Star City Rehabilitation And Nursing
Inspection history, citations, penalties and survey trends for this long-term care facility in Roanoke, Virginia.
- Location
- 1047 Mecca Street Ne, Roanoke, Virginia 24012
- CMS Provider Number
- 495427
- Inspections on file
- 8
- Latest survey
- February 18, 2025
- Citations (last 12 mo.)
- 0
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Star City Rehabilitation And Nursing during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
The facility staff failed to follow the posted menus and serve correct portions during meals. During a midday meal, dinner rolls were omitted from trays, and peas and carrots were served instead of oriental vegetables without approval. In the evening, a dietary aide used a scoop that served 2.75 ounces of pudding instead of the required four ounces. These actions were contrary to the facility's policy requiring adherence to menus and proper portion sizes.
The facility staff failed to ensure food was served at a safe and appetizing temperature. Observations revealed that dietary staff did not document food temperatures, and upon checking, some food items were below the desired temperature. A review of food temperature logs showed incomplete documentation, contrary to the facility's policy requiring daily temperature checks and records.
The facility failed to maintain food safety and sanitation standards across multiple units. On the Juniper unit, the refrigerator and microwave were unclean, with expired and unlabeled food items, and the area was infested with gnats. The Emerald unit had similar issues, with a non-operational refrigerator and improperly stored food. In the dietary department, a staff member was observed without a beard restraint, and handwashing sinks dispensed only cool water, violating hygiene policies.
The facility's Juniper unit failed to maintain an effective pest control program, resulting in a gnat infestation. Surveyors observed numerous gnats in the kitchen area, with residents and staff reporting worsening conditions. The Maintenance Director acknowledged the issue, attributing it to trash disposal problems, but had not discussed it with the pest control company. Despite monthly pest control visits, the Regional Director of Operations was unaware of the problem until the survey.
A resident was readmitted to the facility after being discharged with a return not anticipated, but the staff failed to complete a comprehensive admission assessment in a timely manner. The MDS assessment, with an ARD of 10/18/24, was not completed until 11/6/24. A RN confirmed the delay and stated the assessment could be reopened and completed, but it would be late. The resident was assessed with intact cognition, scoring 15 out of 15 on the BIMS.
A facility failed to complete a quarterly MDS assessment within the required time limits for a resident. The assessment, with an ARD of 10/18/24, was completed late on 11/6/24. An RN confirmed the delay during an interview, and the issue was discussed with the facility's administration.
The facility failed to follow medical orders for two residents. One resident did not receive medication at the prescribed time before wound care, and another missed several speech therapy appointments due to transportation issues. These deficiencies were confirmed through staff interviews and record reviews.
The facility failed to store, prepare, distribute, and serve food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety. Observations revealed expired and improperly stored perishable food items in the main kitchen and unit kitchen service areas. The Dietary Manager and Administrator acknowledged the issues, noting recent staffing changes.
The facility staff failed to provide the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine to three residents who had consented to receive it. The plan to have a community pharmacy conduct a vaccine clinic fell through, and no immediate alternative plan was made. The facility was also undergoing a corporate change, contributing to the delay in vaccine administration.
A resident with intact cognition was unable to access their personal funds to make a desired purchase due to the facility's policy requiring 24-hour notice for large withdrawals. The facility's Administrator confirmed the issue, which occurred before a change of ownership.
The facility staff failed to provide a resident's responsible party and the ombudsman with written information related to a discharge/transfer. A resident with cognitive impairments was transferred to a local emergency department due to altered mental status, but no written transfer notice was provided to the resident's representative. Additionally, the facility had not been communicating discharges to the ombudsman, a failure identified in September 2023.
The facility staff failed to provide a resident's responsible party with written bed hold information when the resident was admitted to a local hospital. Despite the facility's policy, no evidence was found that such information was given to the resident's representative, as confirmed by the Director of Nursing and Administrator.
The facility staff failed to update a resident's care plan to include necessary isolation precautions for ESBL in the urine, despite physician's orders and visible signs of contact precautions. The DON confirmed the omission during a survey.
Facility staff failed to provide pressure ulcer dressing changes as ordered for a resident with a stage 3 sacral ulcer. The resident reported missed wound care on multiple occasions, and clinical records confirmed missed treatments and false documentation. The RNCC acknowledged the issues, and the DON noted ongoing investigations.
The facility staff failed to ensure that two residents' drug regimens were free from unnecessary medications and did not consistently monitor symptoms related to antidepressant use. One resident had an unjustified dosage increase, and both residents lacked comprehensive symptom monitoring for depression.
The facility staff failed to maintain a medication error rate below 5%, resulting in a rate of 5.41%. An LPN did not administer Aspirin as ordered and applied an incorrect dosage of a Nicotine Patch to a resident with multiple diagnoses, including COPD and hypertension. The errors were acknowledged by the LPN, and the facility's medication administration policy was reviewed.
Failure to Follow Menus and Serve Correct Portions
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to consistently follow the menus for resident meals, as observed during a survey. On one occasion, during the midday meal, the dietary staff did not include a dinner roll on the food trays sent to the resident units, despite it being listed on the menu. Three carts of food trays were sent without the dinner rolls, which were later baked and added to the remaining trays. Additionally, the menu specified oriental vegetables, but peas and carrots were served instead. The Dietary Manager confirmed that mixed vegetables should have been used and that the cook did not get approval for the substitution. Further deficiencies were noted during the evening meal when the facility staff failed to provide the correct serving size of pudding. A dietary aide used a scoop with a blue handle to serve pudding, which was supposed to be a four-ounce serving according to the menu. However, the dietary aide was unable to identify the size of the scoop, and it was later determined by the Dietary Manager that the scoop used was only 2.75 ounces. This was confirmed by measuring the scoop's capacity and comparing it with another measuring device. The facility's policy requires that menus meet nutritional needs and be followed as posted, with any deviations or substitutions approved and of comparable nutritive value.
Failure to Maintain Safe Food Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to ensure that food was served at a safe and appetizing temperature, as observed by the surveyor on November 6, 2024. During the observation, dietary staff were seen plating food from the steam table without documenting the food temperatures for the meal. The Dietary Manager confirmed the lack of documentation and was responsible for checking the temperatures. Upon checking, the pureed peas and chicken were found to be below the desired temperatures, at 93 and 96 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively, prompting reheating of the food items. Further review of the facility's food temperature logs revealed significant gaps in documentation. No food temperatures had been recorded for November 2024, and the logs for October 2024 were incomplete, with entries missing for several days and meals. The facility's policy mandates daily recording of food temperatures to ensure proper serving temperatures, with hot foods held at 135 degrees Fahrenheit or greater. The survey team discussed these deficiencies with the facility's administration and regional directors, highlighting the failure to check, document, and maintain food temperatures as per the facility's policy.
Food Safety and Sanitation Deficiencies in Facility
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to store, prepare, and serve food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety across multiple resident care units and the facility kitchen. On the Juniper resident care unit, the refrigerator and microwave were not maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. The refrigerator contained unlabeled and undated perishable food items, some of which were expired or showed signs of mold. Additionally, the kitchen area was infested with small, black, gnat-sized flying insects. The facility's temperature logs for the refrigerator were incomplete, with the last recorded temperature documented weeks prior to the survey. On the Emerald resident care unit, similar issues were observed. The microwave was heavily soiled, and a non-operational refrigerator contained a half-full container of Ranch salad dressing. A container of sauced noodles and shrimp was left on the counter for several hours, accessible to residents, indicating a failure to properly store prepared food. The facility's policies on monitoring cooler/freezer temperatures and date marking for food safety were not adhered to, as evidenced by the lack of temperature logs and improperly labeled food items. Additional deficiencies were noted in the facility's dietary department. A dietary aide was observed working without a beard restraint, contrary to the facility's personal hygiene policy. Two of the three handwashing sinks in the dietary department were dispensing only cool water, which was not in compliance with the facility's handwashing guidelines. These issues were discussed with the facility's administration and relevant directors, but no further information regarding corrective actions was presented to the survey team before the exit conference.
Ineffective Pest Control Program on Juniper Unit
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to maintain an effective pest control program on the Juniper resident care unit, leading to the presence of small, black, gnat-sized flying insects. During a survey, a minimum of 20 such insects were observed in the kitchen area, which was separated from the resident dining and living areas by a counter and waist-high gate. The shelf under the unit microwave was found to be soiled with food crumbs and debris. Residents and staff reported that the gnat issue had worsened recently, with one resident noting that the kitchen needed a thorough cleaning and another mentioning that people had been complaining about the gnats for the past two weeks. The facility's Maintenance Director acknowledged awareness of the gnat issue, attributing it to trash inadvertently missing the can and going into a hole beside the water machine. Although a gnat trap was initially placed in the kitchen sink, it was removed due to visitor concerns. The pest control company visited monthly, but the gnat issue had not been discussed with them. Resident Council Minutes from October 2024 also mentioned fruit flies and efforts to address the situation through extermination and cleaning. Despite the facility's pest control service invoices, the Regional Director of Operations was unaware of the gnat problem until the survey and mentioned plans to address it with a special chemical in the drain during the next pest control visit.
Failure to Complete Timely Admission Assessment
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to complete a comprehensive admission assessment for a resident who was readmitted after being discharged with a return not anticipated. The clinical record review revealed that the Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment for the resident, with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 10/18/24, was not completed until 11/6/24. This delay in completing the assessment was confirmed by a Registered Nurse (RN) who acknowledged that the assessment had been started but was struck out and not completed in a timely manner. During a meeting with the facility's Administrator, Director of Nursing, and other regional directors, the surveyor discussed the failure to complete the admission/comprehensive MDS assessment upon the resident's readmission. The RN indicated that the assessment could be reopened and completed, but confirmed that it would be completed late. The resident was assessed as having intact cognition with a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 15 out of 15, indicating the resident was able to make themselves understood and understand others.
Delayed Completion of Quarterly MDS Assessment
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to complete a quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment within the required time limits for one of the sampled residents. A review of the clinical record for Resident #1 revealed an incomplete quarterly MDS assessment with an assessment reference date (ARD) of 10/18/24, while the previous MDS assessment had an ARD of 7/18/24. The assessment was signed as completed on 11/6/24, indicating a delay. During an interview, Registered Nurse (RN) #1 confirmed that the assessment was late. The survey team discussed this delay with the facility's Administrator, Director of Nursing, and other regional directors.
Failure to Follow Medical Orders for Medication and Therapy
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to adhere to medical provider orders for two residents, leading to deficiencies in care. For Resident #1, the staff did not administer medication according to the prescribed timing. The resident, who was cognitively intact, had a provider order for morphine to be given 15 minutes before wound care. However, the medication was administered over an hour before the wound care was performed, as confirmed by the LPN responsible for the care. This discrepancy was discussed with the facility's administration and nursing leadership. For Resident #3, the facility did not follow the physician's orders for speech therapy services. The resident, who was severely cognitively impaired, had a physician's order for weekly speech therapy sessions. However, the resident missed several appointments due to transportation issues, as confirmed by the unit manager and the scheduler at outpatient therapy. The missed appointments were not initially known to the CNA or LPN involved in the resident's care. The issue was discussed with the facility's administration and nursing leadership, but no further information was provided before the survey exit.
Food Storage and Safety Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to store, prepare, distribute, and serve food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety. During an initial observation of the facility's main kitchen, the surveyor found a package of sliced ham with a Best By (BB) date of 01/15/24, which was not discarded. Additionally, an open roll of ground beef was improperly stored, leaking red liquid onto a box of ground beef rolls. The Dietary Manager (DM) acknowledged these issues and discarded the items. Similar deficiencies were observed in the unit kitchen service areas, where out-of-date perishable food items were found, including boxes of grits and a can of saute/grill spray with expired BB dates. The DM admitted that these items should have been discarded and mentioned working on a cleaning schedule for dietary staff, having only been in the position for a month. Further observations in the Juniper unit kitchen refrigerator revealed multiple issues, including a box containing various perishable food items that were either uncovered, partially covered, or improperly labeled. These items included sliced turkey lunch meat with white spots, an open package of sliced ham leaking orange fluid, and various cheeses and butter with visible signs of spoilage and contamination. The refrigerator also contained a plastic container with salad dressing and sour cream packets, some of which were past their BB dates. The Dietary Aide (DA#3) present during the observation expressed embarrassment and stated that she would clean out the refrigerator. Additional deficiencies were noted in the Emerald unit kitchen pantry and refrigerator, where expired food items such as buttermilk pancake mix, angel food cake mix, and grits were found. The refrigerator contained a squeezable container of mayonnaise and a package of sealed, sliced turkey with visible white substance around the edges, both past their BB dates. The DM and Administrator (ADM) acknowledged these issues, with the ADM noting that the DM had only been at the facility for a month and that a dietary employee responsible for the Juniper kitchen had recently quit. No further information regarding these concerns was presented to the survey team prior to the exit conference.
Failure to Administer COVID-19 Vaccine to Consenting Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to provide the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine to three residents who had consented to receive it. Despite the CDC's recommendation for everyone aged 5 years and older to get the updated vaccine, the facility did not administer the vaccine to these residents. The clinical records showed that the residents had agreed to receive the vaccine in October 2023, but there was no documentation indicating that they had received it. The infection preventionist (IP) reported that the facility's plan to have a community pharmacy conduct a vaccine clinic fell through due to insufficient interest from residents, and no immediate alternative plan was made to administer the vaccine. The facility was also undergoing a corporate change at the time, which contributed to the delay in vaccine administration. During an interview, the medical director and the director of nursing (DON) acknowledged the failure of the community pharmacy's clinic and the uncertainty caused by the corporate transition. The medical director stated that they were not delaying care intentionally but wanted to ensure it was done correctly. The administrator later confirmed that the facility could purchase the vaccine from their pharmacy and have the staff administer it. The facility's policy on Coronavirus Prevention and Response required that each resident be offered the COVID-19 immunization and that their medical records include documentation of the education provided and the immunization status. However, this policy was not followed for the three residents who had consented to receive the vaccine.
Failure to Provide Resident Access to Personal Funds
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to ensure that a resident was able to access their personal funds deposited with the facility. Resident #15, who was assessed as having intact cognition and being able to make themselves understood, reported being unable to obtain money from their personal funds to make a desired purchase in November 2023. The facility's policy required a minimum of 24-hour notice to issue a check for amounts greater than the monthly state allowable amount. Despite this policy, the resident was unable to access sufficient funds for their purchase. The issue was confirmed by the facility's Administrator, who acknowledged that Resident #15 had been unable to make the desired purchase prior to the facility's change of ownership. The surveyor discussed this deficiency with the facility's Administrator and Director of Nursing, highlighting the failure to honor the resident's right to manage their financial affairs as stipulated in the facility's own documentation.
Failure to Provide Written Transfer Notice and Ombudsman Notification
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to provide a resident's responsible party and the ombudsman with written information related to a discharge/transfer for one of the sampled residents. Resident #11, who had cognitive impairments and required assistance with daily activities, was transferred to a local emergency department due to a change in condition, including altered mental status. Despite the medical provider's documentation indicating that the resident's family was aware of the transfer, there was no evidence that written transfer notice/information was provided to the resident's representative. Additionally, the facility's Director of Nursing confirmed that a document addressing the need for an emergent transfer would have been sent with the resident, but no such evidence was found by the surveyor. The facility's Administrator admitted that the facility had not been communicating discharges to the ombudsman, a failure identified in September 2023. The social services department was supposed to submit the facility's discharges to the ombudsman quarterly, but these submissions had not yet started. The survey team discussed the absence of evidence that written information related to the emergent transfer had been provided to the resident's representative and the failure to notify the local ombudsman of the facility's discharges with the facility's Administrator and Director of Nursing.
Failure to Provide Written Bed Hold Information
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to provide a resident's responsible party with written bed hold information when the resident was admitted to a local hospital. Resident #11, who had cognitive impairments and required assistance with daily activities, was transferred to an emergency department and subsequently admitted to the hospital. Despite the facility's policy requiring written notice of bed-hold information to be provided at the time of transfer or within 24 hours in case of emergency transfers, no evidence was found that such information was given to Resident #11's representative. The deficiency was identified during a survey, which included interviews and document reviews. The Director of Nursing (DON) reported that the facility staff would have sent a document addressing bed-holds with the resident at the time of transfer. However, the surveyor found no documentation to support this claim. The absence of evidence was discussed with the facility's Administrator and DON, confirming the failure to comply with the facility's bed-hold policy.
Failure to Revise Care Plan for Isolation Precautions
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to review and revise the comprehensive person-centered care plan for Resident #54 to include the need for isolation precautions. Resident #54 had multiple diagnoses, including Alzheimer's Disease, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Chronic Respiratory Failure with Hypoxia, and Hypothyroidism. The resident was severely cognitively impaired, as indicated by a BIMS score of 2 out of 15. On 2/07/24, a surveyor observed a contact precautions isolation sign and PPE present at Resident #54's door. The physician's orders dated 1/30/24 required contact precautions for ESBL in the urine until 2/08/24. However, the comprehensive care plan did not document these contact precautions. The Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the care plan did not include the necessary contact precautions after being informed by the surveyor. The facility's policy on Comprehensive Care Plans mandates that the care plan should describe the services required to maintain the resident's highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. Despite this policy, the care plan for Resident #54 was not updated to reflect the need for contact precautions, as confirmed by the DON during the survey team's meeting with the Administrator and DON on 2/13/24.
Failure to Provide Ordered Pressure Ulcer Care
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide pressure ulcer dressing changes as ordered for a resident with a stage 3 sacral ulcer. The resident, who had diagnoses including chronic congestive heart failure, essential hypertension, chronic kidney disease, generalized muscle weakness, clostridium difficile enterocolitis, and a stage 3 sacral ulcer, reported that wound dressings were not changed on two night shifts the previous week. Clinical record review revealed a physician order for specific wound care that was not followed, as evidenced by a blank Treatment Administration Record (TAR) for one of the night shifts. The RNCC confirmed that the dressing change was missed and noted excessive drainage during subsequent dressing changes, which required additional attention. Further investigation revealed that the resident had previously reported a missed dressing change on another occasion, and the MAR showed that the dressing change was falsely signed as completed. The resident also reported missed evening shift dressings over a weekend, which the RNCC acknowledged and stated that the agency nurses involved would be reprimanded. The DON stated that it was not yet established whether the treatments were missed on the reported dates, but the surveyor found the resident's allegations credible based on the documented instances of missed care.
Failure to Ensure Drug Regimens Free from Unnecessary Medications
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to ensure that two residents' drug regimens were free from unnecessary medications. Resident #24 was prescribed sertraline, an antidepressant, and had a documented order to reduce the dosage from 50 mg to 25 mg. However, a subsequent order increased the dosage back to 50 mg without documented justification. Additionally, the facility did not consistently monitor symptoms related to the antidepressant medication, missing key signs of depression such as tearfulness, sluggishness, and decreased involvement in activities. This lack of monitoring was acknowledged by the facility's Director of Nursing (DON) but was not adequately addressed in the behavior monitoring orders provided to the surveyor. Resident #60, who was also prescribed sertraline for Major Depressive Disorder, experienced similar issues. The resident's care plan addressed depression, but the facility's behavior monitoring order did not include comprehensive symptoms of depression. The surveyor noted the absence of consistent symptom monitoring for Resident #60's antidepressant medication, and the DON confirmed that the existing monitoring did not cover all relevant symptoms of depression. This oversight in monitoring critical symptoms of depression was a significant deficiency in the care provided to Resident #60. Both cases highlight the facility's failure to ensure that residents' drug regimens were free from unnecessary medications and that there was consistent and comprehensive monitoring of symptoms related to antidepressant use. The deficiencies were identified through interviews and document reviews, revealing gaps in the facility's medication management and symptom monitoring processes for residents on psychotropic medications.
Medication Error Rate Exceeds 5%
Penalty
Summary
The facility staff failed to ensure a medication error rate of less than 5%, resulting in a medication error rate of 5.41%. This deficiency was identified during a survey where it was observed that a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) did not administer Aspirin as ordered by the physician and applied an incorrect dosage of a Nicotine Patch to a resident. Specifically, the LPN applied a 21 mg/24-hour Nicotine Patch instead of the prescribed 14 mg/24-hour patch, and failed to administer the prescribed 81 mg Aspirin. The resident involved had multiple diagnoses, including Aftercare following Joint Replacement Surgery, Pneumonia, Generalized Muscle Weakness, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Essential Hypertension, and Hyperlipidemia, and was noted to be lethargic and oriented to person only at the time of admission/re-admission screening. The surveyor's review of the resident's Medication Administration Record (MAR) confirmed the discrepancies between the physician's orders and the medications administered. The LPN acknowledged the errors when questioned by the surveyor, admitting to missing the Aspirin dose and using the incorrect Nicotine Patch despite the correct dosage being available in the medication cart. The facility's policy on Medication Administration was reviewed, which mandates that medications be administered as ordered by the physician and in accordance with professional standards of practice. The survey team discussed these findings with the facility's Administrator and Director of Nursing, but no further information was provided before the exit conference.
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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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