Belvoir Woods Health Care Center At The Fairfax
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
- Location
- 9160 Belvoir Woods Pkwy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia 22060
- CMS Provider Number
- 495197
- Inspections on file
- 11
- Latest survey
- March 18, 2026
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 14
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Belvoir Woods Health Care Center At The Fairfax during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
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.
Staff failed to ensure that required contact information for the State Survey Agency, State licensure office, and the State LTC Ombudsman was posted in an accessible location. The information was placed behind a concierge desk in an area where residents are not allowed, and no other signage was posted on the affected floor. During a Resident Council meeting, all residents present were unable to identify where this information was located and were unaware of their right to file complaints with these agencies. When two residents in wheelchairs were later shown the sign, they could not see it from their position in front of the desk while staff pointed to the posting behind the desk.
Staff failed to update person-centered care plans for several residents after significant changes in condition and services. One resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple chronic conditions was admitted to hospice, but this was not added to the care plan. Another resident with severe cognitive impairment, diabetes, hypertension with orthostatic hypotension, and impaired mobility had an unwitnessed fall from bed to a fall mat and recurrent low BP episodes, yet the fall and orthostatic hypotension were not incorporated into the care plan. A third resident with vascular dementia, malnutrition, and hearing loss did not tolerate dentures or a hearing aid and was repeatedly observed without them, struggling to chew and communicate, but this intolerance was not reflected in the care plan. In addition, a cognitively intact resident with atrial fibrillation, CKD stage 4, and heart failure had a care plan that continued to list hospice services even though hospice had been discontinued, and this change was not updated in the care plan.
Staff failed to provide and coordinate required bathing and hygiene assistance for four dependent residents. One cognitively intact resident with a history of falls reported only receiving basin baths and having to request showers, despite a care plan and ADL schedule for twice-weekly showers, and the ADON acknowledged showers were not documented. Another resident with a femur fracture stated he received his first thorough shower only on the survey day, although he was scheduled for twice-weekly showers and his room board lacked shower-day postings. A cognitively impaired resident dependent for self-care was repeatedly observed with oily hair, dry rough skin, and later an offensive odor, while records only showed two refusals of showers/tub baths and no alternative bathing. A fourth cognitively intact resident requiring substantial assistance for bathing reported she had not taken showers or tub baths because she believed hospital instructions about dressings prohibited immersion, and she stated no one at the facility had educated her that bandages could be removed and reapplied for bathing, despite documentation indicating she was receiving scheduled showers or tub baths.
The facility’s QAPI/QAA program failed to identify multiple systemic problems, focusing only on falls, pressure ulcers, and transcription errors while missing significant issues in ADLs, care planning, and the environment. Surveyors found that several dependent residents were not receiving regular full-body baths, with observations of oily hair, scaly skin, body odor, and complaints about not getting showers or hair washed, corroborated by shower/tub documentation. Review of person-centered care plans for sampled residents showed they were not being routinely reviewed and revised as residents’ conditions changed. Environmental observations revealed resident rooms that were not safe, clean, comfortable, or homelike, including a room with ongoing heating problems where a resident reported being cold at night, and more than 15 rooms with damaged or deteriorated wall surfaces. These system failures had not been identified or brought to the QAPI team by facility staff.
Staff failed to maintain a comfortable and homelike environment for two residents when one cognitively intact resident repeatedly reported her room was cold despite prior complaints to maintenance and ongoing issues with the PTAC heat setting, and another resident with severe cognitive impairment was found in a room with scattered personal belongings and torn wallpaper behind the bed, despite her stated preference for stored belongings and wall repair. Staff interviews revealed that a CNA responded to cold complaints only by providing extra blankets, the maintenance engineer acknowledged incorrectly switching the PTAC from cold to heat, and the assistant engineer reported multiple rooms with unrepaired accent walls damaged during bed moves, while the DON stated nursing was responsible for proper storage of residents’ belongings.
A resident with osteomyelitis, CHF, and atrial fibrillation was admitted on apixaban 2.5 mg PO BID. A subsequent physician order for apixaban 2.5 mg was incorrectly transcribed as 12.5 mg PO BID, and a nurse later signed off administration of the erroneous 12.5 mg dose. The resident had recently reported new left leg swelling and redness and had a negative ultrasound for DVT, but there was no documented physician order to increase apixaban. The ADON reported that the nurse who transcribed the order mistakenly changed the dose and that the nurse administering the medication did not recognize that the new dose would require five tablets instead of one, resulting in a documented medication order and MAR entry that did not meet professional standards of quality.
Staff failed to prevent the development of a sacral stage 3 pressure ulcer in a cognitively impaired, highly dependent resident with multiple comorbidities and documented risk for impaired skin integrity. The care plan called for monitoring pressure areas, turning and positioning, and assisting the resident to bed during the day for pressure relief, but observations showed the resident remaining in a wheelchair for many hours on multiple days, largely to accommodate a spouse’s preference for dining room meals. Skin assessments progressed from no issues to MASD on the sacrum and then to an open sacral wound, which was later staged by a wound care physician as a stage 3 pressure ulcer of pressure etiology. The DON reported relying on staff assurances that weight shifting occurred in the wheelchair, and there was no indication that the responsible party was educated about the need for pressure offloading, while the resident was also observed receiving no encouragement or assistance with meals.
A resident with diabetes, orthostatic hypotension, impaired mobility, and severely impaired cognition (BIMS 5/15) fell from bed to floor while a CNA was providing incontinence care. The resident had a history of intolerance to sitting up, low BP episodes, and resistance to sitting at the edge of the bed, but resistance to care was not included in the care plan. During the incident, the resident resisted care, tried to get out of bed, and slid to the floor, requiring two staff to return her to bed. The DON later stated the CNA should have stopped care when resistance occurred, reminded the resident she needed assistance to get out of bed, ensured safety, and then reapproached, indicating that adequate supervision and assistance were not provided to prevent the fall.
A resident with a femur fracture, history of falls, unsteadiness, and occasional incontinence, who was cognitively intact and required assistance with transfers and toileting, repeatedly requested a bedside urinal but was not provided one. Over several observations, surveyors found the urinal stored in a bag in the bathroom rather than at the bedside, while the resident stated he had not received the requested urinal. CNAs reported that they typically did not allow bedside urinals, citing infection control and a practice of keeping urinals in the bathroom and instructing residents to use the call light for assistance, whereas an LPN stated that residents who cannot transfer independently are allowed bedside urinals to help prevent falls. Leadership later acknowledged there was no policy on bedside urinals and that the resident could have one if able to use it.
An LPN was observed administering Benzonatate 100 mg from a medication card whose pharmacy-printed label had been altered by handwriting a new dosing interval over the original directions. Physician orders for this medication had changed multiple times from PRN dosing to scheduled dosing, and pharmacy instructions directed staff to use the on-hand PRN supply until a new card arrived. Facility policy required nurses to apply a separate "direction change" or similar label when prescriber directions changed, rather than altering the original pharmacy label, but this procedure was not followed. The DON later stated that nurses are expected to follow the medication labeling policy, and the findings were presented to the administrative team.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses was admitted to hospice for end-of-life care related to senile degeneration of the brain, with a care plan calling for coordinated hospice services and communication. However, staff reported not seeing hospice aides provide services and only occasional visits by a nurse, and a review of the paper chart found no hospice admission paperwork, care plan, or visit notes. As a result, details about hospice services, scheduling, communication processes, and triggers for contacting hospice were not available in the facility’s records, and leadership later acknowledged this non-compliance.
Facility staff did not maintain complete documentation of staff COVID-19 education and vaccination status. The HR manager reported that there was no documentation for long-term employees and that only new hires initialed an orientation form indicating they received COVID-19 education, but could not produce the actual education materials for two selected new hires. The HR manager later provided the facility’s COVID-19 preparedness and response plan as the education but was unable to show records that all staff had been offered the COVID-19 vaccine or that their vaccination status was documented.
A resident with an L4 wedge compression fracture and intact cognition was observed in bed with the call bell on the floor and not within reach while needing assistance to clean spilled water from his shirt. The resident reported having fallen the previous night after pressing the call bell without receiving a response and then attempting to pull the curtain, resulting in a fall onto his left side. Observations showed the call bell remained on the floor for an extended period until a CNA entered the room and placed it at the bedside, despite stating that resident rounds were done every 15 minutes. The Administrator later stated she had not been informed of this issue.
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.
Required Ombudsman and State Agency Contact Information Not Accessible to Residents
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to post the required list of names, mailing and email addresses, and telephone numbers for the State Survey Agency, State licensure office, and the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman in a location accessible to all residents. During an observation of the third floor, this information was found posted behind the concierge’s desk on the wall, an area where residents are not allowed. No other signage with the required information was posted on the third floor. Concierge #2 stated that residents are not permitted behind the desk, that the door to the dining room behind the desk is kept locked so residents cannot go behind the desk, and that residents must ask for the information and phone numbers if they need them. Concierge #2 also reported that in five years of employment, no resident had requested this information. During a Resident Council meeting, all 10 residents present were unable to identify where the required information was located and were unaware that they had the right to file a complaint with the State licensure office or the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. After the meeting, the Activities Director took two residents in wheelchairs to view the Ombudsman information; they were positioned in front of the concierge’s desk while the Activities Director pointed to the sign behind the desk and explained its contents. From their position, the two residents were unable to see the information on the signage. The Activities Director stated there was another copy of the information outside her office on the second floor for assisted living residents. The Administrator later stated that the Activities Director hands out cards with Ombudsman information from time to time and that the Ombudsman conducts rounds in the facility.
Failure to Review and Revise Person-Centered Care Plans After Changes in Condition and Services
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to review and revise person-centered care plans for multiple residents following significant changes in condition or services. One resident with Alzheimer's disease, heart failure, and diabetes, who had severely impaired cognition per a BIMS score of 3/15, was admitted to hospice services on 3/8/26 after a documented decline including decreased oral intake and episodes of MASD. Despite this, the active care plan with a target date of 3/26/26 did not include the resident's election and admission to hospice services. Another resident with diabetes, hypertension with episodes of orthostatic hypotension, and impaired mobility and self-care after lumbar spine fusion had a BIMS score of 5/15, indicating severely impaired decision-making. This resident experienced an unwitnessed fall from the bed to the fall mat on 3/13/26, and nursing notes documented the fall and stated that no changes to the care plan were needed. The active care plan with a target date of 6/17/26 did not address the fall or the resident's episodes of orthostatic hypotension, despite the Rehab Director reporting that the resident was unable to tolerate therapy, resisted sitting up, had low blood pressure episodes, felt ill when upright, and vomited. A third resident with vascular dementia, mild protein-calorie malnutrition, hearing loss, and severely impaired cognition (BIMS 0/15) had an MDS indicating minimal hearing difficulty, and the care plan stated the resident required assistance with dentures. However, the active care plan with a target date of 5/2/26 did not document that the resident did not tolerate dentures and a hearing aid. During multiple survey visits, the resident was consistently observed without dentures, placing unchewed food into napkins, and having extreme difficulty communicating due to inability to hear. A private duty sitter reported that the resident's son had said it was acceptable for the resident not to wear dentures and the hearing aid because the resident repeatedly removed and discarded them. Additionally, another resident with intact cognition (BIMS 15/15) and diagnoses including atrial fibrillation, stage 4 chronic kidney disease, and heart failure had an active care plan with a target date of 6/5/26 that incorrectly stated the resident was receiving hospice services, even though a nutrition note documented discharge from hospice on 3/4/25 and the DON confirmed the resident was no longer on hospice.
Failure to Provide and Coordinate Scheduled Bathing and Hygiene Assistance
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide necessary activities of daily living (ADL) assistance, specifically bathing and hair washing, to multiple dependent residents. One resident with a history of repeated falls and unsteadiness on feet was cognitively intact and had a care plan emphasizing her preference and goal to increase functional ability with bathing, including choosing between a tub bath, shower, bed bath, or sponge bath. She reported that staff were relying on her to ask for showers, that she believed she had designated shower days, and that she had instead been taking basin baths and using washcloths to run through her hair. ADL records showed scheduled showers twice weekly, but documentation reflected self-bathing on one date and "NA" on another, and the ADON later acknowledged that showers were not documented for this resident and that her preference for daytime showers had not been aligned with the existing schedule. Another resident admitted with a right intertrochanteric femur fracture, and diagnoses including repeated falls and unsteadiness on feet, reported that he received his first shower on the morning of the survey interview, stating that it was the first thorough washing since admission. He stated that staff had not bathed him in the shower room or in bed prior to that day, although he had been able to perform limited self-care such as shaving, wiping himself with a washcloth, and brushing his teeth. Staff interviews indicated that showers or refusals were to be documented in the electronic record, that there was a set shower schedule, and that shower days should be posted on room boards and in CNA computers. The resident’s room board did not list shower days, although an LPN confirmed that the resident was scheduled for showers twice weekly on the day shift. ADL documentation showed the first recorded shower on a date consistent with the resident’s report and an earlier scheduled date marked as "NA." A third resident with Alzheimer’s dementia and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, who was severely cognitively impaired and dependent or requiring substantial assistance for most self-care tasks including showering/bathing, was observed on two separate days with oily, flat hair, dry rough skin on the face, and later with an offensive odor. Her care plan included a goal to increase functional ability with bathing and interventions allowing her to choose the type of bath while requiring substantial/maximal assistance. A family member reported that her hair had not been washed for weeks and that he planned to ensure her hair was washed before transfer to another facility. Bathing records showed refusals of showers/tub baths on two dates, with no documentation of alternative bathing or hair washing. A fourth resident, cognitively intact but requiring substantial/maximal assistance with showering/bathing and several other ADLs, had a care plan goal to increase functional ability with bathing and interventions emphasizing her choice of bathing method. She was observed with multiple scabs on her arms and legs, dry and scaly skin on her arms, legs, and face, and hair that had been washed and set at the beauty shop that day. She stated she was not taking showers or tub baths because hospital staff had told her she could not immerse in water due to dressings, and she reported that no one at the facility had informed her that bandages could be removed and reapplied to allow bathing. CNA interview indicated that every resident received showers or tub baths as scheduled, and documentation stated that this resident was receiving showers or tub baths according to her schedule, but the resident’s own account and the DON’s subsequent interview confirmed that she had not been receiving showers or tub baths at the facility due to her understanding of the hospital’s instructions and lack of education from facility staff.
Failure of QAPI Program to Identify Systemic Issues in ADLs, Care Planning, and Environment
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to operate an effective QAPI/QAA program that identifies and addresses failed systems. During an interview, the Administrator stated that the QAPI committee relied on data from the 5-star report, Resident Council meetings, grievances, families, residents, and the IDT, and that current focus areas included falls, pressure ulcers, and transcription errors. However, during the survey, three additional system failures were identified by surveyors—Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) related to showers/tub baths, ongoing review and revision of person-centered care plans, and maintaining a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment—that had not been recognized or presented to the QAPI team by facility staff. Surveyors found that several dependent residents were not receiving regular full-body baths, specifically showers or tub baths, and observations revealed residents with oily hair, scaly skin, and body odor, with some residents reporting not receiving showers or hair washing. Review of shower/tub bath documentation confirmed that residents were not receiving regular full-body bathing. Review of person-centered care plans for all sampled residents showed a pattern of plans not being reviewed and revised on an ongoing basis as residents’ conditions improved or deteriorated. Environmental observations identified resident rooms that were not safe, clean, comfortable, or homelike, including one room with ongoing heating issues where a resident reported being cold on several nights, and more than 15 rooms with walls needing painting or with torn wallpaper and exposed wallboards. These issues were not identified by the facility’s QAPI process, and when given an opportunity, the leadership team did not provide additional information to demonstrate that these system failures had been recognized or addressed through QAPI/QAA activities.
Failure to Maintain Comfortable Room Temperatures and Homelike Room Conditions
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure a safe, comfortable, and homelike environment for two residents by not adequately addressing room temperature concerns and room condition issues. One cognitively intact resident with chronic kidney disease and neuralgia reported ongoing problems with her room being cold, stating during a resident meeting that maintenance had been informed but the issue was not fixed. Resident council notes documented a prior grievance from this resident about temperature, but it referenced common areas rather than her specific room. On multiple occasions, the resident reported her room felt cold, including one instance where she stated she thought she was going to freeze because she had not had heat in her room since the previous day, despite the maintenance engineer later measuring the room temperature in the low 70s Fahrenheit and acknowledging that the PTAC unit had been incorrectly switched from cold to heat. Another resident with atrial fibrillation and chronic venous insufficiency, who had severely impaired cognitive abilities per a recent MDS assessment, was observed in bed stating she did not feel well, though she could not specify what was wrong. Her room was observed to be cluttered, with personal belongings scattered on the bedside table, chair, and overbed table, and the wall behind her bed had torn wallpaper. When asked, the resident expressed a preference for having her belongings stored and for the wall beside her bed to be repaired. The DON later stated that nursing was responsible for ensuring residents' personal belongings were stored appropriately. Interviews with staff further described the circumstances contributing to these deficiencies. A CNA reported that the resident with temperature concerns had complained of being cold at night and was given two blankets. The maintenance engineer explained that the PTAC unit required switching between heat and cold modes and admitted he had switched it incorrectly, contributing to the resident’s perception of inadequate heat. The assistant engineer reported that many rooms had accent walls needing repair and attributed wall damage to direct care staff tearing walls when moving beds, noting that repairs had not been completed because residents would need to be moved out of rooms for the work. These actions and inactions resulted in residents not consistently experiencing a comfortable temperature or a homelike, well-maintained room environment.
Medication Transcription Error for Anticoagulant Order
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that a medication order for an anticoagulant met professional standards of quality when a nurse inaccurately transcribed a physician’s order for apixaban. The resident involved had been admitted after an acute care hospital stay with diagnoses including right 5th finger osteomyelitis/septic arthritis requiring IV therapy, congestive heart failure, and atrial fibrillation, and had a BIMS score of 11/15 indicating moderately impaired cognitive abilities for daily decision-making. The resident was admitted with an order for apixaban 2.5 mg by mouth twice daily. A new order was written on 3/13/26 for apixaban 2.5 mg, but it was transcribed in the record as “Give 12.5 mg by mouth twice daily,” changing the dose from 2.5 mg to 12.5 mg. On 3/14/26, a nurse signed off that 12.5 mg of apixaban had been administered, reflecting the incorrect transcribed dose. The physician’s progress note from 3/13/26 documented that the resident had presented with new left leg swelling and redness and had undergone an ultrasound to rule out a blood clot, which was negative, but there was no order from the physician to increase apixaban to 12.5 mg. During an interview, the ADON stated that the nurse who transcribed the order mistakenly changed the apixaban dose and that the nurse who administered the medication did not notice that the new ordered dose would have equaled five tablets instead of one. The ADON further stated that an audit later showed that the 12.5 mg strength was associated with a new order for Aldactone, not apixaban, confirming that the transcription error had occurred in the medication orders for this resident.
Failure to Prevent and Adequately Offload Sacral Pressure Ulcer
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide necessary care to prevent the development of a sacral stage 3 pressure ulcer in one cognitively impaired, highly dependent resident. The resident had Alzheimer's disease, heart failure, diabetes, severe impairment in daily decision-making (BIMS score 3/15), and required substantial to maximal assistance for most self-care and mobility tasks. The care plan identified a potential for impaired/compromised skin integrity related to bilateral lower extremity edema and incontinence, with interventions including observing pressure areas for redness, notifying the nurse of any redness, encouraging and assisting with turning and positioning, assisting the resident to bed during the day for pressure relief, and assisting with repositioning as needed. A low-air-loss mattress was not added until late February. Weekly skin assessments initially documented no skin issues on 2/4/26, with barrier cream used on both buttocks as a preventative measure due to incontinence. By 2/11/26, nursing documentation identified moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) on the sacrum, which continued to be documented on 2/18/26. On 2/22/26, nursing documentation described an open wound to the sacrum measuring 2 cm x 2 cm, which was not staged at that time but was cleaned with normal saline and covered. When the wound care physician first evaluated the resident on 2/24/26, the sacral wound was identified as a stage 3 pressure ulcer of pressure etiology, measuring 2.0 cm x 1.5 cm x 0.2 cm, with 100% granulation tissue and moderate serous drainage, and treatment with calcium alginate with honey was ordered. Despite the resident’s high risk for pressure injury and the presence of a sacral pressure ulcer, observations on multiple days showed the resident remaining in a wheelchair for extended periods. On 3/11/26, the resident was observed in a wheelchair in her room at approximately 11:00 AM and again at 3:50 PM. On 3/12/26, the resident was observed in bed at about 9:15 AM with breakfast, then out of bed in a wheelchair at 11:07 AM being taken to the dining room, and again in the wheelchair in her room at approximately 4:30 PM. On 3/18/26 at about 11:00 AM, the resident was again observed sitting in a wheelchair in her room. A CNA reported that the resident was out of bed daily before 11:00 AM because the spouse wanted the resident to have lunch in the dining room. The DON stated that direct care staff had assured her they shifted the resident’s weight when seated in the wheelchair, but there was no indication that the nursing team had educated the responsible party or power of attorney about the need to offload pressure to promote healing and prevent additional pressure ulcers, while the resident was also observed receiving no encouragement or assistance from staff with meals.
Failure to Provide Adequate Supervision During Incontinence Care Resulting in Fall
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide adequate assistance and supervision during incontinence care to prevent a fall for one resident. The resident had diagnoses including diabetes, high blood pressure with episodes of orthostatic hypotension, and impaired mobility and self-care related to lumbar spine fusion. An admission MDS with an ARD of 1/6/26 documented a BIMS score of 5/15, indicating severely impaired cognitive abilities for daily decision-making. According to the Rehab Director, the resident was unable to tolerate therapy, was resistant to sitting up on the side of the bed or in a wheelchair, had episodes of low blood pressure, reported feeling ill while sitting up, and would vomit. Prior to the fall on 3/6/26, the resident’s care plan did not include a problem related to resistance to care. On 3/6/26 at 4:30 AM, while a CNA was providing incontinence care, the resident experienced a witnessed fall from the bed to the floor. Nurse’s notes documented that the resident was resisting care, attempted to get out of bed, and slid off the bed to the floor, requiring two staff members to assist her back into bed. The DON later stated that, in this situation, the CNA should have stopped care when the resident became resistant, reminded the resident that she required assistance to get out of bed, ensured the resident was safe, and then reapproached the resident. Family Member #1 reported observing staff working to transfer the resident back to bed after the fall. These findings show that staff did not provide adequate supervision and assistance during incontinence care to prevent the fall.
Failure to Provide Requested Bedside Urinal to Continent Resident
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide a requested bedside urinal to a continent/occasionally incontinent resident who had a right intertrochanteric femur fracture, repeated falls, and unsteadiness on their feet. The resident’s admission MDS showed intact cognition (BIMS 15/15), partial/moderate assistance needs for toileting hygiene, and substantial/maximal assistance for bed-to-chair and toilet transfers, with occasional bladder incontinence. The resident’s care plan indicated partial/moderate assistance with toilet use and use of incontinent briefs, and that the resident was able to make self-care decisions daily. On multiple observations over several days, surveyors noted that the resident’s urinal was stored in a bag in the bathroom and not at the bedside, despite the resident’s repeated statements that he had requested, but not received, a bedside urinal. On one observation, when the resident directly asked a CNA for a bedside urinal, the CNA responded that he could not have one at the bedside and must use the call bell to request assistance with using the urinal in the bathroom. In interviews, one CNA stated that bedside urinals were not usually provided due to infection control and that residents were educated to use the call light for assistance, while another CNA stated that if a resident could walk, the urinal would be left in a bag in the bathroom. In contrast, an LPN reported that residents who cannot transfer independently are allowed to have bedside urinals and that staff use them to prevent falls and keep them close so residents do not get up impulsively. The ADON later stated there was no policy regarding bedside urinals and that the resident could have a bedside urinal if able to use it. Throughout the observation period, the resident consistently reported not being provided with the requested bedside urinal.
Altered Pharmacy Label on Benzonatate Medication Card
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that a medication label remained unaltered from the pharmacy-printed label for a Benzonatate 100 mg capsule card. During a medication administration observation with an LPN, the Benzonatate medication card was noted to have a handwritten "8" written over the previous hourly instructions for administration, which had indicated intervals such as every 4 hours and every 12 hours. Review of the physician’s order summary showed that the original order for Benzonatate 100 mg was 1 capsule by mouth every three hours PRN for cough, which was then changed to every eight hours PRN for cough, and later changed again to 1 capsule by mouth three times a day for cough for 5 days. Pharmacy instructions indicated that the PRN medication on hand should be used. In an interview, the LPN stated that the order had been changed from PRN to scheduled doses and that the pharmacy had instructed staff to use the on-hand medication until a new medication card was received. The facility’s policy titled “Medication and Medication Labels 3.7” stated that if the prescriber’s directions for use change or the label is inaccurate, the nurse may place a “direction change. Change of order-check chart” or similar label on the container, taking care not to cover important label information. Instead of following this policy, the existing pharmacy label on the Benzonatate card was directly altered by handwriting over the original directions. During a subsequent interview, the DON stated that staff nurses are expected to follow the policy. The survey findings regarding the altered medication label were later presented to the facility’s administrative team, who did not offer comments or concerns.
Failure to Maintain Accessible Hospice-Coordinated Plan of Care
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to have a hospice-coordinated plan of care readily available and integrated into the resident’s record for a hospice-enrolled resident. The resident, admitted after an acute hospital stay, had diagnoses including atrial fibrillation and chronic venous insufficiency, and a significant change MDS showed a BIMS score of 3/15, indicating severely impaired cognitive abilities for daily decision-making. The resident’s care plan, dated 2/4/26, documented admission to hospice services for end-of-life care related to senile degeneration of the brain, with a goal to receive uninterrupted supportive services. Interventions listed included coordinating all of the resident’s needs, communicating changes to hospice, and educating the resident, family, responsible party, and caregivers about changing needs and additional hospice services. Despite this, staff interviews and record review showed that hospice services and coordination were not clearly documented or accessible in the facility. A CNA reported never seeing a hospice aide provide services to the resident and only observing a male nurse visiting approximately twice per week. When interviewed, the DON stated that hospice admission paperwork, the care plan, and visit notes were likely in the resident’s paper chart, but a review of the paper charts revealed no hospice documents. As a result, information about what hospice services would be provided, when and how they would be provided, the communication process, and when or why facility staff should contact hospice was not available in the facility at the time of review. Hospice documents confirming the resident’s hospice admission for senile degeneration of the brain were only produced later, after being faxed to the facility, and the facility leadership acknowledged the non-compliance during the surveyor’s discussion.
Failure to Document Staff COVID-19 Education and Vaccination Status
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to document each staff member’s COVID-19 vaccination and education status as required. During the infection control task, the Human Resource Manager (HRM) reported that there was no documentation for employees with longevity and that only new hires initialed an Orientation Acknowledgement form indicating they were given COVID-19 education. However, the HRM could not produce the actual education materials that were purportedly acknowledged by initials for two of two selected new hires. The HRM later provided the facility’s Infectious Disease COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan as the education but was unable to provide documentation that all staff had been offered the COVID-19 vaccine or that their vaccination status had been recorded. These findings were confirmed through staff interviews and review of the available records and policies. No specific residents or their medical histories were mentioned in the report, and the deficiency centered on the facility’s failure to maintain complete and verifiable documentation of staff COVID-19 education and vaccination offerings.
Call Bell Inaccessibility in Resident Room
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency in ensuring that a working call system was accessible in resident care areas when one resident’s call bell was not within reach while he was in bed. The resident, who had a wedge compression fracture of the fourth lumbar vertebra and was on a subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing, had been assessed on the 5-day MDS with a BIMS score of 15/15, indicating intact cognitive abilities for daily decision making. On 03/12/26 at approximately 10:45 a.m., the resident was observed lying in bed with the head of the bed elevated to about 45 degrees, while his call bell was on the floor beside the bed and not accessible. During an interview at that time, the resident attempted to drink water and spilled a small to moderate amount on his shirt, then requested something to wipe off the water. When asked to use his call bell for assistance, he stated he could not find it. The resident also reported that he had fallen the previous night, stating that he had pressed the call bell but no one came, and that he had been trying to pull the curtain when he fell onto his left side. Follow-up observations on 03/12/26 showed that at 10:55 a.m. the call bell remained in the same location on the floor, still not accessible to the resident. At 11:14 a.m., CNA #2 entered the room, picked up the call bell from the floor, and placed it at the bedside, stating that she performs resident rounds every 15 minutes. In a final interview on 03/18/26 with the Administrator, DON, ADON, and two corporate consultants, the findings were discussed, and the Administrator stated she had not been made aware of the issue.
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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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