Berry Hill Nursing Home
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in South Boston, Virginia.
- Location
- 621 Berry Hill Road, South Boston, Virginia 24592
- CMS Provider Number
- 495318
- Inspections on file
- 16
- Latest survey
- September 3, 2024
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 0
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Berry Hill Nursing Home during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
The facility failed to implement its abuse policy by not obtaining sworn statements or conducting timely criminal background checks for several employees. Additionally, the professional licenses or certifications of 11 nursing staff were not verified until after the survey began, with some staff working with residents before verification. This oversight in hiring and verification processes raises concerns about resident safety.
The facility failed to store food properly in the main kitchen and nourishment refrigerators, with items lacking proper sealing and labeling. Milk was stored above the recommended temperature, and nourishment refrigerators contained unlabeled and outdated items. The facility's policies did not adequately address these issues, leading to improper food handling and storage practices.
The facility failed to accurately complete MDS assessments for three residents, leading to deficiencies in documenting their oral and dental status. One resident was observed with missing and decayed teeth, yet the MDS inaccurately reported no concerns. Another resident had multiple missing teeth and visible decay, but the MDS did not reflect these issues. A third resident, with a history of dental problems, was also inaccurately documented in the MDS. Interviews revealed a lack of awareness and thorough examination by the MDS coordinator.
The facility failed to complete the required PASARR for three residents with mental health diagnoses, including schizoaffective disorder and dementia. The PASARRs were only completed after surveyor inquiries, despite the facility's policy requiring them prior to admission.
A facility failed to develop a care plan for a resident's oxygen therapy, despite the resident's diagnoses of congestive heart failure and shortness of breath. The resident was using oxygen at 2 LPM, but the care plan did not include this therapy. The MDS coordinator admitted that the care plan was overlooked.
The facility staff failed to update care plans for two residents, resulting in deficiencies. One resident's care plan was not revised to reflect significant weight changes and a fall, while another resident's care plan did not reflect a change in code status from DNR to full code. The care plan coordinator and MDS coordinator acknowledged the oversights, and the facility's policy on interdisciplinary teams was not followed.
A resident was administered Breo Ellipta by an LPN without being instructed to rinse their mouth afterward, contrary to the physician's order and manufacturer's instructions. Interviews with the RN and DON confirmed that rinsing is a required procedure to prevent complications, highlighting a deficiency in the standard of care.
A resident was discharged without a complete discharge plan of care and recapitulation of stay. The discharge documentation lacked essential information such as medications, treatments, and diet. The resident had a complex medical history, but the discharge summary did not provide a comprehensive overview of their status. The facility's discharge planning policy was not followed, and the necessary information was not communicated to the resident or care providers.
A resident with multiple health conditions, including cognitive communication deficit, experienced tooth pain but was unaware of an existing physician's order for Orajel due to its omission from the MAR. Despite the order being faxed to the pharmacy and the medication being available, staff were not informed, leading to a lapse in pain management.
A resident did not receive a physician-ordered nutritional supplement during lunchtime meals, as observed on two consecutive days. The resident confirmed the absence of the supplement, which was supposed to be included on the meal tray according to the meal ticket. The dietary manager acknowledged the oversight but could not explain why the supplement was not provided, despite having a physician's order and recommendation from a dietician.
During a medication pass observation, a facility failed to accurately label three medications, including Provera, Phenytoin Sodium Extended Release, and Atenolol/Chlorthalidone, with dosages and complete names. The LPN and RN involved were unaware of the missing information, assuming the pharmacy-provided medications were correct. The issue was identified as a software problem affecting label printing.
Two residents in the facility did not receive necessary dental services, leading to deficiencies in their care. One resident, with multiple health conditions, experienced ongoing tooth pain and was prescribed antibiotics but did not see a dentist due to difficulties in finding a provider who could accommodate a stretcher. Another resident, with cognitive impairments, was recommended for extractions by an oral surgeon but did not receive follow-up dental care. Facility staff struggled to secure dental services due to provider availability issues.
A resident with significant weight loss did not receive the physician-ordered therapeutic diet of double portions. Despite the order for a regular diet with pureed texture and honey consistency, the resident was observed receiving only half portions. Both a CNA and an LPN confirmed the discrepancy, and the dietary manager acknowledged the error, noting that the resident should have received two scoops of all food items.
A resident with multiple diagnoses and severely impaired cognitive skills had a clinical record discrepancy. The resident's plan of care listed a DNR order, but the interventions inaccurately required CPR, indicating a Full Code status. The RN MDS coordinator acknowledged updating the care plan but not the intervention column, leading to the error.
Failure to Implement Employee Pre-Screening Procedures
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to implement the abuse policy regarding the pre-screening of employees, affecting 15 out of 25 employee records reviewed. Specifically, the facility did not obtain sworn statements or conduct criminal background checks within 30 days of employment for several employees. For instance, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) was hired without a sworn statement on file, and the criminal background check was delayed by several months. Additionally, two Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) had unsigned sworn statements. This lack of timely and complete documentation raises concerns about the facility's ability to ensure the safety of its residents. Furthermore, the facility did not verify the professional licenses or certifications of 11 nursing department employees until after the survey began. This included Registered Nurses (RNs), LPNs, and CNAs, whose licenses or certifications were not checked to confirm they were active and unencumbered. Two CNAs were allowed to work with residents before their certifications were verified. The Human Resources Manager acknowledged the responsibility for verifying licenses and stated that the sworn statements and background checks are crucial for resident safety. However, the facility's failure to adhere to these procedures indicates a significant oversight in their hiring and verification processes.
Improper Food Storage and Temperature Control
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to store food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety in the main kitchen and the nourishment refrigerators on two nursing units. In the main kitchen, several food items were improperly stored, lacking proper sealing and labeling. For instance, graham cracker crumbs were secured with a binder clip without any date marking, and various frozen items like crab cakes, chicken tenders, and french fries were not properly sealed or dated. Additionally, a container of chicken noodle soup was inadequately covered, exposing it to potential contamination, and other items like boiled eggs and cherry cheesecakes lacked proper labeling and dating. The facility also failed to maintain milk at the appropriate temperature. During an observation, the temperature of a milk carton was recorded at 45.7 degrees Fahrenheit, which is above the recommended temperature of less than 40 degrees. The dietary manager acknowledged the discrepancy and instructed the staff to return the milk to the cooler. However, the facility's policies did not address the specific temperature requirements for dairy products, although a general temperature range for refrigerators was noted. On two nursing units, the nourishment refrigerators contained items that were not labeled or dated correctly, and some were stored beyond their use-by dates. Observations revealed unlabeled applesauce cups, coleslaw, and various other food items without proper identification or dating. The temperature log for one unit's refrigerator was incomplete, missing recordings for several days. The director of nursing confirmed that the refrigerators were intended for resident food storage, but many items appeared to belong to staff. The facility's policies on food storage and leftovers did not adequately address these issues, leading to improper food handling and storage practices.
Inaccurate MDS Assessments for Oral/Dental Status
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to complete accurate Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments for three residents, leading to deficiencies in documenting their oral and dental status. Resident #3 was admitted with multiple diagnoses, including dementia and depression, and was observed with missing and decayed lower front teeth. Despite a denture consultation noting dental caries and residual teeth roots, the MDS inaccurately documented no oral or dental concerns. Interviews with the MDS coordinator and a registered nurse revealed a lack of awareness of the resident's dental issues. Resident #5, diagnosed with conditions such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes, was observed with multiple missing teeth and visible decay. The resident's care plan noted poor oral health, yet the MDS inaccurately reflected no dental concerns. The MDS coordinator acknowledged the resident's missing teeth but was uncertain about the decay status. This discrepancy highlights a failure to accurately assess and document the resident's dental condition. Resident #21, with a history of psychosis and vascular dementia, was observed with missing and decayed teeth. An oral surgeon consultation had previously identified cavities and the need for extractions, but the MDS failed to document these issues. The MDS coordinator admitted to not observing broken teeth during the assessment. The facility's failure to conduct thorough oral examinations and accurately document findings in the MDS led to these deficiencies, as outlined in the Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument 3.0 User's Manual.
Failure to Complete PASARR for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to complete the required Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (PASARR) for three residents, leading to deficiencies identified during a survey. Resident #46, diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and anxiety disorder, was admitted without a PASARR, which was only completed after the surveyor's inquiry. Similarly, Resident #21, with multiple diagnoses including psychosis, mood disorder, and vascular dementia, did not have a PASARR completed either before or after admission. The social worker confirmed the absence of the PASARR and was unsure of the process prior to her employment. Resident #17, with diagnoses of schizoaffective disorder, depression, and dementia, also lacked a PASARR upon admission. The resident's clinical record and the PASARR log book did not contain the necessary documentation, and the social worker completed the PASARR only after the surveyor's review. The facility's policy mandates that a PASARR must be completed for all new residents prior to admission, but this was not adhered to in these cases.
Failure to Develop Care Plan for Oxygen Therapy
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop a care plan for a resident's oxygen therapy, which was necessary due to the resident's diagnoses of congestive heart failure and shortness of breath. The resident was observed using oxygen at 2 liters per minute, but the care plan did not include this therapy. The clinical record showed an order for continuous oxygen at 2 LPM, but it lacked a start date. The MDS coordinator acknowledged that a care plan should have been developed when the order originated, but it was overlooked.
Failure to Update Care Plans for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to review and revise the care plan for two residents, leading to deficiencies in their care. For one resident, the care plan was not updated to reflect significant weight changes and a fall. The resident experienced multiple instances of weight loss, as noted by the registered dietician, but the care plan was not revised to address these changes. Additionally, after the resident experienced a fall, the care plan was not updated to include new preventative interventions. The care plan coordinator acknowledged the oversight, attributing it to their absence due to surgery. For another resident, the facility staff did not update the care plan to reflect a change in code status from do not resuscitate (DNR) to full code. Although the resident expressed a desire to be a full code and the medication administration record reflected this change, the care plan still listed the resident as DNR. The MDS coordinator was unaware of the change in code status and acknowledged the need to investigate the oversight. The facility's policy on interdisciplinary teams requires regular meetings to develop and review care plans, but these deficiencies indicate a failure to adhere to this policy. The facility administrator and nurse consultant were informed of these issues during end-of-day meetings, but no additional information or corrective actions were provided in the report.
Failure to Instruct Resident to Rinse Mouth After Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to adhere to professional standards of care during medication administration on one of the units. During a medication pass observation, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) administered Breo Ellipta to a resident without instructing or assisting the resident to rinse their mouth afterward, as recommended by the manufacturer and per the physician's order. The resident's clinical record included a physician's order that specifically instructed rinsing the mouth after using the Breo Ellipta inhaler, which was not followed during the observed administration. Interviews with the Registered Nurse (RN) and the Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the standard procedure required nurses to prompt and ensure residents rinse their mouths after inhaling medications like Breo Ellipta. The manufacturer's instructions also emphasized the importance of rinsing to reduce the risk of oropharyngeal candidiasis. Despite these guidelines, the LPN did not provide the necessary instruction, leading to a deficiency in the standard of care provided to the resident.
Incomplete Discharge Planning and Documentation for a Resident
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to develop a comprehensive discharge plan of care and recapitulation of stay for a resident, identified as R43, who was discharged from the facility. The discharge documentation was incomplete, lacking critical information such as medications released, treatments, diet, and other educational needs. The social worker had initiated the discharge instructions and plan of care, noting follow-up appointments and home health agency information, but the nursing staff did not complete the remaining sections. The discharge summary was also deficient, as it did not include a detailed recapitulation of the resident's stay, vital signs, or mention of any wounds or treatments to the leg. The resident, R43, had a complex medical history, including hypertension, sacral fracture, chronic diastolic congestive heart failure, chronic hypoxic respiratory failure, chronic atrial fibrillation, history of transcatheter aortic valve replacement, recurrent gastrointestinal blood loss anemia, chronic kidney disease stage 3b, hypothyroidism, and blindness in both eyes. Despite these conditions, the discharge summary failed to provide a comprehensive overview of the resident's status at discharge. The facility's policy on discharge planning was not adhered to, as the necessary information was not communicated to the resident, continuing care provider, or other authorized persons. The facility administrator and corporate nurse consultant were informed of these deficiencies, but no additional information was provided before the survey concluded.
Failure to Implement Physician's Order for Pain Management
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to implement a physician's order for a resident, identified as Resident #5, who was part of a survey sample. The deficiency involved the omission of a physician's order for as-needed Orajel topical gel from the resident's medication administration record (MAR). This oversight meant that nurses were not aware of the order and did not offer or administer the medication for tooth or gum pain as needed. Resident #5, who was assessed as cognitively intact, reported experiencing tooth pain during an interview but was unaware of the Orajel order. The clinical record showed that the physician's order for Orajel was dated several days prior to the survey, but it was not listed on the MAR. Interviews with the resident and staff, including a licensed practical nurse and a nurse consultant, revealed that the order was faxed to the pharmacy, and the medication was available in the cart. However, the failure to record the medication on the MAR resulted in the staff being unaware of its availability for the resident's pain management. This finding was discussed with the facility's administrator and nurse consultant, with no additional information provided before the survey concluded.
Failure to Provide Physician-Ordered Nutritional Supplement
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to provide a physician-ordered nutritional supplement for a resident, identified as R64, during lunchtime meals. Observations on two consecutive days revealed that the supplement was missing from R64's lunch tray. The resident confirmed that the supplement was not provided by the facility, although it was sometimes brought in by her daughter. A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) verified the absence of the supplement and noted that it was listed on the meal ticket. Interviews with the dietary manager confirmed that there was an order for the supplement to be included on the lunch tray, but it was not executed. The dietary manager was unable to provide an explanation for the oversight, as the dietary aide responsible was not available for comment. A review of the clinical records showed a physician's order for the supplement, which was recommended by a registered dietician. Facility documents emphasized the importance of adhering to physician orders for nutritional needs, yet the supplement was not provided as required.
Medication Labeling Deficiency
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to accurately label medications during a medication pass observation, resulting in three instances of non-compliance with labeling requirements. The medication Provera, administered to a resident, was not labeled with a dosage. During the observation, the LPN administering the medication confirmed the absence of the dosage on the multi-medication pill pack and verified the correct dosage with the physician's order. The issue was identified as a labeling error, with the dosage missing from the packaging due to a software issue. Additionally, two other medications, Phenytoin Sodium Extended Release and Atenolol/Chlorthalidone, administered to two different residents, were also found to be improperly labeled. The pharmacy pouches for these medications did not include the dosage or complete medication names. The LPN and RN involved in the medication administration were unaware of the missing information, assuming the pharmacy-provided medications were correct. The facility's consultant pharmacy supervisor confirmed the labeling issue was due to a software problem, which resulted in incomplete prescribing information on the labels.
Failure to Provide Dental Services for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to provide necessary dental services for two residents, leading to deficiencies in their care. Resident #5, who was admitted with multiple health conditions including multiple sclerosis and diabetes, was assessed as cognitively intact. Despite a physician's order for dental services due to a right lower molar abscess, the resident did not receive a referral or visit to a dentist. The resident experienced ongoing tooth pain and was prescribed antibiotics twice, but no dental appointment was scheduled due to difficulties in finding a dentist who could accommodate the resident's need for a stretcher during transport. Resident #21, with diagnoses including psychosis, stroke, and vascular dementia, was assessed with moderately impaired cognitive skills. An oral surgery consultation recommended extractions and a restorative plan by a general dentist. However, no dental services were provided following this consultation. The social worker was unaware of the need for a dental appointment, and the facility struggled to secure dental services due to provider availability issues. Interviews with facility staff, including the social worker, administrator, and nurse practitioner, revealed ongoing challenges in securing dental care for residents requiring special accommodations. Despite attempts to contract a provider, the facility was unable to arrange necessary dental appointments for the residents, resulting in unresolved dental issues.
Failure to Provide Physician-Ordered Therapeutic Diet
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to provide a physician-ordered therapeutic diet for a resident who had experienced significant weight loss. The resident had an active physician order for a regular diet with pureed texture, honey consistency, and double portions as part of an enriched meal program. Despite this order, the resident was not provided with the double portions as prescribed. A clinical record review showed a weight loss of 7.2 pounds over one month, and the care plan indicated a focus on nourishment due to weight loss, with an intervention specifying double portions. During an observation, the resident was seen being fed by a CNA, and the food portions were not double as ordered. Both the CNA and an LPN confirmed that the portions did not appear to be double. The dietary manager also confirmed that the resident should have received two scoops of all food items, but only one scoop was provided, resulting in half-full bowls. The facility's policies on therapeutic diets and menu adjustments were reviewed, indicating that diets should be served as prescribed by the attending physician.
Inaccurate Clinical Record for Resident with DNR Order
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to maintain an accurate clinical record for a resident, leading to a deficiency. The resident, who was admitted with multiple diagnoses including cancer, atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis, hypertension, and schizoaffective mood disorder, was assessed with severely impaired cognitive skills. The resident's clinical record documented a current do not resuscitate (DNR) order, and the plan of care indicated the resident was on hospice with a DNR order. However, the care plan interventions inaccurately documented a requirement for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), indicating a Full Code status. During an interview, the registered nurse MDS coordinator admitted to updating the care plan's problem/focus area but failing to change the intervention column, resulting in the discrepancy. This issue was discussed with the facility's administrator and nurse consultant, but no additional information was provided before the survey concluded.
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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