Below average — CMS composite of the measures below.
The next survey window likely opens around January 2027
Estimate from public CMS data, current as of July 2026. Survey timing is at the state agency's discretion.
Citation history
Health deficiencies cited at Saint Albans Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center during CMS and state inspections, most recent first.
Infection control practices were not followed during medication administration, wound care, and sharps container handling. An LPN did not perform hand hygiene before giving a resident Sevelamer, dropped a tablet on the med cart and discarded it in the garbage, then handled a replacement tablet with her hand before placing it in the med cup. During wound care for another resident, a Unit Manager did not perform hand hygiene before entering the room or between glove changes, and an LNA changed a sharps container on a med cart without wearing gloves.
Two residents were not protected from abuse: one experienced verbal abuse from an LNA, who used derogatory language and discouraged the resident from seeking help, while another was physically assaulted by a fellow resident with a known history of aggression when left unsupervised in a common area. Both incidents were confirmed by facility leadership.
The facility did not ensure that an area was free from accident hazards and failed to provide adequate supervision to prevent accidents. Surveyors observed environmental hazards and insufficient staff monitoring, resulting in increased risk for resident accidents.
A resident with a history of mental health disorders and trauma experienced repeated self-harm and distress after a change in living situation, with the facility failing to assess underlying causes, identify or mitigate trauma triggers, or ensure consistent behavioral health follow-up. Additionally, care plans for several residents with PTSD or trauma were not updated to include relevant triggers, despite facility policy and staff awareness.
Surveyors identified extensive environmental deficiencies throughout the facility, including damaged walls, missing fixtures, exposed electrical outlets, and unaddressed maintenance issues in resident rooms and common areas. The facility's maintenance tracking and inspection processes failed to identify or address these problems, resulting in a failure to provide a safe, clean, and homelike environment for all residents.
Freezer temperatures in three freezers, including the main kitchen's walk-in freezer, were consistently above the required range for two months. The walk-in freezer door could not close completely, and temperature logs showed persistent out-of-range readings. Kitchen staff lacked access to submit maintenance work orders, and no work order was placed for the broken freezer. The issue had been ongoing and had recently worsened, with a funding request for replacement made by the Administrator.
Surveyors observed water leaking from shower room drainpipes into the clean laundry area, kitchen staff repeatedly changing gloves without hand hygiene, and a resident's Foley catheter tubing touching the floor during care, all indicating lapses in infection prevention and control practices.
The facility did not complete required Level 1 PASRR screenings for two residents with mental health diagnoses after their stays exceeded the 30-day short-stay exemption period. Both residents remained in the facility without the mandated reassessment, and the Social Service Director confirmed the oversight, noting that necessary services may not have been identified as a result.
Two residents who required assistance with ADLs did not receive appropriate nail care. One resident with diabetes and other chronic conditions had not received podiatry care for toenail trimming as required by facility policy, and another resident on anticoagulant therapy had not had fingernails trimmed by a licensed nurse despite repeated requests and visible need.
A resident exhibiting symptoms of depression, including suicidal ideation and a desire for mental health services, was not provided with an individualized care plan or interventions such as daily check-ins or psychiatric support, despite facility procedures requiring these actions after a positive mood assessment.
Infection Control Lapses During Medication Administration, Wound Care, and Sharps Handling
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure infection control practices related to hand hygiene, glove use, and medication disposal during medication administration for one resident and wound care for another resident, and during handling of a biohazard container on a medication cart. During medication administration for Resident #1, an LPN did not wash her hands before giving Sevelamer Carbonate 800 mg with meals for phosphate absorption. The LPN dropped a tablet on the medication cart, disposed of it in the garbage, then popped another tablet and placed it in her hand before putting it into the medicine cup. The LPN confirmed she did not wash her hands before medication administration and that she used her hand to pick up the tablet that fell on the cart. During wound care for Resident #6, the Unit Manager did not perform hand hygiene before entering the room and changed gloves several times during the dressing change without performing hand hygiene between glove changes. The Unit Manager confirmed she did not use hand hygiene before entering the room or between glove changes. In a separate observation on the Center East unit, an LNA changed a sharps container on the medication cart without wearing gloves and acknowledged she should have been wearing gloves.
Failure to Prevent Staff and Resident-to-Resident Abuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect residents from both verbal and physical abuse, as evidenced by two separate incidents involving staff-to-resident and resident-to-resident abuse. In the first incident, a resident with intact cognitive function and multiple medical diagnoses, including diabetes mellitus and acute kidney failure, reported being verbally abused by an LNA. The LNA entered the resident's room to change oxygen tubing, and when the resident explained the tubing schedule, the LNA called the resident a derogatory expletive, stated the resident was useless due to inability to walk, and instructed the resident not to ring for assistance later. This verbal abuse was corroborated by the resident's roommate and confirmed by the facility's internal investigation and the Director of Nursing. In the second incident, a resident with moderate vascular dementia and anxiety was physically abused by another resident with severe vascular dementia and a documented history of aggressive behaviors. The aggressor struck the other resident multiple times in the face with a closed fist while both were in the day room unsupervised, as LNAs were providing care elsewhere. The aggressive resident's care plan noted prior incidents of physical aggression toward both staff and other residents, with interventions in place to monitor and remove the resident if agitated. Despite these interventions, the lack of supervision allowed the altercation to occur, resulting in physical abuse. The Director of Nursing confirmed the occurrence of this resident-to-resident abuse.
Failure to Maintain a Safe Environment and Provide Adequate Supervision
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that an area was free from accident hazards and did not provide adequate supervision to prevent accidents. Surveyors observed that the environment contained hazards that could lead to resident accidents, and staff did not implement sufficient measures to monitor or protect residents from these risks. This deficiency was identified based on direct observations and findings during the survey, which indicated lapses in maintaining a safe environment and in providing necessary supervision to prevent accidents.
Failure to Assess and Address Trauma Triggers and Mental Health Needs
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to acknowledge and assess the underlying causes of a resident's expression of distress and did not develop or implement a care plan that addressed this distress, resulting in deterioration of the resident's mental and psychosocial well-being and self-harm. The resident had a documented history of adjustment disorder, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, major depressive disorder, and PTSD, with multiple incidents of self-harm and suicidal ideation following a recent change in living situation and increased dependence on staff for activities of daily living. Despite repeated behavioral incidents and clear documentation of trauma history and triggers, the facility did not adequately identify or mitigate these triggers, nor did it ensure consistent access to mental health services, as evidenced by a lapse in behavioral health follow-up and lack of trauma-informed interventions in the care plan. The medical record contained multiple entries describing self-harming behaviors attributed to psychosocial adjustment difficulties, including hitting, slapping, and cutting oneself, as well as threats of self-harm. These behaviors were often linked to specific triggers, such as feeling helpless, not being listened to, or unmet needs, particularly during episodes of incontinence or negative staff interactions. The facility's own trauma-informed care policy required identification and mitigation of trauma triggers, but interviews with staff confirmed that the resident was not asked about trauma or triggers, and information provided by case workers regarding triggers was not incorporated into the care plan. Additionally, the facility failed to update care plans for seven other residents with diagnoses of trauma and/or PTSD to include triggers associated with their trauma. Staff interviews confirmed that these care plans did not have identified triggers until after the survey. This deficiency was a repeat occurrence, having been cited during the previous recertification survey, and reflects a pattern of not following internal policies regarding trauma-informed care and person-centered care planning for residents with mental health and trauma histories.
Widespread Environmental Deficiencies in Resident Rooms and Common Areas
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment for residents, as evidenced by widespread deficiencies in room maintenance and repair across all resident units. Surveyors observed numerous issues during facility tours, including bare plaster spots, cracks, peeling paint, warped countertops, missing or broken fixtures such as toilet paper holders, exposed electrical outlets, rusted and bent radiators, and unpainted or damaged walls and ceilings. These deficiencies were present in both resident rooms and common areas, with specific examples including holes in walls, loose or missing handrails, broken or missing light fixtures, and damaged furniture. The issues were confirmed by both the Maintenance Director and the Administrator during interviews and walkthroughs. The facility's internal processes for identifying and addressing maintenance concerns were found to be inadequate. Although the Administrator had completed a facility-wide audit identifying areas in need of repair in all 48 resident rooms, there was no documented plan of action or timeline to address these issues. The Maintenance Department's work order system did not include many of the observed deficiencies, and there was no process to assign or track repairs unless a work order was submitted. Quarterly physical plant inspections were conducted using a checklist, but these inspections lacked detail and failed to identify the specific problems observed by surveyors. The Maintenance Director acknowledged that if issues were not entered into the work order system, they would not be addressed. Common areas also exhibited significant deficiencies, such as stained or broken ceiling tiles, holes in plaster, exposed wires, bent or missing radiator fins, and damaged or illegible resident name plates and room numbers. The Regional Environmental Director confirmed during a walkthrough that the issues identified should have been detected and addressed through the facility's inspection processes. The lack of detailed inspections and failure to document and track maintenance needs contributed to the ongoing and repeat nature of these deficiencies, which had also been cited in previous surveys.
Failure to Maintain Safe Freezer Temperatures and Inadequate Maintenance Response
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain freezer food temperatures at a safe level in 3 of 4 freezers, including the main kitchen's walk-in freezer. Observations revealed that the walk-in freezer door could not close completely, and temperature logs for November and December showed that the freezer consistently recorded temperatures above the acceptable range of -10 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, with all days in both months out of range. Additionally, two unit freezers also had temperatures above the required range for most days during the same period. The facility's policy requires immediate notification of the Maintenance Department if temperatures are out of range and consideration for relocating perishable items if repairs are delayed. Interviews indicated that kitchen staff did not have access to submit maintenance work orders through the facility's online system, and no work order had been placed for the broken walk-in freezer. The Kitchen Manager confirmed that the recorded temperatures were not within the acceptable range, and the Administrator acknowledged that the walk-in freezer had been malfunctioning for some time, with the issue worsening recently. The Administrator also stated that a request for funding to replace the freezer had been made in November.
Infection Control Failures in Laundry, Kitchen, and Resident Care
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified multiple failures in the facility's infection prevention and control program. In the laundry room, water was observed dripping from leaking pipes in the ceiling directly into the clean laundry area. These pipes were identified as drainpipes from the shower room above, which was in use at the time and could contain feces, blood, urine, and other infectious materials. The leaks had not been reported to the maintenance department by laundry staff. In the kitchen, a staff member was observed removing soiled gloves and donning new gloves multiple times without performing hand hygiene in between, despite having received training on proper handwashing and gloving techniques. Additionally, a resident with a Foley catheter was observed on two occasions with the catheter tubing touching the floor while in a wheelchair, including during meal assistance. Staff did not adjust the tubing, and the Infection Preventionist confirmed this was a preventable infection risk and not facility practice.
Failure to Complete Required PASRR Screenings After Short-Stay Exemption
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that required Level 1 Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) assessments were conducted for two residents who remained in the facility beyond the 30-day short-stay exemption period. Both residents were initially admitted with a short-stay exemption, which allows for admission without a full PASRR if the physician certifies the stay will be less than 30 days. However, when each resident's stay exceeded 30 days, the facility did not complete the necessary Level 1 PASRR screening as required by federal regulations. One resident had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and a history of receiving counseling and support services prior to admission, while the other had a diagnosis of acute adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, with prior discussions about pharmacotherapy and counseling. Despite these mental health histories and ongoing needs, there was no documentation of a Level 1 PASRR being completed after the exemption period ended. The Social Service Director confirmed during interviews that the required screenings were not performed and acknowledged that needed services might have been identified and implemented had the assessments been completed.
Failure to Provide Required Nail Care Assistance for Dependent Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) for two residents who were unable to perform these tasks independently, specifically related to nail care. One resident with diagnoses of Diabetes Mellitus Type II, COPD, and CHF was observed to have long toenails and expressed a desire to have them trimmed. Facility policy requires residents with complicating conditions such as diabetes to receive foot care from a qualified professional, such as a podiatrist. However, the resident had not been seen by a podiatrist since a documented visit several months prior, despite a recommendation for a follow-up within three months. The resident did not have a current podiatry appointment, and staff confirmed that no recent podiatry care had been provided. Another resident, who required extensive assistance for hygiene care and was on anticoagulation therapy, was observed to have very long fingernails with visible dirt underneath. The resident reported having requested nail trimming from staff, but this had not been done over a period of at least two days. Record review confirmed that no nail care had been provided in the past 30 days. Facility staff stated that, due to the resident's anticoagulant use, only a licensed nurse should trim the nails, but could not provide an explanation for the lack of care.
Failure to Develop and Implement Care Plan for Resident with Depression
Penalty
Summary
A resident was admitted to the facility and subsequently underwent a mood evaluation, which identified symptoms of depression, including little interest or pleasure in activities, feelings of sadness, low energy, and trouble concentrating. The resident reported experiencing crying spells and expressed a willingness to utilize mental health services if they were offered. Additionally, a nursing progress note documented that the resident made a statement indicating suicidal ideation during a reevaluation by Social Services. Despite these documented symptoms and expressions of emotional distress, the resident's care plan did not address their reported mood or include any interventions to support them with depression, such as daily check-ins or mental health support. Interviews with facility staff confirmed that no care plan or psychiatric services were offered to the resident following the mood assessment, contrary to the facility's stated procedures for addressing such findings.
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Illustrative
What surveyors actually found near you
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Resident with a documented fall history left unattended on the patio; found on the ground with a hip fracture.
Walk-in cooler logs missing for 12 days; expired supplements in the medication room fridge.
Illustrative
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Risk indicators are statistical estimates from public CMS data — not predictions, findings, or compliance advice.
Nursing homes near Saint Albans
How nearby facilities compare on the same public inspection record.
| Facility | Distance | Overall rating | Citations, 12 mo | Serious (J–L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Villa Rehab | 1.2 mi | ★★★★★ | 4 | 0 |
| Franklin County Rehab Center, Llc | 1.6 mi | ★★★★★ | 10 | 0 |
| Champlain Valley Physicians Hosp Med Ctr S N F | 21.4 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Clinton County Nursing Home | 21.6 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
| Plattsburgh Rehabilitation And Nursing Center | 21.6 mi | ★★★★★ | 0 | 0 |
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Trusted data, never guesswork. Every citation, penalty, rating and Plan of Correction on this page is sourced from public CMS records (latest release August 2026) and official state health department websites.