Friendship Health And Rehab Center - South
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Roanoke, Virginia.
- Location
- 5647 Starkey Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24018
- CMS Provider Number
- 495421
- Inspections on file
- 15
- Latest survey
- June 18, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 2 (1 serious)
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Friendship Health And Rehab Center - South during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple complex diagnoses received several incorrect doses of Morphine Sulfate after staff failed to verify the medication label against the physician's order. The pharmacy dispensed and labeled the medication at the wrong concentration, and nursing staff administered the drug based on this incorrect information, contrary to facility policy requiring verification of medication details prior to administration.
Facility staff failed to follow professional standards for medication administration when a resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple diagnoses received incorrect doses of morphine sulfate. Staff did not verify the medication label against the physician's order, leading to administration errors due to discrepancies in concentration and dosing instructions between the pharmacy label and the original order.
The facility failed to ensure the availability of medications for four residents, impacting their treatment for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, bipolar disorder, and hyperlipidemia. LPNs discovered the absence of medications like Tylenol, Thiamine, Valium, and Atorvastatin during medication passes, and the emergency supply did not include these medications. This deficiency was discussed with the facility's administration.
A resident with severe cognitive and physical impairments did not receive documented ADL care, including grooming and personal hygiene, due to blank spaces in the ADL documentation for several shifts. The facility's ADON and DON acknowledged the lack of evidence for care provision, and staff confirmed that blank spaces indicated uncharted care.
A resident with a history of traumatic subdural hematoma and asthma was allowed to self-administer inhalers without a completed self-administration assessment, contrary to facility policy. Despite being cognitively intact, the resident's care plan lacked a self-administration plan, and staff interviews revealed inconsistencies in the understanding of the resident's medication management.
A resident with obstructive sleep apnea was observed using a CPAP machine, but the facility failed to accurately code this in the MDS assessment. The resident's care plan and physician's order summary also lacked documentation for CPAP use. An LPN confirmed the resident's regular use of the CPAP, and the MDS coordinator acknowledged the oversight. The deficiency was discussed with facility administration.
The facility failed to develop comprehensive care plans for two residents, one requiring a CPAP machine and another for self-administration of medications. Despite observations and physician orders, these needs were not reflected in their care plans, contrary to facility policy.
A resident with complex medical conditions, including heart failure and hypertension, was administered Metoprolol outside of physician-ordered parameters in a LTC facility. The medication was given despite orders to hold it if the resident's diastolic blood pressure was 60 or less. This was confirmed by an LPN during a surveyor's review, highlighting a failure to follow the facility's medication administration policy.
A facility failed to adequately monitor a resident receiving multiple psychotropic medications, including Abilify, Sertraline, Trazodone, and Lorazepam. Despite the facility's policy requiring behavior monitoring, no documentation was found on the MAR for April 2024, and progress notes lacked consistent behavior monitoring. The Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed the expectation for such monitoring, but it was not located, leading to a deficiency identified during a survey.
A resident with post-procedural hypothyroidism did not receive Levothyroxine as ordered due to unavailability on the medication cart. Despite the facility's policy to check the STAT medication list and notify the physician, the 75 mcg dosage was not listed, leading to missed doses. The issue was discussed with the facility's administration and nursing leadership.
The facility staff failed to maintain complete and accurate clinical records for three residents, resulting in deficiencies. A resident's allergy to ampicillin/sulbactam was not documented, and their initial skin assessment missed areas with a rash. Another resident's DDNR form was incomplete, lacking necessary certifications. Additionally, a third resident's responsible party's decision to decline vaccines was not documented, despite being offered. These issues were discussed with the facility's leadership, but no further information was provided before the survey exit.
A contract staff member failed to perform hand hygiene between residents while providing toenail care, despite changing gloves. This was observed on multiple occasions, violating the facility's infection prevention policy. The issue was discussed with the facility's administration.
Two residents with significant health conditions were not offered pneumococcal vaccines upon admission, despite being eligible and having consented to vaccination. Both residents had previously received a Prevnar13 vaccine but were not offered a PCV20 or PPSV23 vaccine as recommended by CDC guidelines. The facility's policy requires tracking and administering vaccines, yet no evidence was found that these residents were offered the necessary vaccinations.
The facility failed to offer an updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine to three residents, despite having a policy to provide vaccines weekly. The residents, who were cognitively intact, had previously received COVID-19 vaccines but were not offered the updated version. The DON and IP could not provide evidence of the offer or documentation of contraindications, as required by the facility's policy.
Medication Labeling and Administration Error with Morphine Sulfate
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that a resident's medication, Morphine Sulfate, was accurately labeled and administered according to physician orders. The resident, who had diagnoses including multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, long-term opiate use, and a history of traumatic brain injury, was severely cognitively impaired and unable to self-advocate. The physician's orders specified Morphine Sulfate Oral Solution at a concentration of 10 mg/5 ml, with various dosing instructions for administration via G-Tube and buccally. However, the pharmacy dispensed Morphine Sulfate at a concentration of 100 mg/5 ml, and the medication bottle, as well as the narcotic control sheet, were labeled with this incorrect concentration and dosing instructions that did not match the original physician order. Nursing staff administered the morphine based on the incorrect label and narcotic control sheet, resulting in the resident receiving multiple incorrect doses. The medication administration record (MAR) did not match the concentration or instructions on the medication bottle or narcotic control sheet. Nurses failed to compare the medication label to the physician's order prior to administration, as required by facility policy. This failure led to the administration of significantly higher doses of morphine than prescribed. The facility's policy required staff to verify the right medication, dosage, time, and route before administration, but this procedure was not followed. The error was discovered after the resident had already received several incorrect doses. The administrator confirmed that the pharmacy had sent a different concentration than ordered, labeled the dosage incorrectly, and that nursing staff did not verify the label against the physician's order before administering the medication.
Failure to Follow Professional Standards in Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to follow professional standards of practice for medication administration for a resident with multiple complex diagnoses, including multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic pain, and severe cognitive impairment. The staff did not compare the medication label to the physician's order before administering morphine sulfate, resulting in the resident receiving multiple incorrect doses. The medication administration record (MAR), narcotic control sheet, and the actual medication bottle from the pharmacy contained discrepancies in concentration and dosing instructions, which were not identified by the nursing staff prior to administration. The pharmacy provided a morphine sulfate solution with a different concentration than what was ordered, and the label on the medication bottle instructed a dosage that did not match the physician's order. Nurses administered the medication according to the incorrect label and did not verify the concentration or instructions against the original physician's order, as required by facility policy. The facility's policy clearly stated that staff must check the label to verify the right medication, dosage, time, and route before administration, but this procedure was not followed in this instance. The deficiency was identified through staff interviews, clinical record review, and facility policy review. The administrator confirmed that the error occurred due to both the pharmacy's failure to notify the facility of the concentration change and the nursing staff's failure to adhere to established medication administration protocols. The incident involved the administration of morphine sulfate in incorrect doses to a resident who was severely cognitively impaired and receiving end-of-life care.
Medication Availability Deficiency
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to ensure the availability of medications for four residents, leading to deficiencies in pharmaceutical services. For Resident #57, the staff did not have Tylenol 500 mg available, which was necessary for managing the resident's rheumatoid arthritis pain. During a medication pass, the LPN discovered the medication was not on the cart and attempted to retrieve it from the emergency supply, only to find that the required dosage was unavailable. The staff had to contact the nurse practitioner to obtain a temporary order for a lower dosage. Resident #76 experienced a similar issue with the unavailability of Thiamine, which was prescribed as a daily supplement. The LPN noted the absence of the medication during a medication pass and had to order it from the pharmacy. Despite the order being faxed, the medication was not delivered promptly, and the resident went without the supplement for an extended period. The emergency supply did not include Thiamine, further complicating the situation. For Resident #18, the medications Valium and Fibercon were unavailable, impacting the resident's treatment for muscle relaxation and constipation. The eMAR indicated the medications were not available on specific dates, and the emergency supply did not include these medications. Similarly, Resident #44's medications, Valproic acid and Atorvastatin, were not available, affecting the management of bipolar disorder and hyperlipidemia. The eMAR and nurse's notes confirmed the unavailability of these medications, and the emergency supply did not have them listed.
Failure to Document and Provide ADL Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to provide necessary activities of daily living (ADL) care for a resident, specifically in maintaining appropriate grooming, personal, and oral care. The resident, who was part of a sample of 26, had significant medical conditions including hemiplegia, hemiparesis, aphasia, dysphagia, apraxia, lack of coordination, and a history of repeated falls. The resident's cognitive skills were severely impaired, requiring extensive assistance for personal hygiene tasks such as combing hair, brushing teeth, shaving, and washing the face and hands. The care plan indicated a self-care deficit in ADL performance, necessitating extensive assistance from two staff members. Upon reviewing the ADL documentation for the months of September and October 2022, it was found that several shifts were left blank, indicating a lack of documentation on whether the care was provided. The Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) and Director of Nursing (DON) acknowledged that the blank spaces provided no evidence of care being given. Interviews with a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) confirmed that blank spaces meant the care was not charted, and there was no evidence of care being provided during those shifts. The facility's administration was informed of these documentation gaps, but no further information was provided before the exit conference.
Failure to Assess Resident for Self-Administration of Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to ensure that a resident was clinically assessed for the appropriateness of self-administering medications. The resident, who has a history of traumatic subdural hematoma, quadriplegia, and moderate persistent asthma, was found to be cognitively intact with a mental status score of 15 out of 15. Despite this, the facility did not complete a self-administration of medications assessment for the resident, as required by their policy. The resident's care plan did not include a plan for self-administration of medications, although physician orders allowed for unsupervised self-administration of inhalers for asthma. Interviews with facility staff revealed inconsistencies in the understanding of the resident's self-administration of medications. The unit manager was unaware of the resident self-administering medications, while an LPN confirmed that the resident kept inhalers in their room for self-use, as per the family nurse practitioner's order. The facility's policy mandates a self-administration assessment to be completed before allowing residents to self-administer medications, which was not adhered to in this case. The issue of not completing quarterly assessments was discussed with the facility's administration team.
Inaccurate MDS Assessment for CPAP Use
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to ensure an accurate Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment for a resident, identified as Resident #50, who was using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. The resident's face sheet listed diagnoses including encephalopathy, Parkinson's disease, and obstructive sleep apnea. However, the most recent MDS assessment did not code the use of the CPAP machine, despite the resident being observed with the CPAP mask in place on multiple occasions. Additionally, the resident's comprehensive care plan did not include a plan for the use of CPAP, and the physician's order summary for the month of April did not include an order for CPAP. The surveyor observed the resident using the CPAP machine and confirmed with an LPN that the resident uses the CPAP whenever lying down. The MDS coordinator acknowledged that the use of the CPAP should have been included in the MDS if it was used during the look-back period. The facility's policy on Resident Assessment and Care Planning requires that special treatments or procedures be included in the comprehensive assessment. The deficiency was discussed with the facility's administration, but no further information was provided before the surveyor's exit.
Failure to Develop Comprehensive Care Plans for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to develop a comprehensive care plan for two residents, leading to deficiencies in their care. For Resident #50, who has diagnoses including encephalopathy, Parkinson's disease, and obstructive sleep apnea, the staff did not create a care plan for the use of a CPAP machine. Despite the resident being observed using the CPAP machine, there was no physician's order for it, and it was not included in the resident's comprehensive care plan. The MDS coordinator confirmed that the use of CPAP should have been included in the care plan. For Resident #56, who is cognitively intact and has diagnoses including traumatic subdural hematoma, quadriplegia, and asthma, the facility staff failed to develop a care plan for self-administration of medications. The resident's physician's order summary included orders for unsupervised self-administration of inhalers, but the comprehensive care plan did not reflect this. The unit manager and LPN provided conflicting information about the resident's self-administration of medications, and the MDS coordinator acknowledged that it should have been care planned. The facility's policy requires a comprehensive care plan to be developed within seven days of the comprehensive assessment, including measurable objectives and timetables to meet the resident's needs. However, the facility did not adhere to this policy for the two residents, resulting in the deficiencies noted by the surveyor.
Failure to Adhere to Medication Administration Parameters
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to ensure that a resident was free from unnecessary medications, specifically the blood pressure medication Metoprolol. The medication was administered outside of the physician-ordered parameters, which specified that it should be held if the resident's diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 60 or less. Despite this order, the medication was administered on multiple occasions when the resident's DBP was at or below 60, including instances with a DBP of 58 and 60. The resident involved had a complex medical history, including diagnoses of diastolic heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, Alzheimer's Dementia with anxiety, atrial fibrillation (AFIB), and hypertension (HTN). The resident was also noted to be severely cognitively impaired. The facility's policy on administering medications stated that medications should be administered safely, timely, and as prescribed. However, the failure to adhere to the physician's order for Metoprolol administration was acknowledged by a licensed practical nurse (LPN) during the surveyor's review.
Failure to Monitor Resident on Psychotropic Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to provide adequate monitoring for a resident receiving psychotropic medications, leading to a deficiency identified during a survey. The resident, who had diagnoses including anxiety, depression, history of stroke, diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea, was prescribed multiple psychotropic medications such as Abilify, Sertraline, Trazodone, and Lorazepam. Despite these prescriptions, there was no behavior monitoring documented on the Medication Administration Record (MAR) for the month of April 2024, and progress notes did not indicate consistent monitoring of the resident's behaviors. The Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed that behavior monitoring should be documented on the MAR, but they were unable to locate any such documentation for the resident. The facility's Behavior Monitoring Policy, dated May 2017, requires documentation of behaviors, non-pharmacological interventions, and side effects of medications. However, the facility staff did not adhere to this policy, as evidenced by the lack of behavior monitoring for the resident on multiple psychotropic medications. This issue was discussed with the facility's administration, but no further information was provided to the survey team before the exit conference.
Failure to Administer Levothyroxine as Ordered
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to ensure that a resident was free from significant medication errors by not administering Levothyroxine as per the physician's order. The resident, who is cognitively intact with a mental status score of 15 out of 15, has a diagnosis of post-procedural hypothyroidism among other health conditions. The physician's order required the administration of Levothyroxine Sodium Oral Tablet 75 mcg daily until a specified date, followed by 50 mcg daily thereafter. However, the medication administration record indicated that on two occasions, the medication was not administered because it was not available on the medication cart. The facility's policy for handling unavailable medications requires staff to check the STAT medication list and notify the physician if the medication is unavailable. Although Levothyroxine 50 mcg was available in the STAT/Emergency Medication Cart, the 75 mcg dosage was not listed. The failure to administer the medication as ordered was discussed with the facility's administration and nursing leadership, but no further information was provided before the surveyor's exit.
Deficiencies in Clinical Record Documentation
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to ensure complete and accurate clinical records for three residents, leading to deficiencies in documentation and communication. For one resident, the medication allergy section of the electronic health record was incomplete, missing a critical allergy to ampicillin/sulbactam, which had previously caused a possible anaphylactic reaction. Additionally, the initial skin assessment for this resident did not document areas affected by a rash, despite having a treatment order for a topical cream. This oversight was acknowledged by the Assistant Director of Nursing, who noted that the rash was present upon admission but not recorded in the initial assessment. Another resident's clinical record contained an incomplete Virginia Department of Health Durable Do Not Resuscitate (DDNR) form. Although the resident's face sheet and care plan indicated a DNR order, the DDNR form lacked necessary certifications and checkboxes, leaving the document incomplete. This issue was discussed with the facility's administration, but no further information was provided before the survey exit. For a third resident, the facility staff failed to document the responsible party's decision to decline influenza, pneumococcal, and updated COVID-19 vaccines. Despite the Unit Manager offering these vaccines to the resident's responsible party, the refusal was not recorded in the clinical record, contrary to the facility's policy on immunization documentation. This lapse was confirmed by the Infection Preventionist and the Unit Manager, and the concern was raised with the facility's leadership team during the survey process.
Failure in Hand Hygiene During Resident Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to ensure proper hand hygiene practices were followed by a contract staff member, identified as SM #20, during the provision of toenail care to multiple residents. According to the facility's handwashing policy, hand hygiene is crucial in preventing the spread of infections and should be performed before and after contact with residents. Despite this policy, SM #20 was observed changing gloves between residents but did not perform hand hygiene, such as using alcohol-based hand rubs or washing hands with soap and water, as required. The deficiency was observed on multiple occasions on the same day, where SM #20 provided toenail care to three different residents consecutively without performing hand hygiene between each resident. This was confirmed during an interview with SM #20, who acknowledged changing gloves but admitted to not performing hand hygiene. The issue was discussed with the facility's administration, including the Administrator, Director of Nursing, Assistant Director of Nursing, and Vice-President of Operations, highlighting the failure to adhere to the facility's infection prevention and control program.
Failure to Offer Pneumococcal Vaccines to Eligible Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to offer pneumococcal vaccines to two residents, despite their eligibility and documented medical conditions that warranted such vaccinations. Resident #24, who was cognitively intact, had a history of receiving a Prevnar13 vaccine in 2016 but had not been offered a PCV20 or PPSV23 vaccine upon admission. The resident's medical record indicated several serious health conditions, including osteomyelitis, atrial fibrillation, and aortic aneurysm, which increased the need for updated pneumococcal vaccination. Despite the resident's consent form indicating uncertainty about their vaccination status, the facility did not provide evidence of offering the necessary vaccines as per CDC guidelines. Similarly, Resident #76, also cognitively intact, had received a Prevnar13 vaccine in 2016 but had not been offered a PCV20 or PPSV23 vaccine upon admission. This resident's medical history included chronic respiratory failure, COPD, and heart disease, conditions that necessitate pneumococcal vaccination according to CDC recommendations. The resident's consent form also showed uncertainty about their vaccination status, yet the facility failed to document any offer of the required vaccines. The Infection Preventionist acknowledged the oversight, and the Director of Nursing mentioned past issues with insurance coverage for the vaccines, although doses were available at the time of the survey. The facility's policy on immunizations, which was reviewed and revised in January 2024, mandates tracking and administering vaccines per CDC guidelines. However, the surveyors found no evidence that the facility adhered to this policy for the two residents in question. The survey team discussed these deficiencies with the facility's leadership, but no additional information or corrective actions were provided before the exit conference.
Failure to Offer Updated COVID-19 Vaccine to Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to offer an updated 2023-2024 formula COVID-19 vaccine to three residents, despite having a policy in place to provide such vaccines weekly. Resident #3, who was cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 13 out of 15, had a history of receiving previous COVID-19 vaccines but was not offered the updated vaccine. The Director of Nursing (DON) and Infection Preventionist (IP) could not provide evidence of the offer being made, as required by the facility's policy. Resident #24, also cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 15 out of 15, was not offered the updated COVID-19 vaccine. The DON mentioned that the resident's physician did not want the vaccine administered while the resident was on IV antibiotics, but there was no documentation of contraindications or evidence of the vaccine being offered. The facility's policy mandates documentation of acceptance, refusal, or medical contraindications, which was not adhered to in this case. Similarly, Resident #75, with a BIMS score of 15 out of 15, was not offered the updated vaccine despite having received previous doses. The facility's policy requires that vaccination status be determined at admission and that a master list of residents receiving vaccinations be maintained. However, the DON and IP were unable to provide evidence of compliance with these procedures for Resident #75.
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.
Trusted data from CMS and state health departments
Every citation, penalty and Plan of Correction is sourced from public CMS records (latest release May 27, 2026) and official state health department websites — never guesswork.
Trusted by long-term care providers and associations.



