NA, positioned near the west hall emergency exit, reported hearing a door slam but assumed it was a nearby resident’s room door because the emergency door alarm had not sounded. When the nurse checked the emergency exit, he found it unlocked and non-alarming, exited through it, and after walking several minutes from the back of the building to the front, located the resident standing at the main entrance. The resident’s wander bracelet triggered the main entrance door alarm when they re-entered, confirming the bracelet was in place. The nurse believed the emergency door locked and re-armed automatically and did not verify the lock or alarm status of the door after the incident or before the end of his shift, and no additional monitoring or new interventions were implemented at that time. On the second night, the same nurse observed the resident in bed at approximately 1:30 AM, but by about 2:00 AM the resident was again missing from his room. The nurse immediately went to the same west hall emergency exit and saw the resident outside through the door’s glass, walking away from the building. The door was again unlocked and did not alarm when opened. The nurse brought the resident back inside through that door and assessed him with no injuries noted. Staff interviews and maintenance inspection confirmed that the emergency exit door’s magnetic lock was controlled by a wall switch and the red alarm box on the door could only be turned on or off with a key; the system did not malfunction and could not be defeated by holding the push bar. This meant the door’s lock and alarm had been manually disabled by staff on at least one prior shift, and staff on subsequent shifts, including nurses and NAs who were aware of the resident’s exit-seeking behavior and the first elopement, did not verify that the door was secured and alarmed, allowing the resident to exit a second time without staff knowledge.
Removal Plan
- Identify recipients who have suffered, or are likely to suffer, a serious adverse outcome as a result of the noncompliance
- Ensure Resident #89 has a wander bracelet in place
- Pursue or redirect Resident #89 back into the facility if he exits
- Assess Resident #89 for acute distress or injury after an elopement event
- Administer scheduled bedtime medications for insomnia (melatonin 3 mg and trazodone 50 mg) as ordered
- Initiate an order for checks of Resident #89’s whereabouts
- Document completion of checks on the Medication Administration Record
Improper Food Labeling, Storage, and Sanitation in Kitchen and Nourishment Rooms
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to properly label, date, and store food items and to maintain cleanliness in food preparation and nourishment areas. During an initial kitchen tour with the Dietary Manager, surveyors observed visible dirt and grime buildup on three water spigots above the cooking range and found a plastic scoop left in a rice bin with the handle and bottom in direct contact with the rice. In walk-in cooler #2, a cardboard flat of croissants had been cut open, with seven croissants already used, and the remaining croissants were not resealed or labeled with an open or use-by date. The Dietary Manager acknowledged that the open croissants had been missed by kitchen staff and that the rice scoop should have been stored in its designated holder on the bin. In three nourishment rooms, surveyors found multiple food items that were open but not properly labeled with open and/or use-by dates. In one nourishment room refrigerator, there was a half-eaten creme pie with three used plastic forks left in the pan and a small reusable container of ranch dressing, both open and unlabeled. In another nourishment room refrigerator, a vanilla pudding cup and a wrapped fast-food sandwich were open and labeled only with open dates, but no use-by dates. In a third nourishment room refrigerator, a fast-food milkshake was open with no open or use-by date. The Dietary Manager stated that all nourishment room food items were required to be labeled with both an open date and a use-by date set seven days after opening, and reported that some new staff were not labeling items correctly and that nursing staff often left items in nourishment refrigerators without appropriate labeling.
Resident Dignity Compromised During Transport in Geriatric Chair
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves a failure to maintain a resident’s dignity and right to a dignified existence and self-determination when a nurse aide transported the resident in a manner inconsistent with facility expectations. The resident, who had clear speech but severe cognitive impairment and required a wheelchair for mobility, was observed during a continuous observation being quickly pulled backward approximately 30 feet down the South Hall from the day room to her room while reclined in a geriatric chair. A reasonable person would have expected to be treated with dignity and to be wheeled forward in the chair. During interviews, the nurse aide stated he chose to pull the resident backward because he felt it was harder to push the reclined geriatric chair forward and reported no awareness of problems with the chair. The social worker later pushed the same geriatric chair forward and backward in the hallway and noted no functional concerns, stating the chair worked fine and needed no repairs. The Staff Development Director reported that staff receive education on residents’ rights, dignity, and wheelchair use, including speed and footrest use, and acknowledged the resident should not have been pulled backward in the geriatric chair. The DON and Administrator both stated they expected staff to push residents in wheelchairs and geriatric chairs forward, at a normal pace, and in a dignified manner.
Failure to Provide Adequate Hair Washing for Dependent Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate hair washing services for a dependent resident with ADL deficits. The resident was admitted with senile degeneration of the brain, COPD, and heart failure, and had a care plan identifying ADL deficits due to generalized weakness, with interventions including setup for hair and oral hygiene daily and assistance with bathing and dressing. An annual MDS showed the resident was severely cognitively impaired and required extensive staff assistance for ADLs, with no behaviors or rejection of care documented. The shower schedule indicated the resident was to receive showers twice weekly on specific mornings. However, multiple observations over several days showed the resident in bed with long, stringy, visibly greasy and dirty hair that was stuck flat against her head, including on a scheduled shower day. Record review showed documentation that the resident received a shower on one of the observed days, but the NA assigned that day reported she actually provided a bed bath rather than a full shower and typically only wet the resident’s hair, noting it was becoming tangled, especially in the back. The NA stated a hospice bathing team visited a couple of times a week and used a no-rinse shampoo, but she was unsure of their specific care for this resident. The hospice nurse confirmed providing bed baths with no-rinse shampoo a couple of times a week and was unsure of the facility’s regular shower routine for the resident. The beauty shop operator and unit secretary both indicated it had been longer than two months since the resident’s last beauty shop visit, and the unit secretary acknowledged the resident’s name had been left off the beauty shop list by mistake. The DON stated NAs were expected to bathe the resident twice weekly and was unaware of when the resident’s hair was last washed, while the administrator stated his expectation that the resident’s hair would be properly washed on scheduled shower days.
Failure to Use Required Gowns Under Enhanced Barrier Precautions During High-Contact Care
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to follow its own Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) policy requiring the use of gowns and gloves during high-contact resident care activities for residents on EBP. The written policy, revised on 7/26/2022, defined EBP as an infection control intervention to reduce transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) by using gowns and gloves during high-contact activities such as dressing, bathing, transferring, providing hygiene, changing linens or briefs, assisting with toileting, and device care or use, including urinary catheters and feeding tubes. Facility signage for EBP instructed staff to don a gown and gloves for high-contact resident care activities, and personal protective equipment (PPE), including gowns, was made available in holders at resident room doors. During an observation of catheter care for Resident #132, who was on EBP and had an EBP sign and PPE bin with gowns posted outside the room, Nurse #5 entered the room without wearing a gown. She washed her hands, donned gloves, removed the resident’s brief, and provided catheter care, then discarded supplies and gloves and washed her hands. In a subsequent interview, Nurse #5 acknowledged awareness that the resident was on EBP but stated she believed a gown was only required when changing the catheter, not when providing catheter care, and indicated she must have misunderstood the EBP instructions despite having received infection control training. In a separate observation, Resident #161’s room also had an EBP sign and PPE holder on the door, and the resident had a gastrostomy tube with tube feeding formula hanging at the bedside. When the resident returned from an outside appointment in a wheelchair, two nurse aides entered the room with a mechanical lift to transfer the resident to bed. Both aides wore gloves but did not wear gowns while completing the mechanical lift transfer. One aide stated he knew the resident was on EBP due to the gastrostomy tube but believed a gown was only required when performing “some type of care” and did not consider transferring to be a high-contact activity, even when shown the sign indicating gowns and gloves were required for transfers. The other aide, who usually worked on a different unit, stated she followed EBP signage but sometimes used a gown for transfers and not all the time, and both aides had previously received EBP and PPE training. The Infection Preventionist, DON, and Administrator each stated that staff should have worn gowns in these situations according to the posted EBP signage and facility expectations.
Failure to Obtain and Document Informed Consent for Psychotropic Medications
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to obtain and document informed consent for psychotropic medications prior to initiation or dose changes for multiple residents. For one resident with unspecified dementia, anxiety disorder, depression, and delusional disorder, the physician ordered quetiapine for anxiety and agitation and later ordered divalproex for dementia with aggression and agitation, with a subsequent dose increase. The resident’s MDS showed moderate cognitive impairment, use of antipsychotic, antidepressant, and anticonvulsant medications, and behavioral symptoms including rejection of care. Record review showed these medications were administered as ordered, but there was no documentation that the responsible party was informed in advance of the risks and benefits of starting or increasing these psychotropic medications or that consent was obtained. Another resident with anxiety disorder and depression was started on duloxetine for depression and later had PRN lorazepam ordered for daytime and bedtime anxiety with agitation. The MDS indicated severe cognitive impairment, behavioral symptoms that interfered with social interactions and disrupted care, and use of anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications. The MAR confirmed that duloxetine was given as ordered and lorazepam was administered on multiple days. However, the electronic medical record contained no documentation that the responsible party was informed in advance of the risks and benefits of initiating duloxetine or lorazepam or that consent was obtained. The Nurse Team Lead, who was responsible for obtaining psychotropic consents, could not locate any consent forms for this resident and could not recall whether the responsible party had been called. A third resident with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and intact cognition per the MDS, had an active order for escitalopram 20 mg daily for depression and anxiety. The MDS showed no behavioral symptoms and receipt of antidepressant medication. Review of the medical record revealed no documentation that this resident was informed in advance of the risks and benefits of initiating escitalopram and consented to the treatment. In interviews, the Nurse Team Lead consistently stated she was responsible for obtaining psychotropic consents when new orders were received from providers, but she was unable to find consent forms for the involved residents or explain what had occurred. The DON described a process in which providers communicated new or changed psychotropic orders to the Nurse Team Lead, who was expected to notify residents or responsible parties and document the notification, but acknowledged that for these residents the required documentation and consent forms were missing.
Failure to Complete Required Discharge Summary With Recapitulation of Stay
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to complete a required discharge summary that included a recapitulation of the resident's stay for one resident who was discharged to the community. The resident was admitted to the facility and had a 5-Day MDS showing intact cognition and active discharge planning. A subsequent discharge-return not anticipated MDS documented that the resident was discharged to the community. Review of the electronic medical record showed an undated Transfer/Discharge Report containing demographic and clinical information such as date of birth, admission date, age, insurance, allergies, primary contact and physician information, diagnoses, most recent vital signs, and immunization history, with a notation to refer to the MAR for current medications. However, several sections of this report were left blank, including advanced directives, diet type/texture/fluid consistency, and resident-specific information on behaviors, ambulation, bladder/bowel status, feeding, and usual level of functioning. There was also no signature or date indicating the resident or representative received a copy of the Transfer/Discharge Report. In interviews, the SW reported she was responsible for long-term resident discharges while a Discharge Planner/Case Manager handled short-term discharges. The SW described her discharge process as arranging post-discharge needs such as follow-up appointments, home health, or equipment, providing a satisfaction survey and a list of medications with administration times, and documenting a progress note outlining discharge arrangements. She stated that when follow-up appointments were arranged, records including provider notes, therapy notes, and medication lists were faxed to the receiving provider. The SW also indicated she was not aware that a discharge summary including a recapitulation of the resident's course of treatment in the facility was required. The Administrator acknowledged that the Transfer/Discharge Report in use contained some required components but did not summarize the resident's course of treatment and that a discharge summary with input from all disciplines should have been completed per regulatory guidelines.
Failure to Request Level II PASRR for Resident With Bipolar Disorder
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to submit a request for a Level II PASRR evaluation for a resident with a serious mental health diagnosis. The resident was admitted with a diagnosis that included bipolar disorder and had only a Level I PASRR documented from an evaluation completed in 2022. The admission MDS indicated the resident was not considered by the state Level II PASRR process to have serious mental illness or intellectual disability, despite documenting an active bipolar disorder diagnosis and routine antipsychotic use. Subsequent psychiatric NP progress notes in 2024 and 2026 confirmed an active bipolar disorder diagnosis and ongoing treatment with aripiprazole and bupropion. The annual MDS again indicated the resident was not considered by the Level II PASRR process to have serious mental illness or intellectual disability, while also documenting routine antipsychotic and antidepressant use and a care plan addressing psychotropic medications related to bipolar disorder. The social worker, who had been in the role for five years and was responsible for ensuring newly admitted residents had a PASRR prior to admission, verified that she checked the state PASRR system before admission and confirmed the presence of a PASRR, but did not request a Level II evaluation at or after admission. She stated she was aware of the resident’s bipolar diagnosis and psychiatric referral but believed a Level II PASRR was only needed if the resident demonstrated behaviors, and she was not aware that a Level II evaluation was required when a resident was admitted with a mental health diagnosis and had only a Level I PASRR. The administrator also confirmed that no Level II PASRR request was made when the resident was admitted with a mental health diagnosis.
Failure to Ensure Timely Physician Visit After Admission
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident was seen face-to-face by a physician within 30 days of admission, as required. The resident was admitted with multiple significant diagnoses, including Alzheimer's disease, dementia with agitation, diabetes, severe protein-calorie malnutrition, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension, and had severe cognitive impairment per a quarterly MDS assessment. Review of the electronic medical record showed no evidence that the resident had been seen by a physician within the required timeframe. Instead of a physician visit, the resident was seen by a PA and later by an NP shortly after admission. The Nurse Team Lead, who was responsible for tracking when physician regulatory visits were due, used a report from the computer system that listed the last date residents were seen by any provider (NP, PA, or physician). She manually marked which provider conducted the visit and used this list to inform providers which residents needed to be seen. Because the system did not distinguish physician visits from NP/PA visits on the tracking report, the resident did not appear on the physician-visit list when the physician was in the facility, and therefore was not scheduled for a physician visit. Both the Nurse Team Lead and the Administrator confirmed that the resident had not been seen by the physician and that this was an oversight.
Failure to Assess and Respond to Post‑Fall Hip Pain and Mobility Decline
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to comprehensively assess, recognize, and respond to a resident’s severe hip pain and functional decline following a reported unwitnessed fall. The resident had dementia, osteoporosis, and a history of femur fracture, and was previously able to transfer and ambulate with limited assistance. On the date of the unwitnessed fall, there was no nursing progress note, no documentation of a fall, no pain complaint, and no assessment of the lower extremities or of transfers, ambulation, or mobility. Nursing documentation on that date reflected a pain score of 0, and the nurse assigned to the resident did not recall any fall, pain, or assessment. The quarterly MDS showed severe cognitive impairment and a prior fall, but no pain assessment. On the following night, a nurse documented that the resident was having “a lot of pain” in her hip and placed a note in the doctor’s book, but did not call the on‑call provider, did not document administration of any pain medication, and did not record a pain score with the complaint. The nurse aide on that shift did not recall changes, but the nurse later reported that the aide had told her the resident was unable to ambulate, which was a change from baseline. The next day, another nurse documented in a late entry that the resident reported she had fallen the previous day, pulled herself up, and had not told anyone, and that the resident screamed in pain when moved. This nurse contacted the NP, who, according to the note, stated the resident complained of pain all the time; the nurse informed him that this pain was not typical. The progress note did not include a pain level, a lower extremity assessment, or documentation that the unwitnessed fall was communicated to the NP. The NP’s own note documented nonspecific hip pain, a sleepy and groggy presentation, and neuropathic/hip pain, but did not include an assessment of the legs or hips. The NP later stated he was unaware of the fall, did not assess the hips or legs, and did not inquire about changes in condition such as pain with movement or ambulation. Over the next several days, multiple nurses documented pain scores of 0 on the MAR despite intermittent administration of PRN acetaminophen and reports from nurse aides that the resident had significant pain with transfers, ambulation, and repositioning. Nurse aides reported that the resident, who had previously been able to get up and ambulate, now required increased assistance, had difficulty transferring and ambulating, and grimaced and winced in pain during movement. One aide kept the resident in bed and provided all care in bed due to pain with movement, while another aide did not report the pain to the nurse, assuming the nurse was already aware. There were no nursing progress notes on some days documenting any assessment of the lower extremities or of the resident’s ability to transfer, ambulate, or move, and some assigned nurses did not enter any assessment notes at all. A nursing supervisor received a Stop and Watch communication about hip pain, obtained an order for bilateral hip x‑rays, but did not complete a comprehensive assessment and did not document a pain level or lower extremity assessment. The x‑ray order was entered, and bilateral hip x‑rays were completed, but pain scores of 0 continued to be documented on the MAR by nursing staff, and the unit manager assigned for part of one day did not assess the resident. A nurse aide who assisted with the x‑ray reported that repositioning the resident in bed was difficult due to pain and observed grimacing and wincing. The x‑ray report later showed an acute left femoral neck fracture with displacement. The nurse who came on duty the next day found the x‑ray report on the fax machine, noted the fracture, and contacted the provider, after which the resident was sent to the emergency department. The hospital history and physical documented that the resident endorsed hip pain on arrival and was treated with analgesics and later underwent a left hip hemiarthroplasty. The NP and Medical Director both acknowledged that there was potential for complications when a fracture remained undiagnosed for several days while the resident continued to be moved, transferred, and assisted with ambulation. The DON confirmed that the facility’s investigation determined that a nurse had been informed of an unwitnessed fall and failed to report the incident, resulting in a delay in treatment, and emphasized the importance of thorough assessment and documentation.
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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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