Greenspring Village
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Springfield, Virginia.
- Location
- 7470 Spring Village Dr, Springfield, Virginia 22150
- CMS Provider Number
- 495354
- Inspections on file
- 13
- Latest survey
- March 19, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 0
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Greenspring Village during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment, impaired mobility, and incontinence developed a facility-acquired stage 3 pressure ulcer after staff failed to implement or update preventative interventions following the healing of a previous wound. The resident was often observed in bed without evidence of regular repositioning, and documentation of skin assessments and wound care was incomplete, leading to harm.
Five residents were not aware of how to file a complaint with the state licensure office or state survey agency, despite required postings being present on nursing units. The facility's admission packet did not include the necessary contact information, and staff were unaware of this omission until it was pointed out during the survey.
Five residents were not informed about how to file grievances, where to find grievance forms, or who the grievance officer was. During a council meeting, these individuals stated they had never received this information, and review of the admission packet confirmed the absence of grievance education materials. Facility leadership initially believed the information was provided but could not locate it upon review.
The facility allowed multiple staff members, including CNAs, LPNs, and therapists, to work and provide direct care without timely verification of criminal background checks or active, unencumbered licenses and certifications, as required by facility policy. In some cases, staff worked for extended periods without proper screening or with expired credentials.
Facility staff did not review or respond to pharmacy medication regimen reviews in a timely manner for three residents, including those with psychiatric and cognitive disorders. Pharmacy recommendations for medication adjustments and monitoring were not addressed within required timeframes, and when declined, lacked documented rationale. Staff interviews and record reviews confirmed delays and incomplete documentation, in violation of facility policy.
Surveyors found that a scoop was stored directly in bulk flour and serving pans were nested while still wet, contrary to facility policy requiring separate scoop storage and air drying of dishware. Facility leadership confirmed these practices did not meet established sanitary standards.
The facility failed to implement and sustain corrective actions for previously identified deficiencies, resulting in ongoing issues such as incomplete care plans, delayed medication reviews, improper food storage, and errors in COVID-19 vaccine administration. The quality assurance committee did not effectively monitor or address these persistent problems, and audits failed to identify or resolve ongoing non-compliance.
Staff did not maintain the walk-in freezer in safe working order, as the door seal was in disrepair for over seven months, resulting in ongoing condensation and ice accumulation. Despite repeated work orders and an outside vendor's recommendation for door replacement, the issue remained unresolved, and the freezer door continued to be difficult to latch.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple medical conditions was physically and verbally mistreated by a private duty aide, who was witnessed shoving the resident into a wheelchair and calling the resident 'crazy.' The aide, hired by the family as a companion and not authorized to provide direct care, failed to report the incident or seek staff assistance as required by facility policy. The incident was immediately reported by a housekeeper, and the resident was found to have no injuries or behavioral changes following the event.
A resident was not provided a gradual dose reduction (GDR) for one of their prescribed antidepressants, Trazodone, despite a pharmacy recommendation to reduce both Trazodone and Lexapro. The provider only reduced the Lexapro dose and did not document a reason for not addressing the Trazodone recommendation. Staff interviews and record reviews confirmed that the facility did not fully follow its policy for GDR of psychotropic medications.
Facility staff did not develop or implement a timely and adequate baseline care plan for a resident admitted with a fractured ankle and multiple comorbidities, resulting in a lack of clear guidance for staff on the use and care of an orthotic boot. The care plan was not completed within the required timeframe, lacked individualized interventions, and did not provide the resident or their representative with a copy or summary, contrary to facility policy.
A resident with a left lower extremity fracture and orthotic boot did not have a comprehensive, person-centered care plan that included measurable objectives, timeframes, or specific guidance for the use and application of the boot. Staff and the resident's significant other noted inconsistencies in care, and the care plan was not updated to reflect changes in condition, falls, or new physician orders. The care plan also failed to address cognitive impairment, medication changes, and acute health concerns, contrary to facility policy.
Facility staff did not update or revise care plans for three residents, resulting in care plans that failed to reflect current needs such as activity programming for a non-verbal resident, the use of an electronic monitoring device, and the application and care of an orthotic boot with changes in weight-bearing status. Staff and management interviews, as well as documentation reviews, confirmed that these omissions led to incomplete and inaccurate care plans.
A resident was unable to receive a prescribed PRN cough medication due to it being out of stock, and the LPN did not notify the physician as required by facility policy. The nurse was unaware of the stat box for emergency medications, and the resident ultimately contacted her pulmonologist and was transferred to the hospital without receiving the medication.
A resident with respiratory concerns was not properly assessed by staff before being sent to the ER, and staff failed to communicate with the provider prior to the resident calling 911. Upon the resident's return, the ER report with new medication orders was not promptly reviewed or implemented, and the nurse practitioner did not perform a physical assessment within 24 hours. Documentation was incomplete, and staff did not follow expected protocols for assessment and provider notification.
A resident with confusion and a history of falls experienced multiple incidents while attempting to transfer without assistance. Staff repeatedly documented reeducation and reminders, but did not implement new or modified interventions after each fall, despite facility policy requiring such updates. Leadership confirmed that interventions were duplicated and not adjusted to address the ongoing risk.
A resident with significant weight loss did not consistently receive prescribed nutritional interventions, such as fortified foods and supplements, as outlined in the care plan. Observations and staff interviews confirmed that required items like super soup, super mashed potatoes, and a magic cup were not reliably provided, and meal tickets did not reflect these interventions. Documentation showed ongoing concerns about the resident's nutritional status, but the facility failed to ensure the interventions were implemented as ordered.
Facility staff did not develop or document resident-specific interventions or identify target behaviors for a resident with dementia who was prescribed antipsychotic medication. Although the resident exhibited some behaviors such as wandering and occasional anxiety during care, these were not consistently documented or addressed in the care plan, and the facility failed to provide its dementia care policy when requested.
A resident was unable to receive a prescribed PRN cough medication because it was out of stock, and staff did not promptly notify the provider or utilize available emergency medication resources. The medication was ordered from the pharmacy but was not received in time, and the resident was ultimately transferred to the hospital without having received the needed medication.
Staff failed to maintain a medication error rate below 5%, with three errors in 29 opportunities. Incidents included a resident receiving extended-release morphine instead of immediate-release as ordered, and two residents receiving Vitron-C tablets inappropriately—one tablet was crushed against label instructions and both were not administered on an empty stomach as required. LPNs involved did not consistently follow physician orders or pharmacy labeling, and the facility's policy on the five rights of medication administration was not adhered to.
Staff failed to maintain complete and accurate clinical records for two residents: one resident's POLST form was left incomplete, omitting documentation of CPR and treatment wishes, while another resident's record lacked the required hospice plan of care. These omissions were confirmed through staff interviews and record reviews.
Staff failed to follow infection control protocols by not wearing required PPE when entering a resident's room under contact precautions and by an LPN contaminating gloves during medication administration by touching multiple surfaces before handling medications. These actions were observed and confirmed through staff interviews and policy review.
A resident with multiple chronic conditions and severe cognitive impairment was not offered a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20 or PCV21) at least one year after receiving PCV13, as required by CDC guidelines. Facility records and staff interviews confirmed the omission, and no documentation was found to show the vaccine was offered, despite facility policy aligning with CDC recommendations.
Facility staff did not offer an updated COVID-19 vaccine to a resident with multiple chronic conditions and moderate cognitive impairment, despite facility policy and CDC guidelines requiring vaccination offers and documentation. The resident's record showed no evidence of being offered the 2023-2024 or 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines after receiving a previous dose in 2022.
Failure to Prevent and Manage Pressure Ulcer Development
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to implement appropriate interventions to prevent the development of a pressure ulcer for a resident with significant risk factors, including severe cognitive impairment, impaired mobility, incontinence, and dependence for turning and repositioning. The resident was admitted with multiple diagnoses and was assessed as high risk for skin breakdown. Despite the healing of a previous stage 2 sacral wound, no new preventative measures were documented or implemented after the wound healed, even though the resident remained at high risk. The care plan included an alternating pressure mattress and gel cushion, but there was no evidence of updated interventions or changes in treatment following the identification of a new wound. Observations and interviews revealed that the resident was frequently found reclining on her back in bed, with limited evidence of regular repositioning or efforts to get her out of bed, despite her dependence on staff for mobility. The resident reported staying in bed too much and not being assisted out of bed as promised. Staff interviews indicated that the resident sometimes refused transfers, but there was no documentation of refusals or of staff attempts to address these issues. Clinical records showed a gap in skin assessments and inconsistent documentation regarding the presence and treatment of wounds, including a lack of information about a new stage 3 coccyx wound and a stage 2 wound on the left buttock. The facility's documentation and skin assessments were incomplete and did not reflect the resident's changing condition or the development of new wounds. There was a lack of timely and appropriate response to the emergence of a stage 3 coccyx wound, with no evidence of revised interventions or updated care planning. The facility's own policy emphasized the importance of prevention and management of pressure injuries, but the actions taken did not align with these standards, resulting in the resident acquiring a facility-acquired stage 3 pressure ulcer.
Failure to Inform Residents of Complaint Filing Procedures
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that five residents were aware of how to file a complaint with the state licensure office and state survey agency. During a resident council meeting, these residents stated they did not know where the postings with this information were located. Although the surveyor observed that the required postings were present on each nursing unit, the residents remained unaware of their location and content. Further investigation revealed that the facility's admission packet, which was supposed to contain information on how to contact the state licensure and surveyor agencies, did not include this information. The assistant administrator initially stated that the complaint education was provided in the admission packet, but upon review, acknowledged that the information was missing. This lack of accessible and clear information resulted in residents not being properly informed of their rights and the process for filing complaints.
Failure to Inform Residents of Grievance Procedures
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that five residents were informed about the process for filing grievances, the location of grievance forms, and the identity of the grievance officer. During a resident council meeting, these residents stated they were unaware of what a grievance form was or how to file a grievance, and none could identify the grievance officer. The surveyor provided copies of the grievance form to the residents, who confirmed they had never previously received this information. One resident noted the absence of a social worker on their floor, which they felt contributed to the lack of information. Interviews with facility leadership revealed that staff believed grievance education was included in the admission packet, specifically in the "Residence and Care Agreement." However, upon review, neither the surveyor nor the assistant administrator could locate any grievance education materials in the admission packet. These findings were discussed with facility administration and unit managers, who acknowledged the concerns raised.
Failure to Pre-Screen Staff for Background Checks and License Verification
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to implement their abuse prevention policy regarding pre-screening of employees, as evidenced by the review of 12 out of 25 staff records. Specifically, one certified nursing assistant (CNA) was allowed to work for 20 months without confirmation of a completed criminal background check. Interviews with human resources personnel revealed that while background checks were requested, there was no documentation confirming receipt of the results for this employee. The facility's abuse prevention policy requires criminal background checks and verification of licensing or certification for all employees, but this was not consistently followed. Additionally, the facility permitted ten employees, including LPNs, CNAs, occupational therapists, and a speech language pathologist, to provide direct resident care without verifying that they held active and unencumbered licenses or certifications at the time of hire. In several cases, verification was delayed by months or even a year after the employee began working. The facility's own policy mandates that licenses and certifications be verified and tracked upon hire and that employees without active credentials be removed from the schedule, but these procedures were not adhered to. Furthermore, one CNA was allowed to work with an expired certification, as the facility did not verify renewal of the license before permitting continued employment. These findings were confirmed through staff interviews and review of facility documentation, which showed a lack of evidence for timely background checks and license verifications as required by facility policy.
Failure to Timely Review and Respond to Pharmacy Medication Regimen Reviews
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to review and respond to pharmacy medication regimen reviews (MRRs) in a timely manner for three residents. For one resident with diagnoses including psychosis, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder, multiple pharmacy consultations recommending gradual dose reductions and monitoring for medication side effects were not addressed or signed by the physician or DON within the expected timeframes. In some cases, recommendations were not addressed for several months, and when eventually reviewed, no rationale was provided for declining the pharmacist's suggestions. Another resident with severe cognitive impairment and diagnoses such as dementia and major depressive disorder also experienced delays in the review and response to pharmacy recommendations. Recommendations for gradual dose reductions and medication tapers were not addressed promptly, and when declined, lacked documented rationale. Facility policy required that the attending physician review and sign the MRRs and document their review of identified irregularities within 30 days, but this was not consistently followed. For a third resident, the facility staff did not respond to a pharmacist's recommendation regarding the concomitant use of Tramadol and Quetiapine in a timely manner, and the physician's rationale for declining the recommendation was left blank. Additional MRRs were not present in the resident's clinical record as required, and there were inconsistencies in provider signatures and documentation. Interviews with nursing staff and providers confirmed delays and lapses in the process of reviewing and acting upon pharmacy recommendations, contrary to facility policy and regulatory expectations.
Improper Food Storage and Dish Handling in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
During an inspection of the facility's main kitchen, surveyors observed that a scoop was stored inside a bulk flour bin, resting directly in the flour. The executive chef confirmed that this was not the correct procedure and stated that the scoop should be removed and cleaned after each use, rather than being left in the flour. Additionally, a rack containing ready-to-use stainless serving pans was inspected, and eight large pans were found nested together with visible water droplets along their rims. The certified dietary manager acknowledged that the pans should have been air dried before stacking or nesting, and a dry rack was available for proper storage. Facility policies reviewed during the inspection specified that scoops for bulk dry foods must be stored separately in a holder and that all dishware and utensils must be air dried to prevent wet nesting or contamination. The observed practices were not in compliance with these policies or with applicable federal, state, and local regulations regarding sanitary food storage and preparation. These findings were discussed with facility leadership, and no additional information was provided prior to the conclusion of the survey.
Failure to Sustain Correction of Quality Deficiencies Across Multiple Areas
Penalty
Summary
The facility's quality assessment and assurance program failed to implement appropriate plans of action to correct previously identified quality deficiencies, resulting in continued non-compliance across multiple areas. Despite having submitted an approved plan of correction after an earlier survey, the facility did not sustain compliance, as evidenced by repeated deficiencies during a revisit survey. These deficiencies included failures in the development and implementation of comprehensive, resident-centered care plans, timely review and revision of care plans, completion of drug regimen reviews, management of unnecessary psychotropic medications, proper food storage practices, and accurate documentation and administration of COVID-19 immunizations. Specific incidents included staff not implementing nutritional interventions for a resident who experienced significant weight loss, and failing to update care plans to reflect changes in residents' conditions, such as the need for oxygen therapy or interventions to prevent falls. Additionally, recommendations from a pharmacist for gradual dose reductions of psychotropic medications were not addressed in a timely manner, resulting in a resident continuing to receive unnecessary medications. The facility also failed to correct improper food storage practices, as the same issues observed in a previous survey were found again during the revisit. Furthermore, the facility did not properly document or respect a resident's declination of the COVID-19 vaccine, resulting in the vaccine being administered despite the resident's refusal. The quality assurance committee did not effectively monitor or identify ongoing non-compliance, as audits and reviews were either not conducted as planned or failed to detect persistent issues. Meetings and discussions about deficiencies often occurred outside of the formal QAPI process, and there was a lack of evidence that audit findings were reviewed or acted upon in a timely manner.
Failure to Maintain Walk-In Freezer in Safe Working Order
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to maintain the walk-in freezer in proper working order, as evidenced by a door seal that had been in disrepair for over seven months. During an inspection, heavy frozen condensation was observed across the ceiling and on the fan grates of the freezer, with fine ice shavings noted on the floor. The certified dietary manager and executive chef confirmed that the condensation issue had been ongoing for months, requiring staff to scrape and remove condensation at least weekly. Despite work orders being written and maintenance efforts, the problem persisted, and the freezer door remained difficult to latch due to the faulty seal. Interviews with maintenance staff revealed that an outside vendor had assessed the issue and determined that the freezer door needed replacement, providing a quote months prior. However, the door had not yet been replaced, and the maintenance supervisor indicated that the repair was pending approval beyond their authority. Documentation confirmed that the need for door replacement was identified during a vendor visit several months earlier, but no corrective action had been completed at the time of the survey.
Failure to Protect Resident from Physical and Verbal Abuse by Private Duty Aide
Penalty
Summary
A resident with multiple diagnoses, including Parkinson's disease, dementia with behavioral disturbance, and severely impaired cognitive skills, was involved in an incident where a private duty aide, hired by the resident's family, was witnessed shoving the resident back into a wheelchair and referring to the resident as 'crazy.' The incident was observed by a housekeeper who was present in the room at the time. The private duty aide was classified as a companion and was not authorized to provide direct care to residents, according to facility policy. The housekeeper immediately reported the incident to facility staff, and subsequent interviews confirmed that the private duty aide had physically and verbally mistreated the resident. The aide denied calling the resident 'crazy' and claimed to be preventing a fall, but the housekeeper's account was consistent across multiple interviews. The aide had previously cared for the resident in other settings and was familiar to the resident and family, who reported no prior issues. Facility records indicated that the resident was assessed following the incident and showed no physical injuries or changes in behavior. The private duty aide had not provided care to any other residents in the facility. The facility's policies clearly stated that private duty aides were not permitted to provide direct care and were required to report significant events to facility staff, which did not occur in this case.
Failure to Complete Gradual Dose Reduction for Psychotropic Medication
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that a resident was free from unnecessary psychotropic medications and did not perform a required gradual dose reduction (GDR) for one of the resident's antidepressant medications. Clinical record review showed that while a GDR was completed for Lexapro, no GDR was attempted for Trazodone, despite a pharmacy recommendation to consider dose reductions for both medications. The provider accepted the pharmacy's recommendation but only implemented a dose reduction for Lexapro, leaving the Trazodone dose unchanged without providing a documented reason for not reducing it. The provider's note and the clinical record did not address the pharmacy's recommendation regarding Trazodone. Interviews with staff, including an LPN and regional clinical operations, confirmed that pharmacy recommendations are to be reviewed and acted upon by the physician, with floor nurses and the clinical manager responsible for ensuring recommendations are addressed. Facility policy requires a structured approach to gradual dose reduction for psychoactive medications to avoid unnecessary chemical restraint. However, documentation and staff statements indicated that the process was not fully followed for the resident's Trazodone prescription, resulting in the deficiency.
Failure to Develop and Implement Timely Baseline Care Plan for Resident with Orthotic Boot
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to develop and implement a timely and adequate baseline care plan for a resident who was admitted with multiple complex medical conditions, including a fractured left ankle requiring an orthotic boot, Parkinson's Disease, muscle weakness, history of falls, dementia with severe agitation, and other diagnoses. Upon admission, the resident was non-weight bearing and required the boot at all times, but this status and the specific care instructions for the orthotic boot were not documented in the baseline or interim care plan. The care plan lacked individualized interventions, start dates, review dates, and did not provide staff with clear guidance on how to properly apply or manage the orthotic boot. Observations and interviews revealed that staff and the resident's significant other were aware of the need for the boot and the changes in its use, but there was no consistent or accessible documentation to guide staff on the correct application or care of the boot. The only available signage in the resident's room indicated when the boot should be worn, but not how to secure it, and staff relied on informal communication or memory rather than written instructions. The care plan in the resident's room and the electronic health record were inconsistent, and neither contained adequate or timely updates regarding the resident's changing needs or equipment use. The facility's own policy required an interim care plan to be generated within 8 hours of admission, reflecting the resident's goals and current needs in a format understandable to the resident and/or representative, and to provide a copy to them. However, the baseline care plan for this resident was not completed within the required timeframe, did not address the use or care of the orthotic boot, and there was no evidence that the resident or their representative had been provided with a copy or summary of the care plan.
Failure to Develop and Implement Comprehensive, Measurable Care Plan
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to develop and implement an accurate, comprehensive, person-centered care plan for a resident with a left lower extremity fracture requiring an orthotic boot. The care plan did not include measurable objectives, timeframes, or specific guidance for the use and application of the orthotic boot, despite changes in the resident's weight-bearing status and ongoing use of the device. Observations and interviews revealed that staff and the resident's significant other were aware of inconsistencies in how the boot was applied, and that instructions for proper application were not documented in the care plan. The only reference to the boot was a handwritten entry added after the fact, and there was no detailed guidance for staff on care considerations or changes in the resident's condition. Further review of the care plan and clinical records showed that updates were not made to reflect the resident's evolving needs, including changes in weight-bearing status, fall incidents, and new or changed physician orders. The care plan lacked individualized interventions following multiple falls, and did not address the resident's cognitive impairment, medication changes, or acute health concerns such as hospitalizations and infections. Staff interviews confirmed that care plan updates were not consistently documented, and that there was confusion regarding which version of the care plan was most accurate and how to ensure interventions were measurable and effective. Facility policy required comprehensive, person-centered care plans to be developed within 72 hours of admission, to include measurable objectives and to be updated with any change in condition. However, the care plan for this resident was not completed within the required timeframe, and failed to address the resident's medical, nursing, mental, and psychosocial needs as identified in assessments. The lack of timely and accurate care plan updates resulted in staff not having clear, consistent guidance to meet the resident's needs.
Failure to Review and Revise Care Plans for Multiple Residents
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to review and revise care plans for three residents, resulting in care plans that did not accurately reflect the residents' current needs and conditions. For one resident who was non-verbal and fully dependent on staff for all activities of daily living, the care plan inaccurately stated that the resident preferred to engage independently, despite observations and staff interviews confirming the resident was unable to initiate or pursue leisure or stimulation programs without assistance. The care plan also did not reflect the resident's need for encouragement and escort to group activities, nor did it address the resident's preferences for sensory stimulation as indicated in the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessments. Another resident had an electronic monitoring device installed in the room by the family, with both video and auditory capabilities. Although the facility administration and staff were aware of the device and had communicated with the family regarding its use and privacy considerations, the resident's care plan did not include any mention of the electronic monitoring device. Interviews with staff and review of facility documentation confirmed that the presence and use of the camera were not reflected in the care plan, despite the expectation that such information should be included to ensure privacy and proper care. A third resident was observed wearing an orthotic boot for a left lower extremity fracture, with changes in weight-bearing status documented in physician and therapy records. However, the care plan did not include any reference to the orthotic boot, specific guidance on its application, or updates reflecting changes in the resident's weight-bearing status. Staff interviews revealed that care directives for the boot were communicated verbally or through signs in the room, but not documented in the care plan. The lack of timely and accurate updates to the care plan resulted in omissions of essential care information, as confirmed by staff and management interviews and review of facility policy.
Failure to Notify Physician of Unavailable PRN Medication
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to follow professional standards of nursing practice by not notifying the physician when a prescribed PRN cough medication was unavailable for a resident. The resident, who had a physician's order for dextromethorphan-guaifenesin oral liquid to be given as needed every six hours for cough, reported that after receiving a dose during the night, she was told in the morning that the medication was out of stock and would need to be ordered. The nurse did not check the stat box for an emergency supply and was reportedly unaware of its existence. The resident was informed that the medication would arrive by 8:00 a.m., then noon, but by 2:30 p.m. it was still not available. The LPN on duty confirmed that the medication was out of stock and had been ordered, but stated that the physician was not notified because it was a PRN medication. Facility policy requires that if a medication is unavailable, the provider should be notified and the conversation documented in the electronic medical record, with possible consideration for alternative medications. The resident, unable to receive her prescribed medication, contacted her pulmonologist and was subsequently transferred to the hospital. Documentation confirmed that no PRN cough medication was administered prior to the resident's transfer.
Failure to Assess, Communicate, and Review Orders for Resident Sent to ER
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to properly assess a resident prior to her being sent to the emergency room, did not communicate with the provider before the resident called 911, and did not review the emergency room report for new orders upon her return. The resident, who had a history of respiratory issues and was under the care of a pulmonologist, reported that her vital signs were not checked and that she had to request oxygen level checks. She independently contacted her pulmonologist and subsequently called 911 herself to be sent to the emergency room for evaluation and treatment of a cough, as she felt the facility could not address her needs. Interviews with staff revealed that the LPN was aware of the resident's actions but did not notify the physician or intervene according to standard procedures. The nurse practitioner did not physically assess the resident within 24 hours of her return from the emergency room, and the emergency room report containing new medication orders was not promptly reviewed or acted upon by the staff. Clinical documentation showed a lack of assessment upon the resident's return and incomplete recording of vital signs. The facility's regional director of clinical operations confirmed that staff did not follow expectations for assessment, provider notification, and timely review of new orders.
Failure to Update Fall Prevention Interventions After Repeated Resident Falls
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to implement effective interventions to prevent falls for a resident with a history of confusion and repeated falls. The resident experienced a fall while attempting to transfer from a wheelchair to bed without assistance, despite existing care plan interventions instructing the resident to call for help. After a subsequent fall under similar circumstances, staff again documented reeducation and reminders, but these interventions were already in place from previous incidents. There was no evidence that new or modified interventions were added to address the ongoing risk, as required by facility policy. Interviews with facility leadership confirmed that the interventions following both falls were duplicative and not updated to reflect the resident's changing needs. The care plan presented by the ADON included interventions not found in the original care plan, and the regional director of clinical operations acknowledged that no new interventions were implemented at the time of the falls. Facility documentation and policy require review and modification of care plans after such incidents, but this was not done, resulting in a failure to adequately address the resident's fall risk.
Failure to Implement Prescribed Nutritional Interventions for Resident with Weight Loss
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to implement prescribed nutritional interventions for a resident who experienced significant weight loss. The resident's care plan included specific interventions such as providing super soup in a mug, super mashed potatoes at lunch and dinner, and a magic cup at dinner. However, during observation, the resident's meal did not include these items as ordered; the soup was served in a bowl rather than a mug, there were no potatoes, and the magic cup was absent. The meal ticket also did not reflect the required interventions, and the resident's spouse confirmed that the correct items were inconsistently provided. Clinical record review showed the resident had notable weight fluctuations, with a 7.58% weight loss over a period of less than two months. The care plan and dietary preferences were documented, but staff interviews revealed a lack of clarity and consistency in implementing these interventions. The certified nursing assistant was unable to confirm if the soup provided was the fortified 'super soup,' and the dietary manager acknowledged that the required supplements were not always listed or prepared as needed. The dietary manager also could not confirm if the correct soup was served on the observed date. Documentation from the registered dietician indicated ongoing concerns about the resident's nutritional intake and weight loss, with recommendations for fortified foods and supplements. Despite these recommendations, the interventions were not reliably provided as ordered. The facility's policy required care plan review and intervention updates in response to significant weight changes, but the observed failure to deliver the prescribed nutritional support contributed to the resident's continued weight loss.
Failure to Develop Resident-Specific Dementia Care Interventions
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure appropriate dementia care was in place for a resident diagnosed with dementia. The care plan for the resident did not include resident-specific interventions or identify target behaviors, despite the resident having a diagnosis of dementia with behavioral disturbances and being prescribed antipsychotic medication. The only mention of behaviors in the care plan was related to medication use, with general approaches such as providing calm, quiet surroundings, but without specifying which behaviors to monitor or how staff should respond when those behaviors occurred. Observations and clinical record reviews showed that the resident was generally calm and engaged during group activities and meals, with no behaviors noted during those times. However, documentation revealed that the resident had exhibited wandering and had one instance of refusing a shower, which was managed with a bed bath. Nursing notes and psychiatric provider notes did not document any significant behavioral changes or target behaviors for staff to monitor. The only behaviors documented by certified nursing assistants were four occurrences that interfered with care, but there were no associated nursing progress notes providing details about these incidents. Interviews with facility staff, including the unit manager and the DON, confirmed that the resident sometimes yelled out or became anxious during care, but these behaviors were not consistently documented or addressed in the care plan. The facility's policy on psychoactive medications required documentation of specific target behaviors and treatment goals, but this was not reflected in the resident's records. Additionally, the facility was unable to provide its dementia care policy during the survey.
Failure to Provide Timely PRN Medication Due to Out-of-Stock and Communication Lapses
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that a prescribed PRN cough medication was available for a resident who required it. The resident reported that after receiving a dose of the cough medicine during the night, she was unable to receive another dose in the morning because the medication was out of stock. The nurse on duty was unaware of the availability of a stat box for immediate medication needs and did not notify the physician about the unavailability of the PRN medication. The resident was told the medication would arrive by specific times, but it was still not available several hours later. Review of the clinical record confirmed a PRN order for dextromethorphan-guaifenesin, and documentation showed that the medication was out of stock and had been ordered from the pharmacy, but not received in time. The medication administration record indicated that no PRN cough medicine was administered prior to the resident being transferred to the hospital. Facility policy required prompt ordering and provider notification when medications were unavailable, but these steps were not fully followed in this instance.
Medication Error Rate Exceeds 5% Due to Improper Administration Practices
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to maintain a medication error rate below 5 percent, with three errors identified out of 29 opportunities, resulting in a 10.3 percent error rate. One incident involved a resident who was administered an extended-release morphine tablet when the physician's order specified immediate-release morphine. The LPN responsible for the medication pass acknowledged the discrepancy after reviewing the resident's clinical record and medication supply, stating uncertainty about why the incorrect formulation was given. The assistant director of nursing confirmed that the nurse should have recognized and clarified the order before administration. Another deficiency involved a resident with documented swallowing difficulties who required medications to be crushed. During medication administration, the LPN crushed and administered a Vitron-C tablet despite the pharmacy label indicating 'Do not crush' and instructions to give the medication on an empty stomach. The LPN stated the resident had not eaten yet, but breakfast was being served at the time, and the medication was not administered as directed by the label and physician's order. A third incident involved a resident who was to receive Vitron-C on an empty stomach. The LPN initially withheld the medication when the resident was eating breakfast but later administered it as lunch was being served, again not adhering to the requirement to give the medication on an empty stomach. The facility's consultant pharmacist confirmed that Vitron-C should not be crushed and should be administered on an empty stomach, as per manufacturer recommendations and physician orders. Facility policy requires staff to verify the five rights of medication administration, which was not consistently followed in these cases.
Incomplete Clinical Records for Advance Directives and Hospice Care
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to maintain complete and accurate clinical records for two residents. For one resident, the medical provider did not complete or accurately document the resident's CPR wishes on the POLST form, leaving critical sections regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation orders, initial treatment orders, additional instructions, and medically assisted nutrition blank. This omission was confirmed during interviews with both an LPN and a medical doctor, who acknowledged that the form was incomplete and did not reflect the resident's wishes. The facility's own policies require that such forms be fully completed to guide care, but this was not followed in this instance. For another resident, staff did not maintain a complete clinical record by failing to include the hospice plan of care. Although there was a physician order to admit the resident to hospice, there was no documentation or care plan in the clinical record indicating what care and services hospice would provide. When requested, facility administration was unable to immediately provide the hospice care plan and had to request it from the hospice provider.
Failure to Follow Infection Control Standards During Medication Administration and Contact Precautions
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to adhere to infection control standards in two key areas. On one unit, a physical therapist aide was observed entering and exiting a resident's room under contact precautions without donning the required personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gowns and gloves, as indicated by signage and facility policy. The aide was seen retrieving a gown from the PPE cart outside the room after already entering without any PPE, and then re-entered the room still without donning the necessary protective gear. Interviews with staff and the director of nursing confirmed that the correct procedure was not followed, as PPE should be worn upon entry and removed before exiting the room. Additionally, during medication administration, an LPN was observed wearing gloves while preparing and administering medications, but touched multiple surfaces—including keys, a medication cabinet, the medication cart, and computer equipment—with the same gloved hands before handling medications directly. The LPN then placed the medications into a cup for resident administration. The facility's medication administration policy referenced adherence to nursing standards but did not specifically address glove use during medication administration. The LPN acknowledged the breach in infection control practices when questioned by the surveyor.
Failure to Offer Recommended Pneumococcal Vaccine per CDC Guidelines
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to offer a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20 or PCV21) to a resident in accordance with CDC guidelines. The resident, who had a history of muscle weakness, dementia, hypertensive heart disease, anxiety disorder, occlusion and stenosis of bilateral carotid arteries, and stage 2 chronic kidney disease, was over the age of 65 and had received a PCV13 vaccine. However, there was no evidence that the resident was offered a subsequent PCV20 or PCV21 vaccine at least one year after the PCV13, as recommended by the CDC for adults in this age group with prior PCV13 vaccination. The deficiency was identified through staff interviews, clinical record review, and facility document review. The resident's medical record and immunization history confirmed the administration of PCV13 but lacked documentation of any offer or administration of PCV20 or PCV21. The Infection Preventionist was unable to provide evidence that the additional pneumococcal vaccine was offered, and the facility's policy required vaccines to be offered per CDC guidelines. No further information was provided to the survey team before the survey exit.
Failure to Offer Updated COVID-19 Vaccine to Resident
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to offer an updated COVID-19 vaccine to one of five sampled residents reviewed for immunizations. Specifically, a resident with multiple diagnoses, including Parkinson's Disease with Dyskinesia, muscle weakness, repeated falls, cognitive communication deficit, glaucoma, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and atrial fibrillation, had not been offered the 2023-2024 or 2024-2025 formula COVID-19 vaccines. The resident's most recent assessment indicated moderate cognitive impairment, with a BIMS score of 9 out of 15. A review of the resident's vaccination record showed the last COVID-19 vaccine was administered in October 2022, with no documentation of being offered subsequent updated vaccines. During the survey, the Infection Preventionist confirmed that there was no evidence the resident had been offered the updated vaccines, despite facility policy requiring COVID-19 vaccination history to be obtained, documented, and vaccines offered per CDC guidelines.
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Staff failed to consistently provide and/or document required ADL care, including incontinence care, turning/positioning, and bathing, for several dependent residents with bowel and bladder incontinence and significant cognitive impairment. One resident’s representative reported finding the resident in a wet brief on multiple weekend visits, while ADL records over several months showed numerous blank entries for incontinence care across all shifts despite care plans requiring continence care and facility policy mandating daily personal care and linen changes when soiled. Another resident, dependent for bathing, received only two showers over a two‑week period, contrary to policy requiring at least twice‑weekly showers, even though a CNA stated showers were given at least twice weekly and documented. Additional residents with incontinence and immobility had missing documentation of toileting hygiene and turning/positioning on specific dates and shifts, despite care plans directing staff to observe for moisture and provide care as indicated and CNAs describing a two‑hour rounding and documentation process in the electronic record.
Facility staff allowed unsafe smoking practices by permitting a resident, assessed as an independent smoker with no cognitive impairment, to smoke in a non-designated courtyard lacking ashtrays, fire-safe disposal containers, a fire extinguisher, or a fire blanket, and to extinguish and discard a cigarette into a trash can containing combustible materials during high winds. Staff acknowledged that residents sometimes smoked in this non-designated area and were only redirected when noticed, while the designated smoking courtyard, though equipped with a fireproof disposal can and smoking blanket, contained a fire extinguisher with no inspection tag or documented inspection. These actions and inactions conflicted with the facility’s smoking policy requiring designated outdoor areas and noncombustible ashtrays, leading surveyors to identify immediate jeopardy and substandard quality of care related to accident hazards and smoking safety.
A cognitively impaired resident with multiple medical conditions and severe behavioral disturbances repeatedly engaged in verbal and physical aggression toward other residents and staff, including yelling profanities, ramming a wheelchair, attempting to strike a resident using a walker, kicking another resident near an elevator, and kicking and punching a nurse. Behavior notes documented that these incidents occurred frequently and that simple separation and moving the resident to a quiet area were ineffective. Staff interviews confirmed that the resident’s behavior was unpredictable, triggered when his demands were not met immediately, and directed at various residents and staff. Although psychiatric documentation and the care plan called for identifying triggers, redirection, 1:1 staffing, and psychosocial interventions, staff responses remained largely reactive, and one documented altercation involving two residents was not investigated or summarized, resulting in a failure to protect residents from abuse.
Staff failed to follow a physician’s order requiring blood pressure checks before administering Nifedipine ER to a resident with hypertension and multiple comorbidities. Over a two-week period, there were 15 administrations of the medication without any documented pre-dose BP readings in the MAR or EHR. An LPN reported that BPs are only taken when specifically ordered and acknowledged that nurses are expected to read orders prior to giving medications. The DON later stated that blood pressure had been checked and the medication was eventually discontinued.
The facility failed to report and investigate an incident in which a cognitively impaired resident with multiple comorbidities yelled at another resident in the dining area, then rammed the wheelchair of one resident and attempted to strike another, prompting staff to separate the residents and complete skin assessments. Two other residents, one with heart failure, kidney disease, dysphagia, and a cognitive communication deficit, and another with cerebral palsy and psychiatric diagnoses, were upset following the altercation, and documentation later showed that one had been pushed. Despite the DON being informed and the facility’s abuse policy requiring prompt reporting of all alleged abuse, no incident synopsis or investigation was completed or reported to the state agency for the residents involved in this altercation, and the administrator later acknowledged that an investigation and incident summary should have been completed.
The facility failed to investigate a resident-to-resident abuse incident in which a cognitively impaired resident with multiple comorbidities yelled at another resident in the dining area, then rammed a wheelchair and attempted to strike two cognitively intact residents with significant medical and psychiatric histories. Staff separated the residents and performed skin assessments that showed no injuries, but the involved residents were upset. Despite documentation that one resident had been pushed and an abuse policy requiring immediate review and investigation of all allegations or observations of abuse, the DON did not initiate an incident synopsis or investigation because staff had intervened before further harm occurred, and the administrator later confirmed that no investigation or incident summary was completed for this event.
A resident with multiple diagnoses, including dementia and severe cognitive impairment, had a behavior care plan that listed an intervention of "1:1 supervision as indicated" without defining when it should start, whether it was continuous or behavior-based, what behaviors would trigger it, or how long it should last. During interview, the DON explained that staff initiate 1:1 supervision when the resident becomes aggressive toward another resident and continue it until the resident deescalates, and acknowledged the care plan lacked needed specificity. This incomplete and non-measurable care plan for behavior management led to the cited deficiency.
A cognitively impaired, fully ambulatory resident with Wernicke’s encephalopathy and severe deficits engaged in sexual acts with another resident and was later found partially unclothed in a female resident’s room, despite care plan directives for immediate separation and 1:1 monitoring that staff were unaware of and did not implement. The resident had a documented pattern of wandering, entering other residents’ rooms during personal care, exit seeking, and a prior elopement through a courtyard gate, yet an elopement assessment later incorrectly denied a history of elopement and minimized safety and privacy risks. A Wander-Guard was ordered but not consistently in place or care planned, the courtyard gate alarm was found turned off with no staff present while residents were in the courtyard, and required abuse and elopement incidents were not properly reported or investigated per federal, state, and facility policy, resulting in Immediate Jeopardy and substandard quality of care findings.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment and Wernicke’s encephalopathy, who was fully ambulatory and known to wander and seek exits, repeatedly entered other residents’ rooms, attempted to leave through exit doors, and eloped from an enclosed courtyard through a gate whose alarm had been turned off and was not monitored by staff. Despite a provider order and care plan for a Wander-Guard and elopement precautions, the device was removed and not replaced, and care plan interventions were not implemented or documented. The same resident was later found performing oral sex on another resident and, on a separate occasion, partially undressed on a female resident’s bed, despite lacking capacity to consent; required 1:1 supervision was care planned but not communicated to or followed by staff. Incidents of elopement and sexual contact were not accurately assessed or reported to the state agency, and documentation of elopement risk and abuse investigations was incomplete, leading surveyors to cite Immediate Jeopardy for accidents, hazards, abuse, and neglect.
Staff failed to ensure residents knew where to find contact information for the State Survey Agency and the State LTC Ombudsman. Required lists of names, mailing/email addresses, and phone numbers were posted behind the concierge desk in an area not accessible to residents, and no other signage was present on the unit. During a Resident Council meeting, all residents present were unable to identify the location of this information and were unaware of their right to file complaints with the State or Ombudsman. Later, two residents taken to see the posting stated they had not known it was there, while the concierge reported residents must ask for the information and that none had done so during her tenure.
Failure to Provide and Document Required Incontinence Care and Bathing for Dependent Residents
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide required ADL care, specifically incontinence care and bathing, to multiple dependent residents as documented in clinical records, interviews, and facility documents. One resident with severe cognitive impairment, always incontinent of bowel and bladder and dependent on staff for toileting hygiene, had extensive gaps in ADL documentation over several months. ADL records from January through March showed multiple dates and shifts where incontinence care entries were left blank, despite a care plan stating the resident’s bowel and bladder continence needs were to be met and a facility policy requiring daily personal care and clean clothing and linens each time they were soiled. The resident’s representative reported visiting on weekends and finding the resident’s brief appearing wet for hours. CNAs interviewed stated that incontinence care was provided every two hours and documented as evidence of care, but the records did not reflect consistent documentation. Another resident, moderately cognitively impaired and dependent for showering and bathing, did not receive showers at the frequency required by facility policy and the resident’s care plan. Clinical documentation over a two‑week period showed that the resident received only two showers, even though the policy required tub/shower baths not less than twice weekly and the care plan specified assistance with bathing and hygiene as required. The resident’s authorized representative expressed concern that the resident was not being showered regularly. A CNA reported that showers were given at least twice a week and documented in the electronic system, and that refusals were verified by the nurse, but the documentation reviewed did not show showers being provided at the required frequency. Additional residents with bowel and bladder incontinence and dependence on staff for toileting, hygiene, and positioning also had missing documentation of incontinence care and turning/positioning on specific dates and shifts. One resident, frequently incontinent and dependent on staff for toileting, had no documented toileting hygiene on two night shifts in June, despite a care plan directing staff to observe for moisture and provide care as indicated. Two other residents, both severely cognitively impaired, dependent for locomotion, transfer, dressing, toileting, and hygiene, and care‑planned for bladder and bowel incontinence and risk for pressure ulcer development, had ADL records with missing evidence of incontinence care and turning/positioning on multiple day and night shifts across several months. CNA interviews described a process of rounding at the beginning of the shift and then every two hours, with all care documented in the electronic record and the understanding that if it is not documented there is no evidence it was done, yet the reviewed records contained numerous blank entries for required care.
Unsafe Smoking Practices and Inadequate Fire Safety Controls
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure the environment remained free of accident hazards and did not provide adequate supervision and safety measures related to resident smoking. Staff permitted residents to smoke in a non-designated courtyard that lacked required fire safety controls, including ashtrays or fire-safe disposal containers, a fire extinguisher, or a fire blanket. The trash receptacle in this area contained combustible materials such as paper, cardboard, and plastic liners, and there were high winds at the time of observation, all of which were documented as increasing the fire ignition risk. On one observed occasion, a resident admitted for post-surgical rehabilitation, with an MDS BIMS score of 15 indicating no cognitive impairment and assessed as an independent smoker, was seen smoking in the non-designated courtyard. The resident extinguished a cigarette on the ground and discarded it into the trash receptacle containing combustible waste. No appropriate smoking safety equipment or supervision was present in that courtyard at the time. Staff interviews confirmed that the courtyard where the resident was observed smoking was not a designated smoking area, although residents sometimes smoked there and staff only attempted to redirect them when noticed. The designated smoking courtyard, located in a different area, was reported to have a fireproof metal can for cigarette disposal, a fire extinguisher, and a smoking blanket; however, the fire extinguisher in that designated area had no inspection tag or date and appeared to be a store-bought unit with no evidence of inspection. The facility’s smoking policy required the Administrator to designate outdoor smoking areas and mandated access to noncombustible ashtrays in those areas, but these requirements were not consistently implemented or enforced, contributing to the identified deficiency and immediate jeopardy related to accident hazards and smoking safety.
Removal Plan
- Resident #10 was placed on 1:1 observation for safety reasons due to smoking in an unauthorized area.
- Resident #10 was re-educated on the smoking policy and procedure, including smoking location and cigarette disposal.
- Locks were ordered to be installed on the courtyard doors to prevent unauthorized smoking.
- Lock installation on the non-designated courtyard began.
- The Facility Administrator will conduct a town hall meeting with residents that smoke to review the facility smoking policy (locations, cigarette disposal, and consequences for non-compliance up to suspension of smoking privileges or potential discharge).
- All residents that smoke will have a new smoking policy acknowledgement obtained.
- The Interdisciplinary Team will be educated by the President of Operations on the smoking policy and designated smoking areas.
- Facility staff will be educated by the Director of Nursing or designee on the smoking policy and designated smoking areas; no employee will be allowed to work until educated.
- The Administrator or designee will conduct weekly environmental safety rounds three times a week for 4 weeks, then monthly audits for 2 months to ensure no resident is smoking in a non-designated smoking area.
- The Administrator made the Medical Director aware of the Immediate Jeopardy via telephone.
Failure to Protect Residents From Ongoing Aggression and Abuse by a Cognitively Impaired Resident
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to protect multiple residents from physical and verbal abuse by another resident with known aggressive behaviors. One resident with severe cognitive impairment and diagnoses including heart failure, diabetes, dementia, hemiplegia, and seizure disorder repeatedly exhibited aggression toward other residents and staff. Behavior notes documented frequent verbal outbursts with expletives, yelling, and threatening behavior, as well as physical aggression such as ramming another resident’s wheelchair, attempting to strike a resident using a walker, and kicking and punching a nurse. These behaviors were noted to occur multiple times per week or daily, and staff documented that separating the resident from others and moving him to a quiet location were not effective interventions. The aggressive resident’s behaviors were directed toward several specific residents. On one occasion, when another resident came downstairs to visit friends, the aggressive resident yelled profanities and ordered him to leave. On another date in the dining room, the aggressive resident stared and ground his teeth, yelled loudly, frightened two female residents, rammed one resident’s wheelchair as she tried to leave, and lunged toward another resident with a walker, swinging his arms in an attempt to hit her before a male nurse intervened. During the same incident, the aggressive resident kicked and punched a nurse, causing bruising and a knot on the shin and bruising on the chest. On a later date at the elevator, when the aggressive resident encountered another resident he disliked, he began screaming profanities, kicked the other resident, and swung at him, causing the other resident to back into the wall and yell. Additional behavior notes described the aggressive resident yelling repetitively, grinding his teeth, shaking with anger, and attempting to attack a female resident after she asked him to stop yelling, with staff intervening to block him. Staff interviews confirmed that this resident’s behaviors were sporadic, unpredictable, and could be directed at anyone, and that he became aggressive when his wants were not met immediately. Staff reported that another resident was a known trigger and had been moved to another unit, but the aggressive behaviors toward other residents and staff continued. Psychiatric documentation indicated that the aggressive behavior was possibly related to vascular dementia and a mood disorder, and the treatment plan called for identifying triggers, redirection, one-to-one staffing, and psychosocial interventions; however, staff described their responses as largely reactive, focused on separation and occasional one-to-one, and behavior notes repeatedly documented that these interventions were ineffective. The facility also failed to produce an incident summary or investigation for the incident involving two residents in the dining room, despite documentation that they were involved and upset at the time. Interviews with the affected residents showed that they experienced the aggressive resident as loud, hateful, rude, and a bully. One resident reported that the aggressive resident had been physically aggressive toward him in the elevator but that he did not sustain injuries. Two female roommates reported that the aggressive resident had not physically contacted them but had come toward one of them aggressively and was stopped, and they described him as hateful, loud, and believing he should get everything he wants. Another resident stated that the aggressive resident had been aggressive toward her and that she tried to stay to herself. Staff, including CNAs, LPNs, the unit manager, social services, and the facility NP, consistently described the aggressive resident as unpredictable, easily escalated when his demands were not met, and requiring separation when angry. Despite ongoing, documented aggressive behaviors toward multiple residents and staff over an extended period, the facility did not implement and sustain effective interventions to prevent further abuse, and did not consistently investigate all incidents, resulting in a failure to ensure residents’ right to be free from abuse.
Removal Plan
- Resident #1 was placed on 1 to 1 supervision and will remain on 1 to 1 supervision while out of bed until discharge or a significant change in condition limits the resident's physical ability to encounter another resident; while in bed the resident is not considered a risk because the resident cannot transfer independently.
- Residents #2, #3, #4, and #5 will receive follow-up psychosocial support from facility staff.
- The facility will continue attempts to find alternative placement for Resident #1.
- All residents in the facility will be screened for evidence of abuse and neglect (interviewable residents with BIMS ≥ 8 interviewed using an abuse questionnaire; non-verbal residents and residents with BIMS ≤ 7 assessed head-to-toe to validate absence of signs of physical abuse).
- Any identified concerns from the screening will be addressed according to the facility Abuse Policy.
- All residents will be assessed/reviewed for similar behaviors as exhibited by Resident #1 by reviewing all Facility Reportable Incidents (FRIs), and care plans will be reviewed and revised with interventions for any identified residents.
- All facility and agency staff will be reeducated on the facility Abuse Policy, including abuse prevention, types of abuse, and abuse reporting.
- Staff not present will be required to complete mandatory abuse-policy education prior to the start of their next shift.
- No staff member will be allowed to return to work until the mandatory abuse-policy education has been completed.
- New hire orientation will include abuse-policy training as part of the new hire process.
- All agency staff will be required to complete abuse-policy education prior to starting work in the facility.
- Facility leadership will be reeducated by the Regional Director of Clinical Operations and Regional Director of Operations on assessing triggers, root causes, and escalation patterns and developing an effective and sustained supervision and separation intervention for residents with behavioral disturbances.
- The Medical Director was notified of the situation.
- The facility conducted an Ad Hoc QAPI committee meeting to accept the IJ Removal Plan.
Failure to Obtain Ordered Blood Pressure Readings Before Antihypertensive Administration
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure a resident was free from significant medication errors by not following a physician’s order requiring blood pressure assessment prior to administering an antihypertensive medication. The resident had diagnoses including quadriplegia, primary progressive multiple sclerosis, aphasia, anemia, cognitive communication deficit, and essential primary hypertension, and was assessed as cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 15 but dependent on staff for all ADLs, requiring a mechanical lift for transfers and an electric wheelchair for ambulation. The physician’s order for Nifedipine ER 30 mg once daily for hypertension, dated 6/2/25, directed staff to hold the medication if the systolic blood pressure was less than 120. Review of the MAR from 3/31/26 through 4/14/26 showed no recorded blood pressures prior to administration of Nifedipine on 15 occasions. During interview, an LPN stated that blood pressures are not automatically taken when administering blood pressure medications and that if there is an order to obtain blood pressure prior to administration, it would be recorded on the MAR, and blood pressures are documented in the EHR. The LPN was unable to locate any blood pressure readings prior to Nifedipine administration in the EHR and acknowledged that nurses should read orders before giving medications and that not checking blood pressure before administration could result in the resident’s blood pressure “bottoming out.” The DON later stated that blood pressure had been checked and the medication was discontinued because the resident no longer needed it.
Failure to Report and Investigate Resident-to-Resident Abuse Incident
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to report and investigate resident-to-resident abuse incidents involving three residents. One resident with heart failure, diabetes, dementia, hemiplegia, seizure disorder, and a severely impaired cognitive score of 5 was involved in an altercation in the dining area with two other residents. One of the other residents had heart failure, kidney disease, dysphagia, a cognitive communication deficit, and a mildly impaired cognitive score of 12, while the third resident had cerebral palsy, anxiety, bipolar disorder, a psychotic disorder, and was cognitively intact with a score of 15. Progress notes showed that during the dining incident, the cognitively impaired resident began yelling "No" to another resident nearby, after which one of the female residents told the resident to stop. The cognitively impaired resident then rammed the wheelchair of one of the female residents and started swinging and trying to attack the other female resident, requiring staff to separate all residents. Staff interviews and record review confirmed that the residents were separated and skin assessments were completed, with no injuries identified, although the two female residents were upset at the time. The RN who documented the behavior reported that the DON was informed of the involvement of the two female residents. When surveyors requested all investigations and incident summaries related to the aggressive resident’s behavior toward others, the facility produced documentation only for a separate altercation involving a different resident, and there was no evidence of an investigation or incident synopsis for the dining room altercation involving the two female residents. The DON stated that no incident synopsis or report was completed because there was no actual physical abuse due to staff separating the residents. Later review of a progress note showed that one of the female residents had been pushed by the aggressive resident, and the administrator acknowledged that no investigation or incident summary was found and that one should have been reported. This failure occurred despite the facility’s abuse policy requiring all alleged violations involving abuse to be reported immediately, but no later than two hours after the allegation is made.
Failure to Investigate Resident-to-Resident Abuse Incident
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to investigate an incident of resident-to-resident abuse involving three residents. One resident with diagnoses including heart failure, diabetes, dementia, hemiplegia, and seizure disorder, and a severely impaired cognitive score of 5 on the most recent MDS, was involved in an altercation in the dining area with two cognitively intact residents whose diagnoses included heart failure, kidney disease, dysphagia, cognitive communication deficit, cerebral palsy, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and psychotic disorder. Progress notes documented that during the incident, the cognitively impaired resident began yelling "No" to another resident near the dining area, after which one of the female residents told this resident to stop. The cognitively impaired resident then rammed one resident’s wheelchair and started swinging and trying to attack the other resident, and staff separated all residents involved. During interviews, the RN who wrote the behavior note confirmed that the residents were separated, the DON was informed, and skin assessments were completed on the two cognitively intact residents, which showed no injuries, though both were upset at the time. When surveyors requested all investigations and incident summaries related to the aggressive resident’s behavior toward others, the facility produced documentation only for a separate altercation involving a different resident, and there was no evidence of an investigation or incident summary for the dining room altercation involving the two cognitively intact residents. The DON stated there was no incident synopsis or investigation because there was no actual physical abuse due to staff separating the residents. Later review of a progress note indicating that one resident had been pushed did not yield any additional documentation, and the administrator acknowledged that an investigation and incident summary should have been completed. The facility’s abuse policy required designated staff to immediately review and investigate all allegations or observations of abuse and to communicate results to the administrator and appropriate officials within five working days, but no such investigation was completed for this incident.
Failure to Specify Parameters for 1:1 Supervision in Behavior Care Plan
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to develop and implement a comprehensive, measurable behavior care plan for one resident requiring 1:1 supervision. The resident had diagnoses including heart failure, diabetes, dementia, hemiplegia, and seizure disorder, and a recent MDS with a cognitive score of 5 indicating severe cognitive impairment. Review of the resident’s behavior care plan showed an intervention initiated on 12/30/25 that stated "1:1 supervision as indicated" without specifying parameters such as timeframe, whether the supervision was continuous or behavior-based, what specific behaviors would trigger its use, or the duration of the intervention. During an interview on 3/19/26 at 12:15 p.m., the DON stated that the resident is placed on 1:1 when he becomes aggressive toward another resident and remains on 1:1 until he deescalates, and acknowledged that the care plan should be more specific regarding 1:1 supervision. This lack of detailed parameters and measurable actions in the written care plan for 1:1 supervision constituted the deficiency identified by surveyors for failure to develop and implement a complete care plan that met all of the resident’s needs with clear timetables and measurable interventions.
Failure to Protect Cognitively Impaired Resident From Sexual Abuse and Elopement Due to Inadequate Supervision and Reporting
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to protect a cognitively impaired resident from sexual abuse and neglect, including inadequate supervision despite known risks. One resident with Wernicke’s encephalopathy and severe cognitive impairment, reflected by a BIMS score of 99, was fully ambulatory and had a documented history of wandering, exit seeking, and intrusive behaviors into other residents’ rooms. Another resident involved in a sexual incident had mild cognitive impairment with a BIMS score of 13 and self-propelled in a wheelchair. On one occasion, documentation showed the cognitively impaired resident was found in another male resident’s room on his knees performing oral sex; the residents were separated, and the cognitively impaired resident later had no recollection of the event. A subsequent progress note documented the same cognitively impaired resident sitting on the side of a female resident’s bed with his pants off while the other resident was fully clothed under the covers; staff could not later identify this third resident for surveyors. The facility’s care planning and supervision for the cognitively impaired resident were deficient. A comprehensive care plan entry dated 2/24/26 identified a psychosocial well-being problem related to sexual/physical contact with another resident and directed staff to immediately separate and remove the resident from such situations and notify the NP and responsible party/guardian. Another care plan entry dated 3/9/26 specified that the resident had obsessive compulsive behavior and required 1:1 monitoring at all times, medication administration as ordered, and redirection and cues as needed. However, multiple nursing staff and CNAs interviewed on 3/17/26 and 3/18/26 denied knowing that the resident was to be on 1:1 supervision, and supervision was not provided. The care plan interventions focused on reacting after sexual or physical contact was found, and there was no evidence of preventative measures being implemented to protect the resident from himself or to protect others from him. None of the care plan interventions for behaviors or elopement were documented as implemented, and no behaviors were documented on the MAR during the resident’s stay. The facility also failed to adequately supervise the resident’s known wandering and elopement risk and to secure exit doors. Nursing and physician notes documented multiple episodes of wandering and exit seeking, including the resident going into other residents’ rooms during their personal care, attempting to exit through doors, and an elopement through the courtyard gate on 12/15/25, when he pushed the gate and exited to the parking lot before being redirected back inside. An elopement evaluation completed later incorrectly indicated no history of elopement and minimized the impact of the resident’s wandering on safety and privacy, despite prior documentation of elopement and intrusion into other residents’ rooms. A Wander-Guard device had been ordered on 11/13/25, but on 3/17/26 no device was found on the resident, and he had previously removed it on 3/8/26 without replacement or care plan direction until the time of survey. During survey observations, the courtyard gate alarm was found in the off position, the gate could be opened without an alarm sounding, and no staff were present in the courtyard despite residents being there. The resident’s prior elopement and the incident of him unclothed in a female resident’s room were never reported to the state agency, and the facility’s abuse reporting and investigation documentation for the 2/23/26 sexual incident was incomplete, lacked the initial report, lacked staff witness statements, and had no confirmation that required reports were timely submitted to the state agency, contrary to federal, state, and facility policy requirements.
Removal Plan
- Resident #1 was placed on 1:1 continuous supervision 24 hours/day.
- The resident provider and resident representative were notified.
- Residents who have a BIMS score of 9 or greater have been interviewed to determine if they have experienced any unwanted sexual interaction with another resident, if they have concerns about other residents wandering into their rooms, and if they feel safe residing in the facility.
- Residents who have a BIMS score of less than 9 have had a body skin assessment completed by a licensed nurse to identify any changes in skin that may have resulted from abuse.
- Any newly identified areas from skin assessments will be reported to the residents' provider and the residents' representative.
- Other residents who have a moderate or higher risk for elopement have been reviewed to determine that appropriate interventions, including use of a Wander Guard, are in place and functional.
- A staff member has been assigned to continuously monitor the facility exit door to the courtyard until another alarm system can be installed.
- The courtyard gate alarm was activated and is being monitored every 30 minutes to ensure that it remains engaged.
- All current residents will be reviewed to ensure that elopement risk assessments have been completed and that appropriate interventions are being implemented per the resident care plan and provider orders.
- All staff will be re-educated on abuse, including unwanted or non-consensual sexual activity and the capacity to consent.
- Staff who are unable to participate in the initial abuse training will be educated prior to their next scheduled shift.
- All licensed nursing staff will be re-educated on completion of the elopement risk assessment, importance of implementing safe precautions and supervising residents who may be at risk of elopement, and documenting functionality and placement of the Wander Guard.
- Licensed nursing staff who are unable to participate in the initial elopement training will be educated prior to their next scheduled shift.
- The smoke attendant will be educated on safety precautions and their responsibility for supervising the exit door to the courtyard and supervising that the alarm on the courtyard gate is engaged each shift.
- All staff will be re-educated on the importance of supervising wandering residents and approaches to re-direct residents who wander into other resident rooms.
- Staff who are unable to participate in the initial wandering supervision training will be educated prior to their next scheduled shift.
- Residents who have expressed concern of other residents wandering their rooms will be offered interventions such as a room change, use of stop sign, or other alternative, to minimize other residents from wandering into their rooms.
Failure to Supervise High-Risk Wanderer and Prevent Non-Consensual Sexual Contact
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to maintain an accident-hazard-free environment and provide adequate supervision for residents with known wandering, exit-seeking, and sexually disinhibited behaviors. One resident with Wernicke’s encephalopathy, severe cognitive impairment (BIMS score of 99), and full ambulatory ability was repeatedly documented as wandering into other residents’ rooms, disrupting care, and seeking exits. Nursing notes showed that this resident attempted to leave the enclosed courtyard by pushing open the gate, was observed going to numerous exit doors and setting off a door alarm, and wandered throughout multiple units. Despite a physician’s order for a Wander-Guard device and an elopement risk care plan focus, the resident removed the Wander-Guard and it was not replaced, and on the day of survey no Wander-Guard was found on the resident. The elopement event when the resident exited the courtyard gate was not reported to the state agency. Surveyors also identified environmental hazards and lack of supervision related to the courtyard exit. The courtyard gate, which opened to the parking lot, was equipped with an audible alarm and keyed lock, but surveyors found the alarm in the off position and were able to open the gate without any alarm sounding. No staff were present in the courtyard while four residents were there, and surveyors waited approximately five minutes at the open gate with no staff response. The Maintenance Director stated that the alarm had been shut off by someone, that multiple keys were “floating around,” and that he could not account for all of them. He also confirmed that the gate did not have a Wander-Guard alarm. These conditions demonstrated that exit doors and the courtyard gate were not secured or supervised adequately to prevent resident elopement. The facility also failed to protect the cognitively impaired resident from engaging in sexual activities he could not consent to and failed to protect other residents from his behaviors. Progress notes documented that this resident was found on his knees performing oral sex on another male resident who was lying on his bed, and later was found sitting on the side of a female resident’s bed with his pants off while she was fully clothed under the covers. The cognitively impaired resident had no recollection of the sexual event. A psychiatric evaluation documented dementia, Wernicke’s encephalopathy, and altered mental status. The care plan was updated to include a psychosocial problem related to sexual/physical contact with another resident and later to require 1:1 continuous monitoring for behaviors, but multiple nursing staff and CNAs reported they were unaware of the 1:1 requirement, and supervision was not provided. The sexual incident between the two male residents and the subsequent intrusion into the female resident’s room were not reported to the state agency. The surveyors concluded that withholding required supervision for a resident known to be a danger to himself and others constituted neglect and contributed to Immediate Jeopardy related to accidents, hazards, abuse, and neglect. In addition, documentation and assessment processes related to elopement and behavior were deficient. An elopement evaluation completed after the resident’s documented elopement incorrectly indicated no history of elopement and minimized the impact of his wandering on safety and privacy, despite prior notes of him entering other residents’ rooms during personal care and attempting to exit the building. Care plan interventions for behaviors and elopement were not documented as implemented, and no behaviors were recorded on the MAR throughout the resident’s stay. The facility’s incident and abuse investigation files contained only limited documentation related to the sexual incident between the two male residents, lacked the original initial report allegedly faxed to the state agency, and had no fax confirmation for either the initial or follow-up reports. These omissions and inaccuracies in assessment, care planning, implementation, and reporting contributed to the identified deficiency and Immediate Jeopardy. During the survey, additional observations confirmed ongoing failures in supervision and hazard control. On the initial tour, the cognitively impaired resident was observed walking alone from his unit to the main dining room without supervision. The courtyard gate alarm, when later tested, sounded briefly and then went silent without any staff response. Staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness of critical care plan elements, including the 1:1 supervision requirement for the resident with severe cognitive impairment and sexually disinhibited behavior. Collectively, these actions and inactions demonstrated that the facility did not ensure a safe environment free from accident hazards and did not provide adequate supervision to prevent accidents, elopement, and non-consensual sexual contact, resulting in Immediate Jeopardy and substandard quality of care.
Removal Plan
- Resident #1 was placed on 1:1 continuous supervision 24 hours/day.
- The resident provider and resident representative were notified.
- Residents who have a BIMS score of 9 or greater have been interviewed to determine if they have experienced any unwanted sexual interaction with another resident, if they have concerns about other residents wandering into their rooms, and if they feel safe residing in the facility.
- Residents who have a BIMS score of less than 9 have had a body skin assessment completed by a licensed nurse to identify any changes in skin that may have resulted from abuse.
- Any newly identified skin assessment areas will be reported to the residents' provider and the residents' representative.
- Other residents who have a moderate or higher risk for elopement have been reviewed to determine that appropriate interventions, including use of a Wander Guard, are in place and functional.
- A staff member has been assigned to continuously monitor the facility exit door to the courtyard until another alarm system can be installed.
- The courtyard gate alarm was activated and is being monitored every 30 minutes to ensure that it remains engaged.
- All current residents will be reviewed to ensure that elopement risk assessments have been completed and that appropriate interventions are being implemented per the resident care plan and provider orders.
- All staff will be re-educated on abuse, including unwanted or non-consensual sexual activity and the capacity to consent.
- All licensed nursing staff will be re-educated on completion of the elopement risk assessment, importance of implementing safe precautions and supervising residents who may be at risk of elopement, and documenting functionality and placement of the Wander Guard.
- The smoke attendant will be educated on safety precautions and their responsibility for supervising the exit door to the courtyard and supervising that the alarm on the courtyard gate is engaged each shift.
- All staff will be re-educated on the importance of supervising wandering residents and approaches to re-direct residents who wander into other resident rooms.
- Residents who have expressed concern of other residents wandering their rooms will be offered interventions such as a room change, use of stop sign, or other alternative, to minimize other residents from wandering into their rooms.
Failure to Inform Residents of Location of State and Ombudsman Contact Information
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that residents were informed of the location of contact information for the State Survey Agency and the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program. During an observation of the third floor, the required list of names, mailing and email addresses, and telephone numbers for the State licensure office and the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman was found posted behind the concierge’s desk on the wall, in a location inaccessible to residents. No other signage with this required information was posted on the third floor. At a Resident Council meeting, all 10 residents present were unable to identify where the contact information for the State licensure office and the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman was located and were unaware of their right to file a complaint with these entities. After the meeting, the Activities Director escorted two residents to view the Ombudsman information, and both stated they did not know it was posted there. Concierge staff reported that residents must ask for the information and phone numbers if they need them and that no resident had requested this information during the five years she had worked at the facility. The Activities Director reported there was another copy of the information outside her office on the second floor for assisted living residents. Leadership, including the DON, ADON, and Administrator, were later informed of these findings.
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