Below average — CMS composite of the measures below.
Past the typical resurvey interval — a standard survey could occur at any time
Estimate from public CMS data, current as of July 2026. Survey timing is at the state agency's discretion.
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Lewis County General Hospital-nursing Home Unit during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A facility failed to protect residents from abuse, resulting in immediate jeopardy and substandard care. One resident was forced to ambulate against their will, another was restrained during a COVID-19 swab, and a third was verbally and physically abused by a CNA. These actions were contrary to the residents' care plans and led to distress and potential harm.
The facility failed to effectively administer resources, leading to deficiencies in abuse and dementia care policies. Residents were not free from abuse, placing all 123 residents at risk. The administration was unaware of the extent of these deficiencies, and Immediate Jeopardy was identified. The Director of Nursing cited a lack of education as a factor, and the Medical Director noted insufficient administrative presence and training for traveling nurse staff.
A facility failed to provide appropriate dementia care, resulting in incidents involving three residents. One resident was forced to ambulate against their will, another was restrained during a nasal swab despite expressing refusal, and a third resident fell due to lack of supervision. These incidents highlight the facility's failure to adhere to care plans and provide dementia-informed care.
The facility failed to provide adequate supervision and maintain a safe environment, particularly in the dementia unit. A resident with a history of ingesting inedible items had access to soap bars, and environmental hazards such as unsecured medical supplies and unattended tools were present. Additionally, toasters and microwaves were found in resident rooms without proper inspection, posing fire and burn risks.
The facility failed to serve food at appropriate temperatures during two lunch meals, with hot items below 140°F and cold items above 40°F. A resident reported cold, unpalatable food, and staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness about correct serving temperatures. The Food Service Director acknowledged the temperature issues and the random completion of test trays.
A recertification survey identified deficiencies in food storage and safety practices in the facility's main kitchen. Observations included improperly stored minced fish with ice buildup, cooked chicken stored on flatbreads, and personal items in resident food storage areas. Additionally, uncovered coleslaw and strawberries were found in the cold food prep cooler, indicating non-compliance with professional food safety standards.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment was found with medications left unattended in their room, without an assessment or physician's order for self-administration. Facility policy required an interdisciplinary assessment for self-administration, which was not documented for this resident. Staff interviews revealed inconsistencies in identifying residents who could self-administer medications, and the responsible LPN did not verify medication intake.
A resident with dementia and a history of stroke was not provided meals according to their care plan, which required specific adaptive equipment and assistance. Observations showed the resident receiving meals on regular plates and drinks filled to the brim, contrary to instructions. Staff interviews confirmed the failure to follow meal ticket instructions, leading to the deficiency.
Failure to Protect Residents from Abuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect residents from abuse, resulting in immediate jeopardy and substandard quality of care for four residents. Resident #4, who had severe cognitive impairment and a history of behavioral issues, was forced to ambulate against their will by several staff members. Despite the resident's resistance and care plan instructions to not force or redirect them, staff members physically moved the resident down the hallway, causing distress and potential harm. Resident #5, diagnosed with dementia and known for agitation, was physically restrained by a registered nurse and a certified nurse aide during a COVID-19 nasal swab procedure. The resident was not informed of the procedure, and the restraint led to further agitation and a subsequent incident where the resident threw a soda can at another resident. The actions of the staff were not in line with the resident's care plan, which emphasized minimizing triggers and not touching the resident without permission. Resident #1, with Alzheimer's dementia and other conditions, was subjected to physical and verbal abuse by a certified nurse aide. The aide was rough during care, made derogatory comments, and belittled the resident, causing potential mental anguish. Despite the immediate report of the incident, the aide was not promptly removed from resident access, allowing further potential for harm. These incidents highlight significant failures in adhering to care plans and protecting residents from abuse.
Deficiencies in Abuse and Dementia Care Policies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to administer its resources effectively and efficiently, leading to deficiencies in abuse and dementia care policies and procedures. The administration was unaware of the extent of these deficiencies, resulting in Immediate Jeopardy being identified in the area of abuse. The facility's Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Plan, intended to address gaps in systems and ensure safety and quality, was not effectively implemented, as evidenced by the failure to properly identify, communicate, and consistently implement policies for abuse and dementia care. Residents were not free from verbal, physical, and mental abuse, placing all 123 residents at risk for serious harm. The Director of Nursing acknowledged a lack of education as a contributing factor to the incidents of abuse, which involved different staff members and lacked identified patterns. Despite having a specialized dementia care program, the facility had not provided adequate training to staff, including those on the dementia unit, since August 2024. The Administrator recognized a trend of reportable incidents and tasked trained staff to develop a training program, which had not yet been approved or implemented. The Medical Director noted a lack of administrative presence on the floors and insufficient education for traveling nurse staff as contributing factors to the issues. The facility's previous policy of presuming staff innocence until proven guilty further complicated the situation, as staff were not removed from the floor during investigations.
Inadequate Dementia Care Leads to Multiple Incidents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate care for residents with dementia, as evidenced by several incidents involving Residents #4, #5, and #16. Resident #4, who had severe cognitive impairment and behavioral disturbances, was forced to ambulate against their will by multiple staff members. Despite the resident's resistance and attempts to stop, staff members physically moved the resident down the hallway to the dining area, disregarding the resident's preferences and care plan. Resident #5, diagnosed with dementia and known for agitation and combative behavior, was physically restrained by a registered nurse and a certified nurse aide during a nasal swab procedure. The resident expressed refusal and distress, yet the staff proceeded with the swab, holding the resident's head and arms to complete the task. This action was contrary to the resident's care plan, which noted the resident's dislike of being touched without permission and their history of aggression. Resident #16, with Alzheimer's disease and severe cognitive impairment, experienced a fall resulting in a skin tear due to the staff's failure to follow the care plan. The resident required supervision and assistance with ambulation, but was left unattended in the bathroom, leading to the fall. The certified nurse aide involved did not adhere to the resident's care plan, which specified the need for close supervision and assistance, contributing to the incident.
Inadequate Supervision and Environmental Hazards in Dementia Unit
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a safe environment free from accident hazards and did not provide adequate supervision for residents, particularly on Units 1 and 3. On Unit 1, which is a dementia unit known as the Rainbow Community, several environmental hazards were observed. These included unsecured access to wound care supplies, oxygen equipment, and other nursing care items. Additionally, metal wheelchair leg rests were left on a table, and an open cart with tools was left unattended in the hallway. These conditions posed significant risks to residents, especially those with cognitive impairments who might wander and access these hazards. Resident #77, residing on Unit 1, had a history of wandering and ingesting inedible items, such as bar soap. Despite previous incidents where the resident attempted to consume soap, the facility failed to adequately secure soap bars, as multiple pieces of disintegrating soap were found in the resident's bathroom. The resident's care plan indicated a need for frequent visual checks and a safe environment for exploration, yet the presence of accessible soap bars demonstrated a lack of effective supervision and environmental control. On Unit 3, accident hazards were also present, including the presence of toasters and microwaves in resident rooms without proper inspection or documentation. The facility lacked a clear policy regarding the use of such appliances in resident rooms, and staff interviews revealed concerns about the potential for fire and burn risks. The absence of a comprehensive plan to manage these appliances and ensure resident safety further highlighted the facility's failure to maintain a hazard-free environment.
Deficiency in Serving Food at Appropriate Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents received food and drink that were palatable, flavorful, and at an appetizing temperature during the recertification survey. Specifically, during the lunch meals on two separate occasions, food was not served at the appropriate temperatures. On 7/26/2024, a resident on Unit 3 was served a meal where the roast beef was 128 degrees Fahrenheit, green beans were 118 degrees Fahrenheit, orange juice was 54.3 degrees Fahrenheit, and puddings were above the acceptable cold temperature range. Similarly, on 7/29/2024, a sample lunch meal on Unit 2 showed lasagna at 123 degrees Fahrenheit, broccoli at 105 degrees Fahrenheit, mashed potatoes at 135 degrees Fahrenheit, gravy at 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and soup at 123 degrees Fahrenheit, all below the required hot food temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Interviews with staff revealed a lack of awareness regarding the correct serving temperatures for hot and cold food items. A Licensed Practical Nurse was unsure of the required temperatures, and the Food Service Director confirmed that the temperatures of several food items were not acceptable. The Food Service Director also stated that test trays were completed randomly without a set schedule, and staff were not informed prior to their completion. The facility's policy required hot food to be served at a minimum of 140 degrees Fahrenheit and cold food below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, which was not adhered to during the observed meals.
Deficiencies in Food Storage and Safety Practices
Penalty
Summary
During a recertification survey, the facility was found to have deficiencies in food storage, preparation, and service in the main kitchen. Observations revealed that seven individual serving size portions of minced and moist fish were stored in cardboard containers with ice buildup, dated from February 2021. Additionally, a cardboard box of cooked chicken was improperly stored on top of two packages of flatbreads, which could lead to cross-contamination. These storage practices did not align with professional standards for food service safety. Further observations included an employee's personal frozen water bottle stored in the ice cream cooler, which was not compliant with food safety protocols as personal items should not be stored with resident food. Additionally, the cold food prep cooler contained ten sheet pans of uncovered coleslaw and uncovered servings of strawberries with whipped topping. These findings indicate a lack of adherence to proper food safety and storage standards, potentially compromising the safety of the food served to residents.
Failure to Assess Resident's Ability to Self-Administer Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident's ability to self-administer medications was clinically appropriate. Resident #85, who had severe cognitive impairment due to dementia, was found with six medications left in a medication cup in their room. There was no documented assessment to determine the resident's ability to safely self-administer medications, nor was there a physician's order permitting self-administration. The facility's policy required an interdisciplinary team to assess a resident's cognitive, physical, and visual abilities before allowing self-administration of medications. However, Resident #85's medical record lacked any such assessment. The resident's Minimum Data Set assessment indicated severe cognitive impairment, and the care plan meeting notes did not address the resident's ability to self-administer medications. Despite this, medications were left unattended in the resident's room, and the resident reported that nurses sometimes left pills without supervision. Interviews with staff revealed inconsistencies in the process of determining which residents could self-administer medications. Licensed Practical Nurse #9, who was responsible for administering medications to Resident #85, did not verify that the resident took their medications. The Registered Nurse Unit Manager confirmed that Resident #85 could not self-administer medications due to their cognitive impairment and emphasized that medications should not be left at the bedside for residents who cannot self-administer.
Failure to Provide Appropriate Assistive Devices and Assistance
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate assistive devices and assistance to Resident #29, who was observed not receiving meals as planned. The facility's policy required dietary staff to load meal trays with the appropriate items according to the meal ticket, including adaptive equipment. However, Resident #29, who had a history of dementia, stroke, and catatonic disorder, was not served food or drinks at meals as planned. The resident's care plan specified the need for supervision or touch assistance, cups half-full, food in bowls, and other specific instructions to accommodate their condition. During the survey, multiple observations were made where Resident #29 did not receive meals according to their care plan. On several occasions, the resident was served food on regular plates instead of bowls, and drinks were filled to the brim instead of half-full, contrary to the meal ticket instructions. Staff, including a registered nurse and an activities director, were observed not following the meal ticket instructions, which led to the resident becoming overwhelmed and spilling drinks due to their tremors. Interviews with staff, including a licensed practical nurse, food service director, certified nurse aide, and registered dietitian, revealed that the special instructions on meal tickets were not consistently followed. Staff acknowledged the importance of following these instructions to prevent the resident from becoming overwhelmed and to ensure proper nutrition. The failure to adhere to the meal ticket instructions resulted in the deficiency noted during the survey.
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What surveyors actually found near you
We read the 19 citations issued within 25 miles in the last 12 months — including the 4 immediate-jeopardy cases — and tell you exactly what happened, in plain English, matched to your record.
Resident with a documented fall history left unattended on the patio; found on the ground with a hip fracture.
Walk-in cooler logs missing for 12 days; expired supplements in the medication room fridge.
Illustrative
A prioritized, do-first checklist
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Illustrative
Risk indicators are statistical estimates from public CMS data — not predictions, findings, or compliance advice.
Nursing homes near Lowville
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carthage Center For Rehabilitation And Nursing | 14 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Sunset Nursing And Rehabilitation Center, Inc | 23.4 mi | ★★★★★ | 7 | 3 |
| Samaritan Keep Nursing Home Inc | 23.8 mi | ★★★★★ | 12 | 1 |
| Samaritan Senior Village, Inc | 23.9 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Bethany Gardens Skilled Living Center | 38.7 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
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Trusted data, never guesswork. Every citation, penalty, rating and Plan of Correction on this page is sourced from public CMS records (latest release July 2026) and official state health department websites.