Autumn Care Of Mechanicsville
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Mechanicsville, Virginia.
- Location
- 7600 Autumn Parkway, Mechanicsville, Virginia 23116
- CMS Provider Number
- 495413
- Inspections on file
- 17
- Latest survey
- February 26, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 0
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Autumn Care Of Mechanicsville during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Staff failed to keep a dumpster lid closed, leaving trash bags exposed. The responsibility for maintaining the dumpsters was shared between dietary and maintenance departments, but the trash was not pushed down to allow the lid to close. Facility leadership was informed of the issue.
A resident with CHF and severe cognitive impairment did not have daily weights documented as ordered by the physician. Multiple dates showed missing weight entries in the eMAR and EHR, with no explanation provided by staff for the omissions, despite the importance of daily weights for CHF management.
A resident who experienced significant weight loss was not monitored according to physician orders, as daily weights were missed on multiple occasions. The resident, who was on a pureed diet and tube feeding, had a notable decrease in weight, and the RD had requested close monitoring. Staff cited time management and equipment uncertainty as reasons for not obtaining the required daily weights, despite facility policy and medical orders.
Staff failed to store opened food items in a sanitary manner by not sealing or dating them, and did not maintain required hot holding temperatures for several food items during meal service. Despite policy requiring food to be reheated if below 135°F, food was served at lower temperatures and not returned to the kitchen for reheating.
Facility staff did not complete or document required bed and bed rail safety inspections for four residents who used bed rails or positioning bars. Despite care plans indicating the need for these devices due to severe cognitive and physical impairments, inspection records were incomplete and staff acknowledged that the inspection process was not finished at the time of the survey.
A CNA was observed standing over a resident while feeding them, rather than sitting as required for a dignified experience. Staff interviews confirmed that sitting is the expected practice to ensure resident comfort and dignity, in line with facility policy.
Facility staff did not provide written notice to a resident before two room changes, despite facility policy requiring such notification. The resident expressed dissatisfaction with the new room, and staff interviews confirmed that written notice was not part of the current process. Review of records showed no documentation of written notification prior to the moves.
Facility staff did not inform a resident of the reason for a room transfer or document the notification, despite facility policy requiring both. The resident expressed dissatisfaction with the new room and was unaware of the reason for the move, which staff later attributed to a roommate conflict but failed to record.
Facility staff did not notify the physician when a resident with severe cognitive impairment refused ordered lab tests on two occasions. Although the refusal was recorded on lab logs, there was no documentation in the progress notes or evidence that the physician was informed, contrary to facility protocol.
A resident's quarterly MDS assessment was inaccurately coded to reflect the use of a restraint, specifically a chair that prevents rising, despite no documentation or observation supporting its use. The error was identified as a data entry mistake by the MDS coordinator.
Staff did not follow care plans for three residents, resulting in missed daily weights for a resident on enteral feeding and improper oxygen administration for two residents with respiratory conditions. One resident's weights were not obtained on several days due to time management and equipment confusion, while two others received oxygen at lower rates than ordered, despite clear care plan and physician instructions. Nursing staff acknowledged these discrepancies during interviews.
Staff did not update care plans for two residents to include physician-ordered adaptive eating equipment, orthotic devices, and interventions for significant weight loss. One resident was not provided with required adaptive utensils or a special cup despite documented needs and orders, and another was not offered a prescribed orthosis or adaptive utensils for a hand contracture. Care plans were not revised to reflect these needs, resulting in staff being unaware and the equipment not being used.
Facility staff did not clarify a physician order for a tracheostomy tube change for a resident who performed their own tracheostomy care. Although the order required a tube change every two months, documentation was lacking regarding who performed the procedure, and the LPN who signed off was unsure about the specifics. The facility's policy did not provide guidance on clarifying physician orders, and there was no evidence the order was clarified or the procedure documented.
A resident with diabetes, severe cognitive impairment, and multiple health conditions was observed with thick, overgrown toenails, and there was no evidence of recent foot care or podiatry visits. The resident stated that toenail care was not provided in the facility, and staff confirmed that residents with diabetes or thick nails are not given toenail care by nurses but should be referred to a podiatrist, with no documentation showing this was done.
A resident with a right-hand contracture was not consistently provided with a prescribed carrot orthotic device, despite an active order and occupational therapy recommendation for its daily use to prevent further contracture and skin breakdown. The device was present in the resident's room but not regularly offered, and the care plan lacked documentation of the need for the orthosis, indicating a failure to implement necessary interventions for range of motion and contracture management.
Staff failed to administer oxygen at the physician-prescribed rates for two residents requiring continuous oxygen therapy. In both cases, the oxygen concentrators were set below the ordered 4 liters per minute, contrary to facility policy and physician orders, as confirmed by staff interviews and direct observation.
Two residents with physician orders and therapy recommendations for adaptive eating equipment did not receive the prescribed devices during meals. One resident with hand tremors and ulnar drift was observed without a two-handled cup or foam utensil handles, while another resident with similar needs was left to use regular utensils and resorted to finger feeding. Staff were unaware of the residents' requirements, and care plans lacked necessary documentation, resulting in noncompliance with facility policy.
Dumpster Lid Left Open, Exposing Trash
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to maintain one of two dumpsters in a sanitary manner by not ensuring that the lid was closed. During an observation, it was noted that the left lid of the right-side dumpster was left open, resting on a bag of trash, which resulted in the trash bags being exposed. Staff interviews confirmed that the responsibility for maintaining the dumpsters was shared between the dietary and maintenance departments, alternating monthly. The assistant dietary manager acknowledged that the trash should have been pushed down to allow the lid to close and that the lid should have been closed to prevent pest access. Further interviews with the director of environmental services confirmed the shared responsibility for dumpster maintenance and the frequency of trash removal. The director also agreed that the trash should have been managed to allow the lid to close. The deficiency was brought to the attention of facility leadership, including the administrator, director of nursing, and regional vice president of operations. No additional information was provided prior to the survey exit.
Failure to Follow Physician's Order for Daily Weight Monitoring in CHF Resident
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to follow a physician's order for daily weight monitoring for one resident diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF). The order specified that the resident's weight should be obtained once daily, with instructions to notify the physician or nurse practitioner if the resident gained more than 2.5 pounds in three days or more than 5 pounds in a week. Review of the electronic medication administration record (eMAR) and electronic health record (EHR) revealed missing documentation of the resident's weights on several specified dates. The eMAR indicated 'Other' for these dates, but no explanation was provided in the records or nursing notes. The resident in question was admitted with CHF and was severely cognitively impaired, as indicated by a score of 0 on the Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS). Staff interviews confirmed that daily weights were required for CHF monitoring to detect fluid retention, which could impact the resident's heart function. However, the facility was unable to provide evidence that weights were obtained or documented on the specified dates, and staff could not explain the omissions when questioned.
Failure to Obtain Physician-Ordered Daily Weights After Significant Weight Loss
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to monitor a significant weight loss for one resident by not obtaining physician-ordered daily weights after the resident experienced a notable decrease in body weight. The resident's weight dropped from 159 lbs. to 142 lbs. within a month, representing a 10.69% loss. The registered dietician documented concern over a 14% loss in less than a month and requested a reweigh for accuracy, noting the resident was on a regular, pureed diet and receiving tube feeding, which was increased in frequency due to poor oral intake. Despite a physician's order to obtain daily weights, the clinical record showed that weights were not recorded on several specified dates. Staff interviews revealed that daily weights were not obtained due to time management issues among CNAs and uncertainty about the appropriate equipment to use for weighing the resident. The registered dietician emphasized the importance of daily weights for accurate monitoring of the resident's nutritional status. Facility policy required weights to be obtained more frequently if risk was identified or as ordered, but this was not followed in the resident's case.
Deficient Food Storage and Holding Temperatures in Kitchen and Dining Areas
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to store food in a sanitary manner and did not maintain required holding temperatures for food served to residents. During an observation of the kitchen's walk-in refrigerator, an open package of sliced ham and an open bag of shredded cheddar cheese were found without open dates. In the walk-in freezer, two bags of frozen breaded shrimp were found, one of which was open to the environment and the other resealed but not dated. The facility's policy requires all refrigerated and frozen foods to be appropriately dated to ensure proper rotation and to prevent contamination, but this was not followed. Additionally, during lunch service, holding temperatures of several food items on the steam table were recorded below the required minimum of 135°F. Items such as BBQ pork, pureed BBQ pork, pureed vegetables, mixed vegetables, and hamburger were all measured at 100°F to 120°F. Despite this, the food was not returned to the kitchen for reheating as required by facility policy. Staff interviews confirmed a lack of adherence to proper temperature protocols and food storage procedures.
Failure to Complete and Document Bed and Bed Rail Safety Inspections
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to conduct and document required bed and bed rail safety inspections for four residents who utilized bed rails or positioning/assist bars. The facility's policy required annual inspections and additional checks when bed or mattress configurations changed, with documentation maintained by environmental services or maintenance. However, review of inspection records since the last survey showed that inspections were only completed in January 2023 and February 2024, and not all residents with bed rails had evidence of current inspections. For the four residents involved, observations confirmed the use of bed rails or positioning bars, and interviews with staff revealed that the inspection process was incomplete at the time of the survey. Maintenance staff indicated that inspections were performed annually, but also stated that the 2025 inspections were still in progress and not finished. Review of inspection documentation failed to show completed inspections for the affected residents during the relevant period. The residents affected had significant medical conditions and functional impairments, including severe cognitive impairment, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular accident with hemiplegia, cellulitis, and muscle weakness. Care plans for these residents included the use of bed rails or positioning bars for assistance with turning, repositioning, and mobility. Despite these needs, the facility did not provide evidence that the required safety inspections for beds and bed rails had been completed and documented for these individuals.
Failure to Provide Dignified Dining Experience
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide a dignified dining experience for one resident. During observation, a CNA was seen standing over the resident while feeding them as the resident sat up in bed. In a subsequent interview, another CNA confirmed that staff are expected to sit in a chair when feeding residents, as standing does not provide a dignified experience and residents are more comfortable when staff are seated. The facility's own inservice documentation on resident rights emphasizes the right to be treated with dignity. No additional information was provided prior to the survey exit.
Failure to Provide Written Notice Before Room Change
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide written notice to a resident prior to two separate room changes, as required by facility policy. The resident reported having recently moved rooms and expressed dissatisfaction with the new room. Review of the clinical record confirmed that the resident was transferred to different rooms on two occasions, but there was no evidence of written notification being provided before either move. Interviews with staff revealed that the social services assistant was responsible for notifying residents of room changes, but acknowledged that the facility's policy did not require written notice. The facility's own policy stated that residents or their representatives should be notified prior to a room or roommate change, with documentation of the notification and the reason for the change. No documentation of written notice was found in the resident's record.
Failure to Notify and Document Reason for Resident Room Change
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide a resident with the reason for a room change and did not document the notification or rationale for the transfer. The resident, who had recently been moved to a new room, reported dissatisfaction with her current room and was unaware of the reason for the move. Review of the clinical record confirmed the room transfer but showed no evidence that the resident was informed of the reason. Staff interviews revealed that the move was due to a conflict with a roommate, but this was not documented in the resident's record. Facility policy requires that residents be notified of room or roommate changes, including the reason, and that this notification be documented, but this was not followed in this instance.
Failure to Notify Physician of Resident's Refusal of Lab Testing
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to notify the physician when a resident, who was severely cognitively impaired according to a BIMS score of three, refused ordered laboratory testing on two consecutive days. Physician orders were in place for a basic metabolic profile (BMP) and complete blood count (CBC) to be performed overnight on both dates, and the responsible party had been made aware of the new orders. However, there was no documentation in the resident's progress notes indicating that the labs were obtained, that the resident refused the labs, or that the physician was notified of the refusal. Laboratory patient log sheets confirmed that the resident refused the lab testing on both occasions, but these logs did not show any evidence that the physician was informed of the refusals. Staff interviews revealed that the expected protocol was for the nurse to notify the physician and responsible party and document the refusal in the progress notes when a resident declined lab work. Despite this, there was no documentation to support that these notifications occurred for the resident in question.
Inaccurate MDS Assessment Coding for Restraint Use
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to maintain an accurate Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment for one resident. The quarterly MDS assessment for this resident was incorrectly coded to indicate the use of a chair that prevents rising, which is considered a restraint, during the 7-day look-back period. However, a review of the resident's clinical record did not show any documentation supporting the use of such a restraint, and direct observation of the resident during the survey also did not reveal the use of a restraint or chair that prevents rising. The MDS coordinator acknowledged that the coding was a data entry error.
Failure to Implement Comprehensive Care Plans for Weight Monitoring and Oxygen Administration
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to implement comprehensive care plans for three residents, resulting in deficiencies related to weight monitoring and oxygen administration. For one resident requiring enteral tube feeding and at risk for dehydration and aspiration, the care plan and physician's order required daily weight monitoring. However, clinical records showed that weights were not obtained on multiple specified dates. Staff interviews revealed that daily weights were missed due to time management issues and uncertainty about the appropriate equipment to use for weighing the resident. Another resident with a physician's order for continuous oxygen at four liters per minute for respiratory failure was observed receiving oxygen at a lower rate, between two and a half and three liters per minute, on two separate occasions. The care plan specified oxygen and nebulizer treatments as ordered, but staff did not administer oxygen at the prescribed rate. Nursing staff confirmed that oxygen should be administered per the physician's order and acknowledged the discrepancy in the observed flow rate. A third resident, who was cognitively intact and required continuous oxygen therapy for COPD and respiratory failure, was observed with their oxygen concentrator set at 3.5 liters per minute instead of the ordered four liters per minute. The care plan directed staff to administer oxygen as ordered, and physician instructions included checking the concentrator and oxygen saturation every shift. Staff interviews confirmed the oxygen was not set at the prescribed rate, and the resident was unaware of the correct flow rate. In all cases, the facility's policy required direct care staff to know and follow each resident's care plan, but this was not consistently done.
Failure to Update Care Plans for Adaptive Equipment and Weight Loss
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to review and revise the comprehensive care plans for two residents, resulting in deficiencies related to adaptive eating equipment, orthotic devices, and significant weight loss. For one resident, the care plan did not include physician-ordered adaptive eating equipment such as a two-handled cup with a lid and straw, or red foam handles for utensils, despite clinical documentation and staff interviews confirming the resident's need due to hand tremors and ulnar drift. Observations showed the resident was not provided with the required adaptive equipment during meals, and staff were unaware of these needs. Additionally, the care plan did not address a significant, undesired weight loss, even though the dietician had documented the issue and recommended close monitoring and adaptive equipment to assist with eating. Another resident with a visible right-hand contracture was observed feeding herself with her fingers and without adaptive eating equipment, despite occupational therapy recommendations and physician orders for a right-hand carrot orthosis and lightweight utensils. The care plan for this resident did not include these devices, and the resident reported not being offered the orthosis or adaptive utensils, having lost them and not using them regularly. Staff interviews confirmed the recommendations and orders for these devices, but the care plan had not been updated to reflect these needs. Facility policy requires that comprehensive care plans be reviewed and updated at least every 90 days by the interdisciplinary team. However, in both cases, the care plans were not revised to include essential adaptive equipment and interventions as ordered by physicians and recommended by therapy staff, leading to a lack of implementation and awareness among direct care staff.
Failure to Clarify Physician Order for Tracheostomy Tube Change
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to clarify a physician order regarding the scheduled change of a tracheostomy tube for one resident. The resident, who was cognitively intact and had a long-standing tracheostomy, reported performing their own tracheostomy care, with staff providing necessary supplies. Nursing staff offered to assist, but the resident preferred self-care. The physician order specified that the tracheostomy tube should be changed every two months and as needed, with documentation in the electronic medication administration record indicating a tube change was performed. However, there was no documentation in the progress notes regarding the actual procedure. During interviews, the LPN who signed off on the tube change was unsure who performed the change and believed it might have been done by an RN. The LPN admitted to not having changed the tube herself and expressed uncertainty about the specifics of the order, indicating a need to clarify with the nurse practitioner. The facility's policy on physician/provider orders did not provide guidance on clarifying such orders, and there was no evidence that the order had been clarified or that the procedure was properly documented.
Failure to Provide Foot Care for Resident with Diabetes and Impaired Mobility
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide appropriate foot care for one resident, as evidenced by observations of the resident in bed with thick toenails on both large toes and toenails approximately one-half inch in length. The resident, who was admitted with diagnoses including congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, and osteoarthritis, was assessed as severely cognitively impaired and required maximum assistance with activities of daily living. The care plan indicated a need for assistance with ADLs due to multiple health conditions, and a physician's order was in place for a podiatry consult as needed. Despite these documented needs, there was no evidence that foot care had been provided. The resident reported that toenail care was not performed at the facility and that their son had to take them out for nail trimming. The only podiatry visit note available was from over a year prior, and there was no documentation of recent podiatry appointments or nail care in the resident's records. Staff interviews confirmed that nurses do not trim toenails for residents with diabetes or thick nails and that such residents are supposed to be placed on a podiatry list, but there was no documentation that this had occurred for the resident in question.
Failure to Provide Prescribed Orthotic Device for Contracture Management
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to implement necessary interventions to prevent the worsening of a right-hand contracture for a resident with limited range of motion. The resident was observed multiple times with a visible contracture of the right hand, and although a carrot orthotic device was prescribed and present in the resident's room, it was not consistently provided to the resident. The resident reported that staff did not usually offer the orthotic device, despite being willing to use it to help with her contracture and skin integrity. Clinical records confirmed an active order for daily use of the right-hand carrot orthosis, as tolerated, to prevent skin breakdown and further contractures. Further review revealed that the resident's comprehensive care plan did not include information regarding the need for the right-hand orthotic device, despite occupational therapy's recommendation and discharge summary specifying its use. Interviews with staff indicated awareness of the device and its intended purpose, but observations and resident statements demonstrated a lack of consistent implementation. Facility policy required dissemination of adaptive equipment instructions and coordination among care team members, but this was not reflected in the resident's care plan or daily care practices.
Failure to Administer Oxygen at Prescribed Rates for Two Residents
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide respiratory care and services consistent with professional standards of practice for two residents who required continuous oxygen therapy. For one resident with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a physician's order for continuous oxygen at 4 liters per minute (lpm), observations revealed the oxygen concentrator was set at 3.5 lpm instead of the prescribed rate. The resident reported using 3 lpm, and the LPN confirmed the concentrator was not set to the ordered rate. The care plan and facility policy both required adherence to the prescribed oxygen flow rate, and the manufacturer's manual specified proper adjustment of the flowmeter. For another resident with a physician's order for continuous oxygen at 4 lpm due to respiratory failure, observations on two occasions showed the oxygen concentrator was set between 2.5 and 3 lpm. The RN interviewed confirmed that oxygen should be administered at the rate specified in the physician's order, with the flowmeter ball aligned with the 4-liter line. These findings indicate that staff did not administer oxygen at the prescribed rates for both residents, as required by physician orders and facility policy.
Failure to Provide Prescribed Adaptive Eating Equipment and Utensils
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide physician-prescribed adaptive eating equipment and utensils to two residents with documented needs for such devices. One resident, who was cognitively intact but had a physician's order for a two-handled cup with lid and straw, as well as red foam handles for utensils due to hand tremors and ulnar drift, was observed without the required adaptive equipment during multiple meals. The resident reported that her special cup and foam handles had gone missing, and staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness regarding the resident's need for adaptive equipment, despite clear documentation in the clinical record and meal tray tickets. Another resident, who had occupational therapy recommendations and physician orders for lightweight and built-up utensils to assist with self-feeding, was repeatedly observed attempting to use regular utensils and ultimately resorting to finger feeding. The resident acknowledged losing the adaptive utensils and stated that staff had not provided replacements. Staff interviews indicated a lack of knowledge about the resident's need for specialized eating equipment, and the resident's care plan did not include information about adaptive devices, despite therapy recommendations and orders. Facility policy required provision of adaptive devices per order, but this was not followed.
Latest citations in Virginia
Staff failed to consistently provide and/or document required ADL care, including incontinence care, turning/positioning, and bathing, for several dependent residents with bowel and bladder incontinence and significant cognitive impairment. One resident’s representative reported finding the resident in a wet brief on multiple weekend visits, while ADL records over several months showed numerous blank entries for incontinence care across all shifts despite care plans requiring continence care and facility policy mandating daily personal care and linen changes when soiled. Another resident, dependent for bathing, received only two showers over a two‑week period, contrary to policy requiring at least twice‑weekly showers, even though a CNA stated showers were given at least twice weekly and documented. Additional residents with incontinence and immobility had missing documentation of toileting hygiene and turning/positioning on specific dates and shifts, despite care plans directing staff to observe for moisture and provide care as indicated and CNAs describing a two‑hour rounding and documentation process in the electronic record.
Facility staff allowed unsafe smoking practices by permitting a resident, assessed as an independent smoker with no cognitive impairment, to smoke in a non-designated courtyard lacking ashtrays, fire-safe disposal containers, a fire extinguisher, or a fire blanket, and to extinguish and discard a cigarette into a trash can containing combustible materials during high winds. Staff acknowledged that residents sometimes smoked in this non-designated area and were only redirected when noticed, while the designated smoking courtyard, though equipped with a fireproof disposal can and smoking blanket, contained a fire extinguisher with no inspection tag or documented inspection. These actions and inactions conflicted with the facility’s smoking policy requiring designated outdoor areas and noncombustible ashtrays, leading surveyors to identify immediate jeopardy and substandard quality of care related to accident hazards and smoking safety.
A cognitively impaired resident with multiple medical conditions and severe behavioral disturbances repeatedly engaged in verbal and physical aggression toward other residents and staff, including yelling profanities, ramming a wheelchair, attempting to strike a resident using a walker, kicking another resident near an elevator, and kicking and punching a nurse. Behavior notes documented that these incidents occurred frequently and that simple separation and moving the resident to a quiet area were ineffective. Staff interviews confirmed that the resident’s behavior was unpredictable, triggered when his demands were not met immediately, and directed at various residents and staff. Although psychiatric documentation and the care plan called for identifying triggers, redirection, 1:1 staffing, and psychosocial interventions, staff responses remained largely reactive, and one documented altercation involving two residents was not investigated or summarized, resulting in a failure to protect residents from abuse.
Staff failed to follow a physician’s order requiring blood pressure checks before administering Nifedipine ER to a resident with hypertension and multiple comorbidities. Over a two-week period, there were 15 administrations of the medication without any documented pre-dose BP readings in the MAR or EHR. An LPN reported that BPs are only taken when specifically ordered and acknowledged that nurses are expected to read orders prior to giving medications. The DON later stated that blood pressure had been checked and the medication was eventually discontinued.
The facility failed to report and investigate an incident in which a cognitively impaired resident with multiple comorbidities yelled at another resident in the dining area, then rammed the wheelchair of one resident and attempted to strike another, prompting staff to separate the residents and complete skin assessments. Two other residents, one with heart failure, kidney disease, dysphagia, and a cognitive communication deficit, and another with cerebral palsy and psychiatric diagnoses, were upset following the altercation, and documentation later showed that one had been pushed. Despite the DON being informed and the facility’s abuse policy requiring prompt reporting of all alleged abuse, no incident synopsis or investigation was completed or reported to the state agency for the residents involved in this altercation, and the administrator later acknowledged that an investigation and incident summary should have been completed.
The facility failed to investigate a resident-to-resident abuse incident in which a cognitively impaired resident with multiple comorbidities yelled at another resident in the dining area, then rammed a wheelchair and attempted to strike two cognitively intact residents with significant medical and psychiatric histories. Staff separated the residents and performed skin assessments that showed no injuries, but the involved residents were upset. Despite documentation that one resident had been pushed and an abuse policy requiring immediate review and investigation of all allegations or observations of abuse, the DON did not initiate an incident synopsis or investigation because staff had intervened before further harm occurred, and the administrator later confirmed that no investigation or incident summary was completed for this event.
A resident with multiple diagnoses, including dementia and severe cognitive impairment, had a behavior care plan that listed an intervention of "1:1 supervision as indicated" without defining when it should start, whether it was continuous or behavior-based, what behaviors would trigger it, or how long it should last. During interview, the DON explained that staff initiate 1:1 supervision when the resident becomes aggressive toward another resident and continue it until the resident deescalates, and acknowledged the care plan lacked needed specificity. This incomplete and non-measurable care plan for behavior management led to the cited deficiency.
A cognitively impaired, fully ambulatory resident with Wernicke’s encephalopathy and severe deficits engaged in sexual acts with another resident and was later found partially unclothed in a female resident’s room, despite care plan directives for immediate separation and 1:1 monitoring that staff were unaware of and did not implement. The resident had a documented pattern of wandering, entering other residents’ rooms during personal care, exit seeking, and a prior elopement through a courtyard gate, yet an elopement assessment later incorrectly denied a history of elopement and minimized safety and privacy risks. A Wander-Guard was ordered but not consistently in place or care planned, the courtyard gate alarm was found turned off with no staff present while residents were in the courtyard, and required abuse and elopement incidents were not properly reported or investigated per federal, state, and facility policy, resulting in Immediate Jeopardy and substandard quality of care findings.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and Wernicke’s encephalopathy, who was fully ambulatory and known to wander and seek exits, repeatedly entered other residents’ rooms, attempted to leave through exit doors, and eloped from an enclosed courtyard through a gate whose alarm had been turned off and was not monitored by staff. Despite a provider order and care plan for a Wander-Guard and elopement precautions, the device was removed and not replaced, and care plan interventions were not implemented or documented. The same resident was later found performing oral sex on another resident and, on a separate occasion, partially undressed on a female resident’s bed, despite lacking capacity to consent; required 1:1 supervision was care planned but not communicated to or followed by staff. Incidents of elopement and sexual contact were not accurately assessed or reported to the state agency, and documentation of elopement risk and abuse investigations was incomplete, leading surveyors to cite Immediate Jeopardy for accidents, hazards, abuse, and neglect.
Staff failed to ensure residents knew where to find contact information for the State Survey Agency and the State LTC Ombudsman. Required lists of names, mailing/email addresses, and phone numbers were posted behind the concierge desk in an area not accessible to residents, and no other signage was present on the unit. During a Resident Council meeting, all residents present were unable to identify the location of this information and were unaware of their right to file complaints with the State or Ombudsman. Later, two residents taken to see the posting stated they had not known it was there, while the concierge reported residents must ask for the information and that none had done so during her tenure.
Failure to Provide and Document Required Incontinence Care and Bathing for Dependent Residents
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide required ADL care, specifically incontinence care and bathing, to multiple dependent residents as documented in clinical records, interviews, and facility documents. One resident with severe cognitive impairment, always incontinent of bowel and bladder and dependent on staff for toileting hygiene, had extensive gaps in ADL documentation over several months. ADL records from January through March showed multiple dates and shifts where incontinence care entries were left blank, despite a care plan stating the resident’s bowel and bladder continence needs were to be met and a facility policy requiring daily personal care and clean clothing and linens each time they were soiled. The resident’s representative reported visiting on weekends and finding the resident’s brief appearing wet for hours. CNAs interviewed stated that incontinence care was provided every two hours and documented as evidence of care, but the records did not reflect consistent documentation. Another resident, moderately cognitively impaired and dependent for showering and bathing, did not receive showers at the frequency required by facility policy and the resident’s care plan. Clinical documentation over a two‑week period showed that the resident received only two showers, even though the policy required tub/shower baths not less than twice weekly and the care plan specified assistance with bathing and hygiene as required. The resident’s authorized representative expressed concern that the resident was not being showered regularly. A CNA reported that showers were given at least twice a week and documented in the electronic system, and that refusals were verified by the nurse, but the documentation reviewed did not show showers being provided at the required frequency. Additional residents with bowel and bladder incontinence and dependence on staff for toileting, hygiene, and positioning also had missing documentation of incontinence care and turning/positioning on specific dates and shifts. One resident, frequently incontinent and dependent on staff for toileting, had no documented toileting hygiene on two night shifts in June, despite a care plan directing staff to observe for moisture and provide care as indicated. Two other residents, both severely cognitively impaired, dependent for locomotion, transfer, dressing, toileting, and hygiene, and care‑planned for bladder and bowel incontinence and risk for pressure ulcer development, had ADL records with missing evidence of incontinence care and turning/positioning on multiple day and night shifts across several months. CNA interviews described a process of rounding at the beginning of the shift and then every two hours, with all care documented in the electronic record and the understanding that if it is not documented there is no evidence it was done, yet the reviewed records contained numerous blank entries for required care.
Unsafe Smoking Practices and Inadequate Fire Safety Controls
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure the environment remained free of accident hazards and did not provide adequate supervision and safety measures related to resident smoking. Staff permitted residents to smoke in a non-designated courtyard that lacked required fire safety controls, including ashtrays or fire-safe disposal containers, a fire extinguisher, or a fire blanket. The trash receptacle in this area contained combustible materials such as paper, cardboard, and plastic liners, and there were high winds at the time of observation, all of which were documented as increasing the fire ignition risk. On one observed occasion, a resident admitted for post-surgical rehabilitation, with an MDS BIMS score of 15 indicating no cognitive impairment and assessed as an independent smoker, was seen smoking in the non-designated courtyard. The resident extinguished a cigarette on the ground and discarded it into the trash receptacle containing combustible waste. No appropriate smoking safety equipment or supervision was present in that courtyard at the time. Staff interviews confirmed that the courtyard where the resident was observed smoking was not a designated smoking area, although residents sometimes smoked there and staff only attempted to redirect them when noticed. The designated smoking courtyard, located in a different area, was reported to have a fireproof metal can for cigarette disposal, a fire extinguisher, and a smoking blanket; however, the fire extinguisher in that designated area had no inspection tag or date and appeared to be a store-bought unit with no evidence of inspection. The facility’s smoking policy required the Administrator to designate outdoor smoking areas and mandated access to noncombustible ashtrays in those areas, but these requirements were not consistently implemented or enforced, contributing to the identified deficiency and immediate jeopardy related to accident hazards and smoking safety.
Removal Plan
- Resident #10 was placed on 1:1 observation for safety reasons due to smoking in an unauthorized area.
- Resident #10 was re-educated on the smoking policy and procedure, including smoking location and cigarette disposal.
- Locks were ordered to be installed on the courtyard doors to prevent unauthorized smoking.
- Lock installation on the non-designated courtyard began.
- The Facility Administrator will conduct a town hall meeting with residents that smoke to review the facility smoking policy (locations, cigarette disposal, and consequences for non-compliance up to suspension of smoking privileges or potential discharge).
- All residents that smoke will have a new smoking policy acknowledgement obtained.
- The Interdisciplinary Team will be educated by the President of Operations on the smoking policy and designated smoking areas.
- Facility staff will be educated by the Director of Nursing or designee on the smoking policy and designated smoking areas; no employee will be allowed to work until educated.
- The Administrator or designee will conduct weekly environmental safety rounds three times a week for 4 weeks, then monthly audits for 2 months to ensure no resident is smoking in a non-designated smoking area.
- The Administrator made the Medical Director aware of the Immediate Jeopardy via telephone.
Failure to Protect Residents From Ongoing Aggression and Abuse by a Cognitively Impaired Resident
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to protect multiple residents from physical and verbal abuse by another resident with known aggressive behaviors. One resident with severe cognitive impairment and diagnoses including heart failure, diabetes, dementia, hemiplegia, and seizure disorder repeatedly exhibited aggression toward other residents and staff. Behavior notes documented frequent verbal outbursts with expletives, yelling, and threatening behavior, as well as physical aggression such as ramming another resident’s wheelchair, attempting to strike a resident using a walker, and kicking and punching a nurse. These behaviors were noted to occur multiple times per week or daily, and staff documented that separating the resident from others and moving him to a quiet location were not effective interventions. The aggressive resident’s behaviors were directed toward several specific residents. On one occasion, when another resident came downstairs to visit friends, the aggressive resident yelled profanities and ordered him to leave. On another date in the dining room, the aggressive resident stared and ground his teeth, yelled loudly, frightened two female residents, rammed one resident’s wheelchair as she tried to leave, and lunged toward another resident with a walker, swinging his arms in an attempt to hit her before a male nurse intervened. During the same incident, the aggressive resident kicked and punched a nurse, causing bruising and a knot on the shin and bruising on the chest. On a later date at the elevator, when the aggressive resident encountered another resident he disliked, he began screaming profanities, kicked the other resident, and swung at him, causing the other resident to back into the wall and yell. Additional behavior notes described the aggressive resident yelling repetitively, grinding his teeth, shaking with anger, and attempting to attack a female resident after she asked him to stop yelling, with staff intervening to block him. Staff interviews confirmed that this resident’s behaviors were sporadic, unpredictable, and could be directed at anyone, and that he became aggressive when his wants were not met immediately. Staff reported that another resident was a known trigger and had been moved to another unit, but the aggressive behaviors toward other residents and staff continued. Psychiatric documentation indicated that the aggressive behavior was possibly related to vascular dementia and a mood disorder, and the treatment plan called for identifying triggers, redirection, one-to-one staffing, and psychosocial interventions; however, staff described their responses as largely reactive, focused on separation and occasional one-to-one, and behavior notes repeatedly documented that these interventions were ineffective. The facility also failed to produce an incident summary or investigation for the incident involving two residents in the dining room, despite documentation that they were involved and upset at the time. Interviews with the affected residents showed that they experienced the aggressive resident as loud, hateful, rude, and a bully. One resident reported that the aggressive resident had been physically aggressive toward him in the elevator but that he did not sustain injuries. Two female roommates reported that the aggressive resident had not physically contacted them but had come toward one of them aggressively and was stopped, and they described him as hateful, loud, and believing he should get everything he wants. Another resident stated that the aggressive resident had been aggressive toward her and that she tried to stay to herself. Staff, including CNAs, LPNs, the unit manager, social services, and the facility NP, consistently described the aggressive resident as unpredictable, easily escalated when his demands were not met, and requiring separation when angry. Despite ongoing, documented aggressive behaviors toward multiple residents and staff over an extended period, the facility did not implement and sustain effective interventions to prevent further abuse, and did not consistently investigate all incidents, resulting in a failure to ensure residents’ right to be free from abuse.
Removal Plan
- Resident #1 was placed on 1 to 1 supervision and will remain on 1 to 1 supervision while out of bed until discharge or a significant change in condition limits the resident's physical ability to encounter another resident; while in bed the resident is not considered a risk because the resident cannot transfer independently.
- Residents #2, #3, #4, and #5 will receive follow-up psychosocial support from facility staff.
- The facility will continue attempts to find alternative placement for Resident #1.
- All residents in the facility will be screened for evidence of abuse and neglect (interviewable residents with BIMS ≥ 8 interviewed using an abuse questionnaire; non-verbal residents and residents with BIMS ≤ 7 assessed head-to-toe to validate absence of signs of physical abuse).
- Any identified concerns from the screening will be addressed according to the facility Abuse Policy.
- All residents will be assessed/reviewed for similar behaviors as exhibited by Resident #1 by reviewing all Facility Reportable Incidents (FRIs), and care plans will be reviewed and revised with interventions for any identified residents.
- All facility and agency staff will be reeducated on the facility Abuse Policy, including abuse prevention, types of abuse, and abuse reporting.
- Staff not present will be required to complete mandatory abuse-policy education prior to the start of their next shift.
- No staff member will be allowed to return to work until the mandatory abuse-policy education has been completed.
- New hire orientation will include abuse-policy training as part of the new hire process.
- All agency staff will be required to complete abuse-policy education prior to starting work in the facility.
- Facility leadership will be reeducated by the Regional Director of Clinical Operations and Regional Director of Operations on assessing triggers, root causes, and escalation patterns and developing an effective and sustained supervision and separation intervention for residents with behavioral disturbances.
- The Medical Director was notified of the situation.
- The facility conducted an Ad Hoc QAPI committee meeting to accept the IJ Removal Plan.
Failure to Obtain Ordered Blood Pressure Readings Before Antihypertensive Administration
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure a resident was free from significant medication errors by not following a physician’s order requiring blood pressure assessment prior to administering an antihypertensive medication. The resident had diagnoses including quadriplegia, primary progressive multiple sclerosis, aphasia, anemia, cognitive communication deficit, and essential primary hypertension, and was assessed as cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 15 but dependent on staff for all ADLs, requiring a mechanical lift for transfers and an electric wheelchair for ambulation. The physician’s order for Nifedipine ER 30 mg once daily for hypertension, dated 6/2/25, directed staff to hold the medication if the systolic blood pressure was less than 120. Review of the MAR from 3/31/26 through 4/14/26 showed no recorded blood pressures prior to administration of Nifedipine on 15 occasions. During interview, an LPN stated that blood pressures are not automatically taken when administering blood pressure medications and that if there is an order to obtain blood pressure prior to administration, it would be recorded on the MAR, and blood pressures are documented in the EHR. The LPN was unable to locate any blood pressure readings prior to Nifedipine administration in the EHR and acknowledged that nurses should read orders before giving medications and that not checking blood pressure before administration could result in the resident’s blood pressure “bottoming out.” The DON later stated that blood pressure had been checked and the medication was discontinued because the resident no longer needed it.
Failure to Report and Investigate Resident-to-Resident Abuse Incident
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to report and investigate resident-to-resident abuse incidents involving three residents. One resident with heart failure, diabetes, dementia, hemiplegia, seizure disorder, and a severely impaired cognitive score of 5 was involved in an altercation in the dining area with two other residents. One of the other residents had heart failure, kidney disease, dysphagia, a cognitive communication deficit, and a mildly impaired cognitive score of 12, while the third resident had cerebral palsy, anxiety, bipolar disorder, a psychotic disorder, and was cognitively intact with a score of 15. Progress notes showed that during the dining incident, the cognitively impaired resident began yelling "No" to another resident nearby, after which one of the female residents told the resident to stop. The cognitively impaired resident then rammed the wheelchair of one of the female residents and started swinging and trying to attack the other female resident, requiring staff to separate all residents. Staff interviews and record review confirmed that the residents were separated and skin assessments were completed, with no injuries identified, although the two female residents were upset at the time. The RN who documented the behavior reported that the DON was informed of the involvement of the two female residents. When surveyors requested all investigations and incident summaries related to the aggressive resident’s behavior toward others, the facility produced documentation only for a separate altercation involving a different resident, and there was no evidence of an investigation or incident synopsis for the dining room altercation involving the two female residents. The DON stated that no incident synopsis or report was completed because there was no actual physical abuse due to staff separating the residents. Later review of a progress note showed that one of the female residents had been pushed by the aggressive resident, and the administrator acknowledged that no investigation or incident summary was found and that one should have been reported. This failure occurred despite the facility’s abuse policy requiring all alleged violations involving abuse to be reported immediately, but no later than two hours after the allegation is made.
Failure to Investigate Resident-to-Resident Abuse Incident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to investigate an incident of resident-to-resident abuse involving three residents. One resident with diagnoses including heart failure, diabetes, dementia, hemiplegia, and seizure disorder, and a severely impaired cognitive score of 5 on the most recent MDS, was involved in an altercation in the dining area with two cognitively intact residents whose diagnoses included heart failure, kidney disease, dysphagia, cognitive communication deficit, cerebral palsy, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and psychotic disorder. Progress notes documented that during the incident, the cognitively impaired resident began yelling "No" to another resident near the dining area, after which one of the female residents told this resident to stop. The cognitively impaired resident then rammed one resident’s wheelchair and started swinging and trying to attack the other resident, and staff separated all residents involved. During interviews, the RN who wrote the behavior note confirmed that the residents were separated, the DON was informed, and skin assessments were completed on the two cognitively intact residents, which showed no injuries, though both were upset at the time. When surveyors requested all investigations and incident summaries related to the aggressive resident’s behavior toward others, the facility produced documentation only for a separate altercation involving a different resident, and there was no evidence of an investigation or incident summary for the dining room altercation involving the two cognitively intact residents. The DON stated there was no incident synopsis or investigation because there was no actual physical abuse due to staff separating the residents. Later review of a progress note indicating that one resident had been pushed did not yield any additional documentation, and the administrator acknowledged that an investigation and incident summary should have been completed. The facility’s abuse policy required designated staff to immediately review and investigate all allegations or observations of abuse and to communicate results to the administrator and appropriate officials within five working days, but no such investigation was completed for this incident.
Failure to Specify Parameters for 1:1 Supervision in Behavior Care Plan
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to develop and implement a comprehensive, measurable behavior care plan for one resident requiring 1:1 supervision. The resident had diagnoses including heart failure, diabetes, dementia, hemiplegia, and seizure disorder, and a recent MDS with a cognitive score of 5 indicating severe cognitive impairment. Review of the resident’s behavior care plan showed an intervention initiated on 12/30/25 that stated "1:1 supervision as indicated" without specifying parameters such as timeframe, whether the supervision was continuous or behavior-based, what specific behaviors would trigger its use, or the duration of the intervention. During an interview on 3/19/26 at 12:15 p.m., the DON stated that the resident is placed on 1:1 when he becomes aggressive toward another resident and remains on 1:1 until he deescalates, and acknowledged that the care plan should be more specific regarding 1:1 supervision. This lack of detailed parameters and measurable actions in the written care plan for 1:1 supervision constituted the deficiency identified by surveyors for failure to develop and implement a complete care plan that met all of the resident’s needs with clear timetables and measurable interventions.
Failure to Protect Cognitively Impaired Resident From Sexual Abuse and Elopement Due to Inadequate Supervision and Reporting
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to protect a cognitively impaired resident from sexual abuse and neglect, including inadequate supervision despite known risks. One resident with Wernicke’s encephalopathy and severe cognitive impairment, reflected by a BIMS score of 99, was fully ambulatory and had a documented history of wandering, exit seeking, and intrusive behaviors into other residents’ rooms. Another resident involved in a sexual incident had mild cognitive impairment with a BIMS score of 13 and self-propelled in a wheelchair. On one occasion, documentation showed the cognitively impaired resident was found in another male resident’s room on his knees performing oral sex; the residents were separated, and the cognitively impaired resident later had no recollection of the event. A subsequent progress note documented the same cognitively impaired resident sitting on the side of a female resident’s bed with his pants off while the other resident was fully clothed under the covers; staff could not later identify this third resident for surveyors. The facility’s care planning and supervision for the cognitively impaired resident were deficient. A comprehensive care plan entry dated 2/24/26 identified a psychosocial well-being problem related to sexual/physical contact with another resident and directed staff to immediately separate and remove the resident from such situations and notify the NP and responsible party/guardian. Another care plan entry dated 3/9/26 specified that the resident had obsessive compulsive behavior and required 1:1 monitoring at all times, medication administration as ordered, and redirection and cues as needed. However, multiple nursing staff and CNAs interviewed on 3/17/26 and 3/18/26 denied knowing that the resident was to be on 1:1 supervision, and supervision was not provided. The care plan interventions focused on reacting after sexual or physical contact was found, and there was no evidence of preventative measures being implemented to protect the resident from himself or to protect others from him. None of the care plan interventions for behaviors or elopement were documented as implemented, and no behaviors were documented on the MAR during the resident’s stay. The facility also failed to adequately supervise the resident’s known wandering and elopement risk and to secure exit doors. Nursing and physician notes documented multiple episodes of wandering and exit seeking, including the resident going into other residents’ rooms during their personal care, attempting to exit through doors, and an elopement through the courtyard gate on 12/15/25, when he pushed the gate and exited to the parking lot before being redirected back inside. An elopement evaluation completed later incorrectly indicated no history of elopement and minimized the impact of the resident’s wandering on safety and privacy, despite prior documentation of elopement and intrusion into other residents’ rooms. A Wander-Guard device had been ordered on 11/13/25, but on 3/17/26 no device was found on the resident, and he had previously removed it on 3/8/26 without replacement or care plan direction until the time of survey. During survey observations, the courtyard gate alarm was found in the off position, the gate could be opened without an alarm sounding, and no staff were present in the courtyard despite residents being there. The resident’s prior elopement and the incident of him unclothed in a female resident’s room were never reported to the state agency, and the facility’s abuse reporting and investigation documentation for the 2/23/26 sexual incident was incomplete, lacked the initial report, lacked staff witness statements, and had no confirmation that required reports were timely submitted to the state agency, contrary to federal, state, and facility policy requirements.
Removal Plan
- Resident #1 was placed on 1:1 continuous supervision 24 hours/day.
- The resident provider and resident representative were notified.
- Residents who have a BIMS score of 9 or greater have been interviewed to determine if they have experienced any unwanted sexual interaction with another resident, if they have concerns about other residents wandering into their rooms, and if they feel safe residing in the facility.
- Residents who have a BIMS score of less than 9 have had a body skin assessment completed by a licensed nurse to identify any changes in skin that may have resulted from abuse.
- Any newly identified areas from skin assessments will be reported to the residents' provider and the residents' representative.
- Other residents who have a moderate or higher risk for elopement have been reviewed to determine that appropriate interventions, including use of a Wander Guard, are in place and functional.
- A staff member has been assigned to continuously monitor the facility exit door to the courtyard until another alarm system can be installed.
- The courtyard gate alarm was activated and is being monitored every 30 minutes to ensure that it remains engaged.
- All current residents will be reviewed to ensure that elopement risk assessments have been completed and that appropriate interventions are being implemented per the resident care plan and provider orders.
- All staff will be re-educated on abuse, including unwanted or non-consensual sexual activity and the capacity to consent.
- Staff who are unable to participate in the initial abuse training will be educated prior to their next scheduled shift.
- All licensed nursing staff will be re-educated on completion of the elopement risk assessment, importance of implementing safe precautions and supervising residents who may be at risk of elopement, and documenting functionality and placement of the Wander Guard.
- Licensed nursing staff who are unable to participate in the initial elopement training will be educated prior to their next scheduled shift.
- The smoke attendant will be educated on safety precautions and their responsibility for supervising the exit door to the courtyard and supervising that the alarm on the courtyard gate is engaged each shift.
- All staff will be re-educated on the importance of supervising wandering residents and approaches to re-direct residents who wander into other resident rooms.
- Staff who are unable to participate in the initial wandering supervision training will be educated prior to their next scheduled shift.
- Residents who have expressed concern of other residents wandering their rooms will be offered interventions such as a room change, use of stop sign, or other alternative, to minimize other residents from wandering into their rooms.
Failure to Supervise High-Risk Wanderer and Prevent Non-Consensual Sexual Contact
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to maintain an accident-hazard-free environment and provide adequate supervision for residents with known wandering, exit-seeking, and sexually disinhibited behaviors. One resident with Wernicke’s encephalopathy, severe cognitive impairment (BIMS score of 99), and full ambulatory ability was repeatedly documented as wandering into other residents’ rooms, disrupting care, and seeking exits. Nursing notes showed that this resident attempted to leave the enclosed courtyard by pushing open the gate, was observed going to numerous exit doors and setting off a door alarm, and wandered throughout multiple units. Despite a physician’s order for a Wander-Guard device and an elopement risk care plan focus, the resident removed the Wander-Guard and it was not replaced, and on the day of survey no Wander-Guard was found on the resident. The elopement event when the resident exited the courtyard gate was not reported to the state agency. Surveyors also identified environmental hazards and lack of supervision related to the courtyard exit. The courtyard gate, which opened to the parking lot, was equipped with an audible alarm and keyed lock, but surveyors found the alarm in the off position and were able to open the gate without any alarm sounding. No staff were present in the courtyard while four residents were there, and surveyors waited approximately five minutes at the open gate with no staff response. The Maintenance Director stated that the alarm had been shut off by someone, that multiple keys were “floating around,” and that he could not account for all of them. He also confirmed that the gate did not have a Wander-Guard alarm. These conditions demonstrated that exit doors and the courtyard gate were not secured or supervised adequately to prevent resident elopement. The facility also failed to protect the cognitively impaired resident from engaging in sexual activities he could not consent to and failed to protect other residents from his behaviors. Progress notes documented that this resident was found on his knees performing oral sex on another male resident who was lying on his bed, and later was found sitting on the side of a female resident’s bed with his pants off while she was fully clothed under the covers. The cognitively impaired resident had no recollection of the sexual event. A psychiatric evaluation documented dementia, Wernicke’s encephalopathy, and altered mental status. The care plan was updated to include a psychosocial problem related to sexual/physical contact with another resident and later to require 1:1 continuous monitoring for behaviors, but multiple nursing staff and CNAs reported they were unaware of the 1:1 requirement, and supervision was not provided. The sexual incident between the two male residents and the subsequent intrusion into the female resident’s room were not reported to the state agency. The surveyors concluded that withholding required supervision for a resident known to be a danger to himself and others constituted neglect and contributed to Immediate Jeopardy related to accidents, hazards, abuse, and neglect. In addition, documentation and assessment processes related to elopement and behavior were deficient. An elopement evaluation completed after the resident’s documented elopement incorrectly indicated no history of elopement and minimized the impact of his wandering on safety and privacy, despite prior notes of him entering other residents’ rooms during personal care and attempting to exit the building. Care plan interventions for behaviors and elopement were not documented as implemented, and no behaviors were recorded on the MAR throughout the resident’s stay. The facility’s incident and abuse investigation files contained only limited documentation related to the sexual incident between the two male residents, lacked the original initial report allegedly faxed to the state agency, and had no fax confirmation for either the initial or follow-up reports. These omissions and inaccuracies in assessment, care planning, implementation, and reporting contributed to the identified deficiency and Immediate Jeopardy. During the survey, additional observations confirmed ongoing failures in supervision and hazard control. On the initial tour, the cognitively impaired resident was observed walking alone from his unit to the main dining room without supervision. The courtyard gate alarm, when later tested, sounded briefly and then went silent without any staff response. Staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness of critical care plan elements, including the 1:1 supervision requirement for the resident with severe cognitive impairment and sexually disinhibited behavior. Collectively, these actions and inactions demonstrated that the facility did not ensure a safe environment free from accident hazards and did not provide adequate supervision to prevent accidents, elopement, and non-consensual sexual contact, resulting in Immediate Jeopardy and substandard quality of care.
Removal Plan
- Resident #1 was placed on 1:1 continuous supervision 24 hours/day.
- The resident provider and resident representative were notified.
- Residents who have a BIMS score of 9 or greater have been interviewed to determine if they have experienced any unwanted sexual interaction with another resident, if they have concerns about other residents wandering into their rooms, and if they feel safe residing in the facility.
- Residents who have a BIMS score of less than 9 have had a body skin assessment completed by a licensed nurse to identify any changes in skin that may have resulted from abuse.
- Any newly identified skin assessment areas will be reported to the residents' provider and the residents' representative.
- Other residents who have a moderate or higher risk for elopement have been reviewed to determine that appropriate interventions, including use of a Wander Guard, are in place and functional.
- A staff member has been assigned to continuously monitor the facility exit door to the courtyard until another alarm system can be installed.
- The courtyard gate alarm was activated and is being monitored every 30 minutes to ensure that it remains engaged.
- All current residents will be reviewed to ensure that elopement risk assessments have been completed and that appropriate interventions are being implemented per the resident care plan and provider orders.
- All staff will be re-educated on abuse, including unwanted or non-consensual sexual activity and the capacity to consent.
- All licensed nursing staff will be re-educated on completion of the elopement risk assessment, importance of implementing safe precautions and supervising residents who may be at risk of elopement, and documenting functionality and placement of the Wander Guard.
- The smoke attendant will be educated on safety precautions and their responsibility for supervising the exit door to the courtyard and supervising that the alarm on the courtyard gate is engaged each shift.
- All staff will be re-educated on the importance of supervising wandering residents and approaches to re-direct residents who wander into other resident rooms.
- Residents who have expressed concern of other residents wandering their rooms will be offered interventions such as a room change, use of stop sign, or other alternative, to minimize other residents from wandering into their rooms.
Failure to Inform Residents of Location of State and Ombudsman Contact Information
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that residents were informed of the location of contact information for the State Survey Agency and the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program. During an observation of the third floor, the required list of names, mailing and email addresses, and telephone numbers for the State licensure office and the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman was found posted behind the concierge’s desk on the wall, in a location inaccessible to residents. No other signage with this required information was posted on the third floor. At a Resident Council meeting, all 10 residents present were unable to identify where the contact information for the State licensure office and the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman was located and were unaware of their right to file a complaint with these entities. After the meeting, the Activities Director escorted two residents to view the Ombudsman information, and both stated they did not know it was posted there. Concierge staff reported that residents must ask for the information and phone numbers if they need them and that no resident had requested this information during the five years she had worked at the facility. The Activities Director reported there was another copy of the information outside her office on the second floor for assisted living residents. Leadership, including the DON, ADON, and Administrator, were later informed of these findings.
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