CARLETON-WILLARD VILLAGE RETIREMENT & NURSING CTR

100 OLD BILLERICA ROAD, BEDFORD, MA 01730 (781) 275-8700
Non profit - Corporation 179 Beds Independent Data: November 2025 3 Immediate Jeopardy citations
Trust Grade
17/100
#78 of 338 in MA
Last Inspection: February 2025

Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.

Overview

Carleton-Willard Village Retirement & Nursing Center has received a Trust Grade of F, which indicates significant concerns about the facility's operations and care quality. They rank #78 out of 338 in Massachusetts, placing them in the top half of nursing homes in the state, but their overall poor rating is troubling. The facility's situation is worsening, as the number of reported issues increased from 3 in 2024 to 5 in 2025, and recent inspections revealed 11 deficiencies, including three critical incidents where a resident fell during a transfer that required assistance from two staff members, resulting in serious injuries. While staffing is a strength with a 5/5 star rating and a low turnover of 28%, there have been concerning incidents of neglect that highlight gaps in care. Additionally, the facility faced $25,497 in fines, which is average, further emphasizing the need for improvement in compliance and resident safety.

Trust Score
F
17/100
In Massachusetts
#78/338
Top 23%
Safety Record
High Risk
Review needed
Inspections
Getting Worse
3 → 5 violations
Staff Stability
✓ Good
28% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 20 points below Massachusetts's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
Penalties
✓ Good
$25,497 in fines. Lower than most Massachusetts facilities. Relatively clean record.
Skilled Nurses
✓ Good
Each resident gets 61 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of Massachusetts nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
Violations
⚠ Watch
11 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
★★★★☆
4.0
Overall Rating
★★★★★
5.0
Staff Levels
★★★★★
5.0
Care Quality
★★☆☆☆
2.0
Inspection Score
Stable
2024: 3 issues
2025: 5 issues

The Good

  • 5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
  • 5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
  • Low Staff Turnover (28%) · Staff stability means consistent care
  • Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
  • No fines on record
  • Staff turnover is low (28%)

    20 points below Massachusetts average of 48%

Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.

The Bad

Federal Fines: $25,497

Below median ($33,413)

Moderate penalties - review what triggered them

The Ugly 11 deficiencies on record

3 life-threatening 2 actual harm
Jun 2025 3 deficiencies 3 IJ
CRITICAL (J) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation

Free from Abuse/Neglect (Tag F0600)

Someone could have died · This affected 1 resident

Based on records reviewed and interviews, for one of three sampled residents (Resident #1), who required two staff members assistance with the mechanical sling lift for all transfers, the Facility fai...

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Based on records reviewed and interviews, for one of three sampled residents (Resident #1), who required two staff members assistance with the mechanical sling lift for all transfers, the Facility failed to ensure he/she was free from neglect, when on 06/03/25 Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #1, although she was aware of facility policy and that Resident #1 required an assist of two staff persons for transfers with a mechanical sling lift, CNA #1 transferred Resident #1 by herself, and he/she fell from lift on to the floor. CNA #1 also did not immediately report the fall to nursing so Resident #1 could be assessed for potential injury prior to being moved, but instead physically picked Resident #1 up off the floor by herself and put him/her back into bed. Once Resident #1 was back in bed, she still did not report the incident to nursing. Over two and a half hours later, Resident #1 was found to be bleeding from a cut on back of his/her head, had bruising on his/her back and left hip area, was complaining of severe back and left shoulder pain, was transferred to the Hospital Emergency Department (ED) and was diagnosed with several fractured ribs, fractured left scapula, several spinal fractures, bilateral subdural bleeds, a head laceration, and other internal injuries. Findings include: The Facility Policy, titled Resident Abuse Prevention Program, dated as revised 10/14/22, indicated: - The Facility would ensure that every resident was free from all forms of abuse, including neglect. -Abuse was defined as the willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment with resulting in physical harm, pain, or mental anguish. Abuse also included the deprivation by an individual, including a caretaker, of goods or services. The term willful meant the individual must have acted deliberately. -Neglect was defined as the failure of the Facility, its employees or service providers to provide services to a resident that were necessary to avoid physical harm, pain, mental anguish, or emotional distress. This included cases of indifference or disregard for resident care, comfort, or safety that resulted in or could have resulted in physical harm, mental anguish, or emotional distress. Review of the Facility's Incident Investigation Summary, undated, indicated the following: -On the morning of 06/03/25, some time between 07:05 A.M., and 07:20 A.M., Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #1 attempted to transfer Resident #1 from his/her bed to his/her reclining wheelchair via the mechanical sling lift, and during the transfer Resident #1 fell from the sling onto the floor. -CNA #1 did not notify anyone that Resident #1 had fallen, and instead manually picked Resident #1 up from the floor, then placed him/her back in bed. -CNA #1 noticed blood on the back of Resident #1's head but did not report it to any other staff member. Resident #1 was admitted to the Facility in July 2023, diagnoses included Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and peripheral neuropathy. Review of Resident #1's Activities of Daily Living Care Plan, dated as reviewed on 05/14/25, indicated Resident #1 required assistance of two staff members using the mechanical sling lift for all transfers. Review of Resident #1's Nurse Progress Note, dated 06/03/25, indicated that at 07:30 A.M., Nurse #1 heard Resident #1 groaning, he/she said he/she had pain in his/her back, and Nurse #1 administered his/her scheduled pain medication. The Note indicated that when Nurse #1 reassessed Resident #1, around 20 minutes later at 07:50 A.M., he/she was still complaining of back pain, so Nurse #1 applied a hot pack to his/her back. The Note indicated Resident #1 was fed breakfast in bed [by CNA #1], and Nurse #1 returned to his/her room twice during the breakfast meal to assess his/her pain. The Note indicated that at 10:00 A.M., Unit Secretary #1 alerted Nurse #1 that Resident #1 had blood on his/her pillow, and that Unit Manager #1, the Director of Nurses (DON) and Nurse Practitioner (NP #1) were all notified, responded, and NP #1 ordered for Resident #1 to be transferred to the Hospital ED. Review of Resident #1's Emergency Department After Visit Summary, dated 06/03/25, indicated he/she had a witnessed fall from the mechanical sling lift at the Facility, and he/she was diagnosed with the following: -Bilateral subdural fluid collections (a collection of blood between the dura mater (the tough outer layer of the meninges) and the surface of the brain. This condition typically occurs after a head injury and can be life-threatening due to the pressure it exerts on the brain) that measured 3 millimeters (mm) on the right and 5 mm on the left. -Left first and second nondisplaced (bones were broken, but remained in their original position) rib fractures. -Left second, third, fourth, and fifth acute rib fractures including significant displacement and flail segments (a condition that occurs when three or more adjacent ribs are fractured in two or more places, allowing that segment of the thoracic wall to displace and move independently of the rest of the chest wall. In flail chest, a segment of the chest wall separates from the rest and moves in the opposite direction from the rest of the chest wall when a person breathes. This condition can result in damage to the lungs or other organs.) -Left small to moderate pneumothorax (a condition where air or gas accumulates in the pleural space, the area between the lungs and the chest wall. This can cause partial or complete lung collapse, leading to chest pain and shortness of breath.) -Left trace hemothorax (a collection of blood in the pleural cavity, which is the space between the chest wall and the lung. It can be caused by an injury.) -Left scapula (shoulder blade) markedly comminuted (broken into more than two pieces), displaced (out of alignment) fracture, extending to the glenoid (socket part of the shoulder.) -Thoracic (middle spine) second and third transverse process (bony protrusion that extends sideways from each vertebra in the spine) acute nondisplaced fractures. -Lumbar (lower spine) second superior endplate mild to moderate height loss (occurs when the bone in the front (anterior) part of a vertebral body collapses and forms a wedge shape) and 3 millimeter (mm) retropulsion (a retropulsed fragment refers to a piece of the vertebra or intervertebral disc material that has been displaced from the vertebral body backward into the spinal canal.) Review of Resident #1's Nurse Practitioner Note, dated 06/04/25, indicated he/she returned to the Facility the evening of 06/03/25, and his/her skin observation revealed the following: -A superficial open area on the back of his/her head measuring 0.5 centimeters (cm.) -Reddish bruising to the left back, buttock, and left upper back along the lateral edge of the scapula. Review of Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #1's Written Statement, dated 06/03/25, indicated that on 06/03/25 at 07:30 A.M., she attempted to transfer Resident #1 without assistance from another staff member, using the mechanical sling lift. The Statement indicated that during the transfer, the upper left hook of the sling released from the lift, and Resident #1 fell to the floor. The Statement indicated CNA #1 noticed blood on the back of Resident #1's head, manually lifted him/her up from the floor by herself, put him/her back to bed, and did not notify anyone that Resident #1 had fallen. The Statement indicated CNA #1 then left Resident #1's room, went and provided care for another resident, assisted with passing breakfast trays on the unit, and then went back to Resident #1's room to assist with feeding him/her breakfast. Further review of CNA #1's Written Statement indicated that when Unit Manager #1 later questioned her about the blood found on Resident #1's pillow, she initially denied knowing anything had happened, but later admitted that Resident #1 had fallen. During a telephone interview on 06/10/25 at 08:55 A.M., Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #1 said she normally worked full time the 03:00 P.M., to 11:00 P.M., shift on the Resident #1's unit, and had picked up the 07:00 A.M. to 03:00 P.M., shift on 06/03/25. CNA #1 said that on 06/03/25 around 7:30 A.M., she attempted to transfer Resident #1 using the mechanical sling lift without assistance from another staff member, and during the transfer the sling released from the lift, and Resident #1 fell around four feet straight down to the floor. CNA #1 said she physically lifted Resident #1 up from the floor by herself and placed him/her back in bed. CNA #1 said she did not think his/her injuries were serious, that she did not report the fall to anyone, and left Resident #1's room, and went to provide care for another resident. CNA #1 said she was aware that it was the facility's policy for two staff members to assist with mechanical sling lift transfers and knew that Resident #1 required two assists for transfers. CNA #1 also said she knew it was important to immediately notify a nurse when a resident fell and before moving the resident, but she did neither of them because she knew she was in trouble. CNA #1 said she was not aware that Resident #1 was bleeding from the back of his/her head, and said she only wrote that in her Written Statement because the Director of Nurses told her to. During an interview on 06/10/25 at 02:58 P.M., CNA #2 said she was the lead CNA for the unit, and on 06/03/25 at 06:40 A.M., she conducted her usual walking rounds on the unit and saw that Resident #1, who was usually washed and dressed by the 11:00 P.M., to 07:00 A.M., shift was in bed and fully dressed. CNA #2 said that between 07:15 A.M., and 07:20 A.M., she noticed Resident #1's bedroom door was slightly open and the mechanical sling lift was in the room. CNA #2 said when she entered the room to offer to help transfer Resident #1, he/she was no longer wearing a shirt, the mechanical lift sling pad was not positioned under him/her and was instead hanging from lift by the two top clips. CNA #2 said CNA #1 was in the bathroom washing something in the sink but she did not see what it was, and said CNA #1 told her that Resident #1's shirt had gotten dirty. CNA #2 said she noticed a few drops of blood on Resident #1's top sheet but thought maybe he/she had a nosebleed, and then left the room, because she thought CNA #1 was not ready to get Resident #1 up out of bed at that time. During an interview on 06/10/25 at 01:06 P.M., Nurse #1 said that on 06/03/25 at 07:00 A.M., she gave CNA #1 report, told her to start her assignment with Resident #1, and to get her when she was ready to transfer him/her, since Resident #1 required two staff members for transfers via the mechanical sling lift. Nurse #1 said she went to Resident #1's room at 07:30 A.M. and could hear Resident #1 groaning even with the door closed. Nurse #1 said she went into Resident #1's room, saw CNA #1 standing next to his/her bed, and Resident #1 was complaining of back pain. Nurse #1 said she told CNA #1 to feed Resident #1 in bed that morning, medicated him/her with his/her scheduled pain medication and applied a warm pack to his/her back. Nurse #1 said she returned to Resident #1's room twice while CNA #1 was feeding him/her breakfast to assess his/her pain. Nurse #1 said CNA #1 did not report that there was any sort of incident or fall that had occurred at all. Nurse #1 said she did not know something had happened to Resident #1 until 10:00 A.M., when Unit Secretary #1 told her there was blood on his/her pillow. Nurse #1 said when she went to check on what Unit Secretary #1 reported, she said there were two pillows with blood on them, that one pillow had an area of blood located on the corner of it that was around five inches wide and four inches long, and the second pillow had an area of blood in the center of it that was around six inches long and four inches wide, surrounded by smaller spots of blood. Nurse #1 described the blood as bright red and fresh. Although Nurse #1 went into Resident #1's room to assess him/her at least three different times (07:30 A.M., at the start of the breakfast meal sometime between 8:00 A.M. -8:30 A.M., and, again at 08:50 A.M.), while CNA #1 was in the room, and despite Nurse #1 assessing Resident #1 for pain, and specifically asking CNA #1 how he/she was doing, CNA #1 never told Nurse #1 about Resident #1's fall out of the mechanical sling lift. CNA #1 never told Nurse #1 that she picked Resident #1 up off the floor and put him/back bed, or reported to Nurse #1 that he/she was bleeding from the back of his/her head. During an interview on 06/10/25 at 12:07 P.M., Family Member #1 said that on 06/03/25 at 09:30 A.M., he was on a video call with Resident #1 when he noticed what appeared to be blood behind his/her head on his/her pillow, and he/she complained of left shoulder pain, which was unusual. Family Member #1 said he called the unit desk and asked Unit Secretary #1 to check on Resident #1. Family Member #1 said Resident #1 had advanced dementia and could not speak up for him/herself. Family Member #1 said he was most disturbed by the fact that CNA #1 had left Resident #1 in bed for well over two hours, in pain, without any care and without letting anyone know what had happened to him/her. During an interview on 06/10/25 at 03:22 P.M., Unit Manager #1 said that on 06/03/25 at 10:00 A.M., Nurse #1 told her that Resident #1 was bleeding, and said she immediately went to assess Resident #1. Unit Manager #1 said there was blood on two pillows, and she and Nurse #1 tried to roll Resident #1 over to assess him/her, but could not because he/she moaned in pain and said, that hurts. Unit Manager #1 said she was able to briefly see the back of Resident #1's head, said it was raw and there was fresh blood in his/her hair. Unit Manager #1 said while she and Nurse #1 were assessing Resident #1, CNA #1 came to the room. Unit Manager #1 said she asked CNA #1 if anything had happened to Resident #1 and said CNA #1 said no, and also denied knowing that Resident #1 had blood on his/her pillow. Unit Manager #1 said there was also blood observed on the floor in Resident #1's room, that CNA #1 was asked if she knew about the blood on the floor, that CNA #1 said she knew about the blood on the floor but had not reported it, and said why would I? Unit Manager #1 said later that day she reviewed CNA #2's written statement that indicated she had seen some blood spots on Resident #1's sheet and of CNA #1 washing something in Resident #1's bathroom sink. Unit Manager #1 said she went to Resident #1's personal laundry hamper and found his/her shirt, which was sopping wet with water and it had a faint blood stain around the upper back and collar areas. During an interview on 06/10/25 at 08:04 A.M., The Director of Nurses (DON) said it was Facility policy that two staff members were required for all mechanical sling lift transfers, and that all resident falls were to be reported to the nurse immediately and before the resident was moved. The DON said CNA #1 did not follow Facility policies, which resulted in Resident #1's injuries and a significant delay in care. The DON said CNA #1 initially denied that anything had happened to Resident #1, but later admitted to the incident, admitted that she knew Resident #1 was bleeding, and that she had not reported it to anyone. The DON said as a result Resident #1 went over two hours without being assessed by nursing, therefore necessary care and treatment was delayed. On 06/10/25, the Facility was found to be in Past Non-Compliance and provided the Surveyor with a plan of correction which addressed the area of concern as evidenced by: A) 06/03/25, The Facility conducted an Ad-Hoc Quality Assurance Performance Improvement meeting, which indicated the Facility Leadership developed an action plan to correct the deficient practice, ensure that residents were free from falls involving the mechanical sling lift devices, and that all resident falls are reported to the nurse immediately. B) 06/03/25, The Assistant Director of Nurses (ADON)/designee educated all licensed staff and CNAs of the Facility policy and the requirement to always have two staff members present for all mechanical sling lift transfers. C) 06/03/25, The ADON/designee educated all licensed staff and CNAs of Facility policy and the requirement not to move a resident following a fall until a nurse has assessed them. D) 06/03/25, The ADON/designee educated all licensed staff and CNAs of Facility policy and the requirement to report all incidents involving residents immediately so a nurse can assess the resident and prevent further injuries. E) 06/05/25, The Inspection Report indicated the mechanical sling lift manufacturing company inspected all the Facility's mechanical sling lift devices and determined they were all in good working order. F) 06/06/25, The Mechanical Lift Sling Inspection attestations, signed by the Unit Managers, indicated the Facility's lift slings were inspected by and found to be intact without tears or fraying straps, and the fasteners were intact without cracks. G) The Staff Educator/designee conducted an audit to determine that all licensed staff and CNAs had a competency completed within the last year on mechanical sling lift transfers. H) 06/09/25, The Service Report indicated the mechanical sling lift manufacturing company conducted annual maintenance on the Facility's mechanical sling lift devices. I) 06/09/25, Department Managers educated all Facility staff that all staff in all departments were required to immediately report any noticed change in a resident condition, falls, anything out of the ordinary such as blood, to the nurse on duty or Unit Manager. J) 06/09/25, The Point of Care Audit Tool indicated Unit Managers conducted observations of staff performance of mechanical sling lift transfers. K) The DON/designee will conduct follow up audits consisting of visual observations of all licensed and CNA staff performances using the mechanical sling lift for transfers, and immediate re-education will be conducted as needed. L) The Unit Managers/designee will conduct weekly observations on all shifts of staff performance of five mechanical sling lift transfers for four weeks, and immediate re-education will be conducted as needed. M) The Facility will continue to monitor compliance at monthly and quarterly Quality Assurance Meetings. N) The Director of Nurses and/or designee are responsible for ongoing compliance.
CRITICAL (J) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation

Comprehensive Care Plan (Tag F0656)

Someone could have died · This affected 1 resident

Based on records reviewed and interviews, for one of three sampled residents (Resident #1), whose comprehensive plan of care interventions indicated that he/she required the assistance of two staff me...

Read full inspector narrative →
Based on records reviewed and interviews, for one of three sampled residents (Resident #1), whose comprehensive plan of care interventions indicated that he/she required the assistance of two staff members with the mechanical sling lift for all transfers, the Facility failed to ensure that staff consistently implemented and followed interventions related to transfers per his/her plan of care. On 06/03/25, Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #1 attempted to transfer Resident #1 without the assistance from any other staff member, during the transfer the left upper clip on the mechanical sling lift became disconnected and Resident #1 fell to the floor. Resident #1 was transferred to the Hospital Emergency Department (ED) for evaluation and was diagnosed with several fractured ribs, fractured left scapula, several spinal fractures, bilateral subdural bleeds, a head laceration, and other internal injuries. Findings include: The Facility Policy, titled Baseline and Comprehensive Person-Centered Care, dated as revised 06/01/24, indicated the Facility would develop and implement a comprehensive person-centered plan of care for each resident that included services to maintain or attain their highest practicable, physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. The Facility Policy, titled, Transfer Utilizing a Mechanical Lift, dated as revised September 2023, indicated two licensed or certified staff were needed to do a Mechanical Lift transfer, and one of the staff members would have their hands on the resident during the transfer. A mechanical sling lift (often referred to as a Patient Lift or Hoyer Lift) is a device that allows caregivers to safely transfer an individual between a bed, wheelchair, shower chair, or another surface. A sling lift is comprised of a base on casters, a boom, and a cradle that supports the sling. Resident #1 was admitted to the Facility in July 2023, diagnoses included Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and peripheral neuropathy. Review of Resident #1's Activities of Daily Living Care Plan, dated as reviewed on 05/14/25, indicated Resident #1 required assistance of two staff members with the use of the mechanical sling lift for all transfers. The Facility's Incident Investigation Summary, undated, indicated that on the morning of 06/03/25, some time between 07:05 A.M., and 07:20 A.M., Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #1 attempted to transfer Resident #1 from his/her bed to his/her reclining wheelchair via the mechanical sling lift, and during the transfer Resident #1 fell from the sling and onto the floor. Review of Resident #1's Nurse Progress Note, dated 06/03/25, indicated Resident #1 was noted to be groaning, said he/she had pain in his/her back, and Nurse Practitioner (NP) #1 ordered for Resident #1 to be transferred to the Hospital Emergency Department for evaluation. Review of Resident #1's Emergency Department After Visit Summary, dated 06/03/25, indicated he/she had a witnessed fall from the mechanical sling lift at the Facility, and was diagnosed with the following: -Bilateral subdural fluid collections (a collection of blood between the dura mater (the tough outer layer of the meninges) and the surface of the brain. This condition typically occurs after a head injury and can be life-threatening due to the pressure it exerts on the brain) that measured 3 millimeters (mm) on the right and 5 mm on the left. -Left first and second nondisplaced (bones were broken, but remained in their original position) rib fractures. -Left second, third, fourth, and fifth acute rib fractures including significant displacement and flail segments (a condition that occurs when three or more adjacent ribs are fractured in two or more places, allowing that segment of the thoracic wall to displace and move independently of the rest of the chest wall. In flail chest, a segment of the chest wall separates from the rest and moves in the opposite direction from the rest of the chest wall when a person breathes. This condition can result in damage to the lungs or other organs.) -Left small to moderate pneumothorax (a condition where air or gas accumulates in the pleural space, the area between the lungs and the chest wall. This can cause partial or complete lung collapse, leading to chest pain and shortness of breath.) -Left trace hemothorax (a collection of blood in the pleural cavity, which is the space between the chest wall and the lung. It can be caused by an injury.) -Left scapula (shoulder blade) markedly comminuted (broken into more than two pieces), displaced (out of alignment) fracture, extending to the glenoid (socket part of the shoulder.) -Thoracic (middle spine) second and third transverse process (bony protrusion that extends sideways from each vertebra in the spine) acute nondisplaced fractures. -Lumbar (lower spine) second superior endplate mild to moderate height loss (occurs when the bone in the front (anterior) part of a vertebral body collapses and forms a wedge shape) and 3 millimeter (mm) retropulsion (a retropulsed fragment refers to a piece of the vertebra or intervertebral disc material that has been displaced from the vertebral body backward into the spinal canal.) Review of Resident #1's Nurse Practitioner Note, dated 06/04/25, indicated he/she returned to the Facility the evening of 06/03/25, and his/her skin observation revealed the following: -A superficial open area on the back of his/her head measuring 0.5 centimeters (cm.) -reddish bruising to the left back, buttock, and left upper back along the lateral edge of the scapula. During a telephone interview on 06/10/25 at 08:55 A.M., (which included a review of her written statement, dated 06/03/25), Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #1 said she normally worked full time on the 03:00 P.M., to 11:00 P.M., shift on the Resident #1's unit, and had picked up the day (07:00 A.M. to 03:00 P.M.) shift on 06/03/25. CNA #1 said at the time of the incident, she had been working at the facility for around two years, and had received education and training on mechanical sling lift transfers, and the need to review resident care plans before providing care. CNA #1 said that she was familiar with Resident #1, and his/her plan of care, and that she knew Resident #1 required two staff members assistance for transfers with the mechanical sling lift. CNA #1 also said she knew it was Facility policy that two staff members were required to assist with all mechanical sling lift transfers. CNA #1 said she never asked another staff member to help her transfer Resident #1. CNA #1 said that on 06/03/25 around 07:30 A.M., she attempted to transfer Resident #1 out of bed using the mechanical sling lift without getting assistance from another staff member. CNA #1 said during the transfer the upper left hook on the sling released from the lift and Resident #1, who was still suspended up in the sling around four feet off the floor, fell straight down to the floor. During an interview on 06/10/25 at 01:06 P.M., Nurse #1 said that on 06/03/25 at 07:00 A.M., she gave CNA #1 report, told her to start her assignment with Resident #1, and to get her when she was ready to transfer him/her. Nurse #1 said she reminded CNA #1 that Resident #1 required two staff members for transfers via the mechanical sling lift. Nurse #1 said CNA #1 never came to get her to assist with Resident #1's transfer out of bed, so she had no idea CNA #1 had tried to transfer Resident #1 by herself and that he/she fallen out of the lift sling. During an interview on 06/10/25 at 02:58 P.M., CNA #2 said she was the lead CNA for the unit, and on 06/03/25 at 06:40 A.M., she conducted her usual walking rounds on the unit and saw that Resident #1, who was usually washed and dressed by the 11:00 P.M., to 07:00 A.M., shift was in bed and fully dressed. CNA #2 said that between 07:15 A.M., and 07:20 A.M., she noticed Resident #1's bedroom door was slightly open and the mechanical sling lift was in the room. CNA #2 said when she entered the room to offer to help CNA #1 with transferring Resident #1, noticed that the mechanical lift sling pad was not positioned under him/her and was instead hanging from lift by the two top clips. CNA #2 said she left the room, because she thought CNA #1 was not ready to get Resident #1 up out of bed at that time. Review of the facility staffing schedule for Resident #1's unit for 6/03/25 during the day shift, indicated there were 33 residents on the unit, nursing staff consisted of the Unit Manager, two licensed nurses, five CNA's and one additional CNA that was on orientation. During an interview on 06/10/25 at 08:04 A.M., The Director of Nurses (DON) said CNA #1 had been working at the facility for two years, and that per her employee file, all of CNA #1's mandatory trainings which included but was not limited to facility policy's, abuse, neglect, provision of ADL care, safety, and mechanical lifts had been completed and were up to date. The DON said CNA #1 should have had another staff member with her for Resident #1's transfer on 06/03/25, but did not, and as a result Resident #1 fell and sustained serious injuries. The Director of Nurses (DON) said all mechanical lift transfers must be conducted with two staff members. On 06/10/25, the Facility was found to be in Past Non-Compliance and provided the Surveyor with a plan of correction which addressed the area of concern as evidenced by: A) 06/03/25, The Facility conducted an Ad-Hoc Quality Assurance Performance Improvement meeting, which indicated the Facility Leadership developed an action plan to correct the deficient practice, ensure that residents were free from falls involving the mechanical sling lift devices, and that all resident falls are reported to the nurse immediately. B) 06/03/25, The Assistant Director of Nurses (ADON)/designee educated all licensed staff and CNAs of the Facility policy and the requirement to always have two staff members present for all mechanical sling lift transfers. C) 06/03/25, The ADON/designee educated all licensed staff and CNAs of the Facility policy and the requirement not to move a resident following a fall until a nurse has assessed them. D) 06/03/25, The ADON/designee educated all licensed staff and CNAs of the Facility policy and the requirement to report all incidents involving residents immediately so a nurse can assess the resident and prevent further injuries. E) 06/05/25, The Inspection Report indicated the mechanical sling lift manufacturing company inspected all the Facility's mechanical sling lift devices and determined they were all in good working order. F) 06/06/25, The Mechanical Lift Sling Inspection attestations, signed by the Unit Managers, indicated the Facility's lift slings were inspected by and found to be intact without tears or fraying straps, and the fasteners were intact without cracks. G) The Staff Educator/designee conducted an audit to determine that all licensed staff and CNAs had a competency completed within the last year on mechanical sling lift transfers. H) 06/09/25, The Service Report indicated the mechanical sling lift manufacturing company conducted annual maintenance on the Facility's mechanical sling lift devices. I) 06/09/25, Department Managers educated all Facility staff that all staff in all departments were required to immediately report any noticed change in a resident condition, falls, anything out of the ordinary such as blood, to the nurse on duty or Unit Manager. J) 06/09/25, The Point of Care Audit Tool indicated Unit Managers conducted observations of staff performance of mechanical sling lift transfers. K) The DON/designee will conduct follow up audits consisting of visual observations of all licensed and CNA staff performances using the mechanical sling lift for transfers, and immediate re-education will be conducted as needed. L) The Unit Managers/designee will conduct weekly observations on all shifts of staff performance of five mechanical sling lift transfers for four weeks, and immediate re-education will be conducted as needed. M) The Facility will continue to monitor compliance at monthly and quarterly Quality Assurance Meetings. N) The Director of Nurses and/or designee are responsible for ongoing compliance.
CRITICAL (J) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation

Accident Prevention (Tag F0689)

Someone could have died · This affected 1 resident

Based on records reviewed and interviews for one of three sampled residents (Resident #1), who required two staff member assistance using the mechanical sling lift for all transfers, the Facility fail...

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Based on records reviewed and interviews for one of three sampled residents (Resident #1), who required two staff member assistance using the mechanical sling lift for all transfers, the Facility failed to ensure he/she was provided with the necessary level of staff assistance to maintain his/her safety and prevent an incident/accident resulting in significant injuries. On the morning of 06/03/25, Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #1 attempted to transfer Resident #1 without another staff member present to assist her, and during the transfer the upper left clip of the sling unattached from the lift, and Resident #1 fell around four feet onto the floor. Resident #1 was transferred to the Hospital Emergency Department (ED) and was diagnosed with several fractured ribs, fractured left scapula, several spinal fractures, bilateral subdural bleeds, a head laceration, and other internal injuries. Findings include: The Facility Policy, titled, Transfer Utilizing a Mechanical Lift, dated as revised September 2023, indicated two licensed or certified staff were needed to do a Mechanical Lift transfer, and one of the staff members would have their hands on the resident during the transfer. A mechanical sling lift (often referred to as a Patient Lift or Hoyer Lift) is a device that allows caregivers to safely transfer an individual between a bed, wheelchair, shower chair, or another surface. A sling lift is comprised of a base on casters, a boom, and a cradle that supports the sling. Resident #1 was admitted to the Facility in July 2023, diagnoses included Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and peripheral neuropathy. Review of Resident #1's Activities of Daily Living Care Plan, dated as reviewed on 05/14/25, indicated Resident #1 required assistance of two staff members using the mechanical sling lift for all transfers. The Facility's Incident Investigation Summary, undated, indicated that on the morning of 06/03/25, some time between 07:05 A.M., and 07:20 A.M., Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #1 attempted to transfer Resident #1 from his/her bed to his/her reclining wheelchair via the mechanical sling lift, and during the transfer Resident #1 fell from the sling and onto the floor. Review of Resident #1's Nurse Progress Note, dated 06/03/25, indicated that at 07:30 A.M., Nurse #1 heard Resident #1 groaning, he/she said he/she had pain in his/her back, and Nurse #1 administered his/her scheduled pain medication. The Note indicated that when Nurse #1 reassessed Resident #1, around 20 minutes later at 07:50 A.M., he/she was still complaining of back pain, so Nurse #1 applied a hot pack to his/her back. The Note indicated Resident #1 was fed breakfast in bed [by CNA #1], and Nurse #1 returned to his/her room twice during the breakfast meal to assess his/her pain. The Note indicated that at 10:00 A.M., Unit Secretary #1 alerted Nurse #1 that Resident #1 had blood on his/her pillow, and that Unit Manager #1, the Director of Nurses (DON) and Nurse Practitioner (NP #1) were all notified, responded, and NP #1 ordered for Resident #1 to be transferred to the Hospital ED. Review of Resident #1's Emergency Department After Visit Summary, dated 06/03/25, indicated he/she had a witnessed fall from the mechanical sling lift at the Facility, and he/she was diagnosed with the following: -Bilateral subdural fluid collections (a collection of blood between the dura mater (the tough outer layer of the meninges) and the surface of the brain. This condition typically occurs after a head injury and can be life-threatening due to the pressure it exerts on the brain) that measured 3 millimeters (mm) on the right and 5 mm on the left. -Left first and second nondisplaced (bones were broken, but remained in their original position) rib fractures. -Left second, third, fourth, and fifth acute rib fractures including significant displacement and flail segments (a condition that occurs when three or more adjacent ribs are fractured in two or more places, allowing that segment of the thoracic wall to displace and move independently of the rest of the chest wall. In flail chest, a segment of the chest wall separates from the rest and moves in the opposite direction from the rest of the chest wall when a person breathes. This condition can result in damage to the lungs or other organs.) -Left small to moderate pneumothorax (a condition where air or gas accumulates in the pleural space, the area between the lungs and the chest wall. This can cause partial or complete lung collapse, leading to chest pain and shortness of breath.) -Left trace hemothorax (a collection of blood in the pleural cavity, which is the space between the chest wall and the lung. It can be caused by an injury.) -Left scapula (shoulder blade) markedly comminuted (broken into more than two pieces), displaced (out of alignment) fracture, extending to the glenoid (socket part of the shoulder.) -Thoracic (middle spine) second and third transverse process (bony protrusion that extends sideways from each vertebra in the spine) acute nondisplaced fractures. -Lumbar (lower spine) second superior endplate mild to moderate height loss (occurs when the bone in the front (anterior) part of a vertebral body collapses and forms a wedge shape) and 3 millimeter (mm) retropulsion (a retropulsed fragment refers to a piece of the vertebra or intervertebral disc material that has been displaced from the vertebral body backward into the spinal canal.) Review of Resident #1's Nurse Practitioner Note, dated 06/04/25, indicated he/she returned to the Facility the evening of 06/03/25, and his/her skin observation revealed the following: -A superficial open area on the back of his/her head measuring 0.5 centimeters (cm.) -reddish bruising to the left back, buttock, and left upper back along the lateral edge of the scapula. During a telephone interview on 06/10/25 at 08:55 A.M., (which included a review of her written statement, dated 06/03/25), Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #1 said she normally worked full time on the 03:00 P.M., to 11:00 P.M., shift on the Resident #1's unit, and had picked up the day (07:00 A.M. to 03:00 P.M.) shift on 06/03/25. CNA #1 said at the time of the incident, she had been working at the facility for around two years, and had received education and training on mechanical sling lift transfers. CNA #1 said that she was familiar with Resident #1, and knew Resident #1 required two staff members assistance for transfers with the mechanical sling lift. CNA #1 also said she knew it was Facility policy that two staff members were required to assist with all mechanical sling lift transfers. CNA #1 said that on 06/03/25 around 07:30 A.M., she attempted to transfer Resident #1 out of bed using the mechanical sling lift without getting assistance from another staff member. CNA #1 said during the transfer the upper left hook on the sling released from the lift and Resident #1, who was still suspended up in the sling around four feet off the floor, fell straight down to the floor. CNA #1 said she never asked another staff member to help her transfer Resident #1, because they were short staffed. However, review of the facility staffing schedule for Resident #1's unit for 6/03/25 during the day shift, indicated there were 33 residents on the unit, nursing staff consisted of the Unit Manager, two licensed nurses, five CNA's and one additional CNA that was on orientation. During an interview on 06/10/25 at 01:06 P.M., Nurse #1 said that on 06/03/25 at 07:00 A.M., she gave CNA #1 report, told her to start her assignment with Resident #1, and to get her when she was ready to transfer him/her. Nurse #1 said she reminded CNA #1 that Resident #1 required two staff members for transfers via the mechanical sling lift. Nurse #1 said CNA #1 never came to get her to assist with Resident #1's transfer out of bed, so she had no idea CNA #1 had tried to transfer Resident #1 by herself and that he/she fallen out of the lift sling. During an interview on 06/10/25 at 02:58 P.M., CNA #2 said she was the lead CNA for Resident #1's unit. CNA #2 said that between 07:15 A.M., and 07:20 A.M., she noticed Resident #1's bedroom door was slightly open and the mechanical sling lift was in the room. CNA #2 said when she entered the room to offer to help CNA #1 with transferring Resident #1, noticed that the mechanical lift sling pad was not positioned under him/her and was instead hanging from lift by the two top clips. CNA #2 said she left the room, because she thought CNA #1 was not ready to get Resident #1 up out of bed at that time. During an interview on 06/10/25 at 03:22 P.M., Unit Manager #1 said that on 06/03/25 at 10:00 A.M., Nurse #1 told her that Resident #1 was bleeding, and said she immediately went to assess Resident #1. Unit Manager #1 said there was blood on two pillows, and she and Nurse #1 tried to roll Resident #1 over to assess him/her, but could not because he/she moaned in pain and said, that hurts. Unit Manager #1 said she was able to briefly see the back of Resident #1's head, said it was raw and there was fresh blood in his/her hair. Unit Manager #1 said while she and Nurse #1 were assessing Resident #1, CNA #1 came to the room. Unit Manager #1 said she asked CNA #1 if anything had happened to Resident #1 and said CNA #1 said No. Unit Manager #1 said CNA #1 was asked if she knew about the blood on Resident #1's floor, that CNA #1 said she knew about the blood on the floor but had not reported it, and said why would I? During an interview on 06/10/25 at 08:04 A.M., The Director of Nurses (DON) said CNA #1 had been working at the facility for two years, and that per her employee file, all of CNA #1's mandatory trainings which included but was not limited to facility policy's, abuse, neglect, provision of ADL care, safety, and mechanical lifts transfers had been completed and were up to date. The DON said CNA #1 should have had another staff member with her for Resident #1's transfer on 06/03/25, but did not, and as a result Resident #1 fell and sustained serious injuries. On 06/10/25, the Facility was found to be in Past Non-Compliance and provided the Surveyor with a plan of correction which addressed the area of concern as evidenced by: A) 06/03/25, The Facility conducted an Ad-Hoc Quality Assurance Performance Improvement meeting, which indicated the Facility Leadership developed an action plan to correct the deficient practice, ensure that residents were free from falls involving the mechanical sling lift devices, and that all resident falls are reported to the nurse immediately. B) 06/03/25, The Assistant Director of Nurses (ADON)/designee educated all licensed staff and CNAs of the Facility policy and the requirement to always have two staff members present for all mechanical sling lift transfers. C) 06/03/25, The ADON/designee educated all licensed staff and CNAs of the Facility policy and the requirement not to move a resident following a fall until a nurse has assessed them. D) 06/03/25, The ADON/designee educated all licensed staff and CNAs of the Facility policy and the requirement to report all incidents involving residents immediately so a nurse can assess the resident and prevent further injuries. E) 06/05/25, The Inspection Report indicated the mechanical sling lift manufacturing company inspected all the Facility's mechanical sling lift devices and determined they were all in good working order. F) 06/06/25, The Mechanical Lift Sling Inspection attestations, signed by the Unit Managers, indicated the Facility's lift slings were inspected by and found to be intact without tears or fraying straps, and the fasteners were intact without cracks. G) The Staff Educator/designee conducted an audit to determine that all licensed staff and CNAs had a competency completed within the last year on mechanical sling lift transfers. H) 06/09/25, The Service Report indicated the mechanical sling lift manufacturing company conducted annual maintenance on the Facility's mechanical sling lift devices. I) 06/09/25, Department Managers educated all Facility staff that all staff in all departments were required to immediately report any noticed change in a resident condition, falls, anything out of the ordinary such as blood, to the nurse on duty or Unit Manager. J) 06/09/25, The Point of Care Audit Tool indicated Unit Managers conducted observations of staff performance of mechanical sling lift transfers. K) The DON/designee will conduct follow up audits consisting of visual observations of all licensed and CNA staff performances using the mechanical sling lift for transfers, and immediate re-education will be conducted as needed. L) The Unit Managers/designee will conduct weekly observations on all shifts of staff performance of five mechanical sling lift transfers for four weeks, and immediate re-education will be conducted as needed. M) The Facility will continue to monitor compliance at monthly and quarterly Quality Assurance Meetings. N) The Director of Nurses and/or designee are responsible for ongoing compliance.
Feb 2025 2 deficiencies
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Comprehensive Care Plan (Tag F0656)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

Based on observations, interviews and record review, the facility failed to implement a comprehensive person-centered care plan for one Resident (#72) out of a total sample of 20 residents. Specifical...

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Based on observations, interviews and record review, the facility failed to implement a comprehensive person-centered care plan for one Resident (#72) out of a total sample of 20 residents. Specifically, for Resident #72: a.) the facility failed to ensure covered cups for hot beverages were implemented as directed by the plan of care. b.) the facility failed to ensure staff cut up food as directed by the plan of care. Findings include: Review of the facility policy titled 'Baseline and Comprehensive Person-Centered Care', revised 6/1/24, indicated, but was not limited to the following: - The comprehensive care plan must describe the following: services to attain or maintain the Resident's highest practicable, physical, mental and psychosocial well-being, and any services that would otherwise be required by are not provided due to the Resident's exercise of rights. - The Residents have the right to refuse treatment and the rationale to be stated in the medical records. - Services provided will be in consultation with the Resident and the Resident's representative. Resident #72 was admitted to the facility in January 2025 with diagnoses including glaucoma and macular degeneration, which are both chronic eye diseases that cause vision loss. Review of the most recent Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment, dated 1/9/25, indicated Resident #72 had moderate cognitive impairment as evidenced by a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 11 out of 15. This MDS also indicated Resident #72's vision was highly impaired wearing glasses and required substantial/maximal assistance with eating. a.) Review of Resident #72's plan of care related to nutrition, dated 1/10/25, indicated: - Resident #72 has an alteration in nutrition due to a significant unplanned weight loss due to poor PO (by mouth) intake. - Resident #72 has impaired vision. - Identify placement of foods entrée and long [sic] plate. - Provide lip plate, soup in mugs, covered cup for hot beverage. Review of Resident #72's occupational therapy evaluation, dated 1/3/25, indicated: - Patient is legally blind. Review of Resident #72's Dietitian progress note, dated 1/10/25, indicated: - [Resident] reported tea was too hot -- milk added. - Provide covered cup for hot beverage. Review of Resident #72's occupational therapy progress note, dated 1/21/25, indicated: - Resident was noted to be wearing 'bib' to cover his/her clothes and protect his/her skin from spillage. On 2/5/25 at 9:20 A.M., the surveyor observed Resident #72 eating alone in his/her room with the door closed. There was an uncovered mug of tea next to his/her breakfast tray. The meal slip on the breakfast tray failed to indicate need for covered cup for hot beverages. On 2/5/25 12:22 P.M., the surveyor observed Resident #72 eating alone in his/her room. There was an uncovered mug of tea on his/her lunch tray. The meal slip on the lunch tray failed to indicate need for covered cup for hot beverages. There was tea spilled on the surface of the lunch tray. On 2/6/25 at 9:36 A.M., the surveyor observed Resident #72 eating alone in his/her room. There was an uncovered mug of tea on his/her breakfast tray. The meal slip on the breakfast tray failed to indicate need for covered cup for hot beverages. On 2/6/7 at 12:28 P.M., the surveyor observed Resident #72 eating alone in his/her room with the door closed. There was an uncovered mug of tea on his/her lunch tray. The meal slip on the lunch tray failed to indicate need for covered cup for hot beverages. There was tea spilled on to the surface of the lunch tray. Resident #72 said sometimes he/she spills hot drinks and staff never put covers on the mugs. During an interview on 2/7/25 at 8:32 A.M., the Dietitian said Resident #72 always drinks his/her tea from an uncovered mug. The Dietitian said Resident #72 often spills because of his/her significant visual deficits, but that staff always makes sure the beverages aren't too hot that they would cause burns. The Dietitian was unaware the Resident's care plan indicated provide covered cups for hot beverages but said it should have been implemented if it was in the care plan. During an interview on 2/7/25 at 9:03 A.M., Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) #2 and CNA #3 said special instructions, such as covered mugs, would be indicated on the meal slip on the tray or communicated to the CNAs by nurse report or on the assignment list. CNA #2 and CNA #3 said they were unaware Resident #72 required covered cups for hot beverages. During an interview on 2/7/25 at 9:08 A.M., Nurse Unit Manager #2 said any interventions on Resident #72's active care plan should be implemented. Nurse Unit Manager #2 was unaware Resident #72 required covered mugs for hot beverages. Nurse Unit Manager #2 observed the uncovered mug on Resident #72's tray and said that it was not a covered cup such as was indicated in his/her care plan. During an interview on 2/7/25 at 10:11 A.M., the Director of Nursing (DON) said any interventions on Resident #72's active care plan should be implemented, including providing a covered cup for hot beverages. b.) Review of Resident #72's plan of care related to nutrition, dated 1/10/25, indicated: - Resident #72 has an alteration in nutrition due to a significant unplanned weight loss due to poor PO (by mouth) intake. - Resident #72 has impaired vision, needs food cut up for him/her. - Identify placement of foods entrée and long [sic] plate. - Diet as ordered. - Assess for finger foods as needed. Review of Resident #72's active physician's order, dated 1/3/25, indicated: - Diet Type: Regular; Diet Consistency: Cut-Up. Review of Resident #72's occupational therapy evaluation, dated 1/3/25, indicated: - Patient is legally blind. Review of Resident #72's Dietitian progress note, dated 1/10/25, indicated: - Food cut up because resident cannot see to do it himself/herself. Review of Resident #72's Dietitian progress note, dated 1/23/25, indicated: - Resident #72 is tolerating a regular cut up diet which he/she needs because he/she is not able to see to do it himself/herself. Review of Resident #72's occupational therapy progress note, dated 1/19/25, indicated: - noted mild difficulty with cutting egg. On 2/5/25 at 9:20 A.M., the surveyor observed Resident #72 eating alone in his/her room with the door closed. Resident #72 was using a red built up fork to attempt to eat a runny fried egg. There also were other finger foods on the plate, including an english muffin and bacon. Resident #72 repeatedly attempted to load the fork with the egg and bring the fork to his/her mouth unsuccessfully. The meal slip on the breakfast tray indicated the need for a regular, cut up diet and that a cut-up egg-fried should be on this meal tray. On 2/6/25 at 9:36 A.M., the surveyor observed Resident #72 eating alone in his/her room. There was an uncut over-easy fried egg, with the yolk appearing to be runny. There also were other finger foods on the plate, including an english muffin and bacon. The meal slip on the breakfast tray indicated the need for a regular, cut up diet and that a cut-up egg-fried should be on this meal tray. On 2/6/7 at 12:28 P.M., the surveyor observed Resident #72 eating alone in his/her room with the door closed. There was a sandwich cut in half filled with a filling that appeared to be tuna fish. There was also two large leaves of lettuce and two slices of tomatoes. Resident #72 was holding one triangle slice of bread containing a large mound of tuna fish filling. Resident #72 was mouthing the bread and unsuccessfully attempting to eat the tuna fish filling by licking it. Resident #72 said he/she has trouble eating things when it isn't cut up into smaller pieces. During an interview on 2/7/25 at 8:32 A.M., the Dietitian said Resident #72 had difficulty with his/her meals because of significant visual impairment and requires staff to identify the location of food on the meal tray and cut up food that is not finger foods. The Dietitian said Resident #72 needed his/her food cut up because he/she cannot see the food. The Dietitian said Resident #72's fried egg should have been cut-up, as indicated on the meal-slip. The Dietitian said Resident #72 usually did well with finger foods, but a runny fried egg was not a finger food. During an interview on 2/7/25 at 9:03 A.M., Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) #2 and CNA #3 said Resident #72 had significant visual deficit and requires staff to identify the location of food on the meal tray. CNA #2 and CNA #3 said runny, fried eggs should be cut up as indicated on the meal slip on the tray. During an interview on 2/7/25 at 9:08 A.M., Nurse Unit Manager #2 said Resident #72 had significant visual deficit and required staff to identify the location of food on the meal tray and to cut up food that was not finger foods. Nurse Unit Manager #2 said runny, fried eggs should be cut up as indicated on the meal slip on the tray. During an interview on 2/7/25 at 10:11 A.M., the Director of Nursing (DON) said the fried egg should have been cut up if indicated on the meal slip and all interventions, such as a cut up diet, should be implemented following the Resident's active plan of care.
CONCERN (E)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0761 (Tag F0761)

Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, and interviews, the facility failed to ensure medications were labeled and dated once opened, according t...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, and interviews, the facility failed to ensure medications were labeled and dated once opened, according to manufacturer's guidelines, in three out of three medication carts. Findings include: Review of the facility policy titled Storage of Medications, dated 4/26/21, indicated the following: It is the policy of [NAME]-[NAME] Village that medications and biologicals are stored safely, securely, and properly, following manufacture's recommendations or those of the supplier. The medication supply is accessible only to licensed nursing personnel, pharmacy personnel, or staff members lawfully authorized to administer medications. -Outdated, contaminated, or deteriorated medications and those in containers that are cracked, soiled, or without secure closures are immediately removed from inventory, disposed of according to procedures for medication disposal, and reordered from the pharmacy, of a current order exists. During an observation on 2/6/25 at 8:47 A.M., the following medications were observed in the Ross-[NAME] medication cart low side: -One 887mL (milliliter) bottle of (Pro-Stat) Liquid Protein opened and undated, therefore unable to determine an expiration date. Manufacturer instructions indicate to discard the bottle after 90 days of opening. During an interview on 2/6/25 at 8:55 A.M., Nurse #1 said medications must be dated when opened and should be discarded if undated as unable to determine the expiry date. During an observation on 2/6/25 at 9:05 A.M., the following medications were observed on the Ross-[NAME] medication cart high side: -One bottle of fluticasone nasal spray (nasal spray contain steroid used to treat allergies) 50 mcg (micrograms) open and undated, therefore unable to determine the expiration date. Manufacturer instructions indicate to discard after using 120 sprays. -One bottle of atropine 1% ophthalmic eye drops (used orally for increased secretions) opened and undated, therefore unable to determine an expiration date. Manufacturer instructions indicate to discard 28 days after opening. During an interview on 2/6/25 at 9:20 A.M., Nurse # 2 said medications should have been dated when opened and undated medications need to be removed from medication cart. During an observation on 2/6/25 at 9:22 A.M., the following medications were observed in the [NAME] medication cart low side: -One bottle of brinzolamide suspension 1% (used to treat increased pressure in the eye) opened and undated, therefore unable to determine an expiration date. Manufacturer instructions indicate to discard 28 days after opening. During an interview on 2/6/25 at 9:30 A.M., Nurse #3 said medications should have been dated when opened and undated medications need to be removed from medication cart. During an interview on 2/6/25 at 1:30 P.M., the Director of Nursing (DON) said medications must be dated and labeled appropriately when opened according to the manufacturer's instructions and said expired medications must be removed.
May 2024 3 deficiencies 2 Harm
SERIOUS (G) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Actual Harm - a resident was hurt due to facility failures

Comprehensive Care Plan (Tag F0656)

A resident was harmed · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on records reviewed and interviews, for one of three sampled residents (Resident #1), who was assessed by nursing as being...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on records reviewed and interviews, for one of three sampled residents (Resident #1), who was assessed by nursing as being at high risk for falls, and whose comprehensive plan of care indicated he/she required the use of monitoring devices (bed and chair alarms) to alert staff when he/she attempted to stand or transfer alone, the Facility failed to ensure staff implemented and followed interventions identified in his/her plan of care, when alarms were not consistently used by staff, and he/she experienced two falls less than 24 hours apart, both of which resulted in an injury. After fall on 5/08/24, Resident #1 sustained a head laceration that required six staples to close, and on 5/09/24, Resident #1 fell again, fractured his/her nose and had a large hematoma (bruise) on his/her forehead. Findings include: The Facility Policy, titled Baseline and Comprehensive Person-Centered Care, dated as revised on 06/15/21, indicated nursing staff would implement a plan of care for each resident to provide effective person-centered care. Resident #1 was admitted to the Facility in May 2024, diagnoses included orthostatic hypotension (a form of low blood pressure that happens when standing after sitting or lying down and can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, and other problems), chronic atrial fibrillation, stroke, macular degeneration, and was legally blind. Review of Resident #1's Fall Risk Assessment, dated 05/02/24, indicated he/she was assessed by nursing as being at high risk for falls. Review of Resident #1's Fall Risk Care Plan, dated 05/02/24, (which was provided by the facility in the Report they submitted to the Department of Public Health via the Health Care Facility Reporting System (HCFRS), dated 05/13/24), indicated that his/her interventions included for staff to equip Resident #1 with a device that monitored rising (clarified during the survey by the Director of Nursing to mean bed and chair alarms). However, despite the Fall Risk Care Plan indicating Resident #1 required alarms, review of Resident #1's medical record, dated 5/02/4 through 5/08/24, indicated there was no nursing or CNA documentation to support any type of monitoring device was in place and being monitored by staff, in an effort to maintain Resident #1's safety. Review of Resident #1's Nurse Progress Note, dated 05/08/24, indicated that at 05:00 P.M., Resident #1 was found on the floor in his/her room, was bleeding from a laceration on the left side of his/her head, and was transferred to the Hospital Emergency Department. Review of Resident #1's Hospital Emergency Department Discharge summary, dated [DATE], indicated he/she was assessed and treated for a 4 centimeter (cm) laceration to the left side of his/her head as a result of a fall at the Facility, and required 6 staples to close the wound. During an interview on 05/29/24 at 12:39 P.M., Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #1 said that on 05/08/24 at 5:00 P.M., she saw Resident #1 standing alone in his/her room, and witnessed Resident #1 fall. CNA #1 said Resident #1 did not have any alarms in place or sounding at the time. During an interview on 05/29/24 at 03:09 P.M., CNA #4 said that on 05/08/24 she was the CNA assigned to care for Resident #1 on 05/08/24, and at 05:00 P.M., she was called over by CNA #1 because Resident #1 had fallen, and was bleeding. CNA #1 said Resident #1 did not have any alarms in place at that time. During an interview on 05/29/24 at 02:57 P.M., Nurse #1 said that on 05/08/24 at 05:00 P.M., he was told by CNA #4 that Resident #1 had fallen. Nurse #1 said Resident #1 was bleeding from a laceration on the left side of his/her head and was transferred to the Hospital Emergency Department. Nurse#1 said prior to this incident, Resident #1 did not not have bed or chair alarms in place. Nurse #1 said that when Resident #1 returned to the Facility that night at 9:45 P.M., he implemented bed and chair alarms for Resident #1 as a measure to prevent falls. Review of Resident #1's Nurse Progress Note, dated 05/09/24, indicated that he/she had an unwitnessed fall when CNA #1 left him/her (unattended in the bathroom) on the toilet seat to get linen. The Note indicated CNA #1 said she heard a loud bang, and upon returning to Resident #1's room, found him/her lying on the bathroom floor, was bleeding from his/her nose, had swelling to his/her forehead, and was transferred to the Hospital Emergency Department. Review of Resident #1's Hospital emergency room Discharge summary, dated [DATE], indicated he/she was diagnosed with a closed fracture of the nasal bone as a result of a fall at the Facility. During a telephone interview on 05/29/24 at 11:42 A.M., Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #2 said that on 05/09/24 at 5:40 A.M., she assisted Resident #1 to the bathroom, and left him/her on the toilet while she went to the linen cart, which was located outside Resident #1's room and a few doors down the hall, to get linen. CNA #2 said when she transferred Resident #1 from his/her bed, there was a bed alarm in place and functioning which she disabled in order to help Resident #1 up from the bed. CNA #2 said she should not have left Resident #1 alone in the bathroom without an alarm in place. CNA #2 said after going to get the linens, she heard a loud bang, and upon returning to the Resident #1's room, found him/her on his/her stomach on the bathroom floor and he/she was bleeding from the laceration on the left side of his/her head he/she had gotten from the fall on 05/08/24. CNA #2 said she could not see if Resident #1 was bleeding from his/her nose. During an interview on 05/29/24 at 03:55 P.M., Nurse #4 said she worked the 11:00 P.M., (05/08/24) to 7:00 A.M., (05/09/24) shift. Nurse #4 said it was reported to her during shift report (from Nurse #1) that Resident #1 had fallen, was transferred to the Hospital Emergency Department where he/she was treated for a laceration to the left side of his/her head. Nurse #4 said Nurse #1 shared in report that he had implemented bed and chair alarms for Resident #1 for safety. Nurse #4 said she checked on Resident #1 throughout her shift and the bed alarm was in place and functioning. Nurse #4 said that on 05/09/24 at 5:40 A.M., CNA #2 informed her that Resident #1 was on the floor in the bathroom. Nurse #4 said Resident #1 was found in the bathroom, lying on the floor on his/her stomach with his/her face on the floor, was bleeding from his/her nose and the laceration at the left side of his/her head, and was transferred to the Hospital Emergency Room. During an interview on 05/29/24 at 9:03 A.M., The Director of Nurses (DON) said staff should implement alarms when they are identified on a resident's care plan, and said residents who have bed and chair alarms implemented should not be left alone without an alarm in place.
SERIOUS (G) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Actual Harm - a resident was hurt due to facility failures

Accident Prevention (Tag F0689)

A resident was harmed · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on records reviewed and interviews, for one of three sampled residents (Resident #1), who was assessed by nursing as being...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on records reviewed and interviews, for one of three sampled residents (Resident #1), who was assessed by nursing as being at high risk for falls, had a fall on 5/08/24 with an injury, was known to be impulsive and whose fall risk interventions included the use of monitoring devices (bed and chair alarms) to alert staff when he/she rose from a sitting or lying position, the Facility failed to ensure he/she was provided with the necessary safety devices and level of staff supervision to maintain his/her safety, when on 05/09/24 Certified Nurse Aide #1 assisted Resident #1 to the toilet, removed his/her alarm and left him/her unattended in the bathroom to go get supplies. Resident #1 fell in the bathroom, struck his/her face on the floor, and as a result, was transferred to the Hospital Emergency Department where he/she was diagnosed with a nasal bone fracture and large forehead hematoma (bruise). Findings include: The Facility Policy, titled Fall Prevention Protocol, dated 11/13/17, indicated staff would provide an environment of safety, prioritize and assist with the prevention of resident falls, and through the use of assessments tools, all residents would be assessed for risks of falling and programs would be initiated as a result of the assessment. The Policy indicated residents that were assessed as being at risk to fall would have interventions initiated as indicated through the assessment and Interdisciplinary Team Plan of Care. The Facility Policy, titled Bed and Chair Alarms, dated 07/14/08, indicated the Facility would use bed and chair alarms to help assure resident safety from falls. The alarms would not replace clinical judgement, and staff would monitor residents closely to avoid fall situations. The Facility Policy, titled Baseline and Comprehensive Person-Centered Care, dated as revised on 06/15/21, indicated nursing staff would implement a plan of care for each resident to provide effective person-centered care. Resident #1 was admitted to the Facility in May 2024, diagnoses included orthostatic hypotension (a form of low blood pressure that happens when standing after sitting or lying down and can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, and other problems), chronic atrial fibrillation, stroke, macular degeneration, and was legally blind. Review of Resident #1's Fall Risk Assessment, dated 05/02/24, indicated he/she was assessed by nursing as being at high risk for falls. Review of Resident #1's Fall Risk Care Plan, dated 05/02/24, (which was provided by the facility in the Report they submitted to the Department of Public Health via the Health Care Facility Reporting System (HCFRS), dated 05/13/24), indicated that his/her interventions included for staff to equip Resident #1 with a device that monitored rising (clarified during the survey by the Director of Nursing to mean bed and chair alarms). However, despite the Fall Risk Care Plan indicating Resident #1 required alarms, review of Resident #1's medical record, dated 5/02/4 through 5/08/24, indicated there was no nursing or CNA documentation to support any type of monitoring device was in place and being monitored by staff, in an effort to maintain Resident #1's safety. Review of Resident #1's Nurse Progress Note, dated 05/08/24, indicated that at 05:00 P.M., Resident #1 was found on the floor in his/her room, was bleeding from a laceration on the left side of his/her head, and was transferred to the Hospital Emergency Department. During an interview on 05/29/24 at 02:57 P.M., Nurse #1 said that on 05/08/24 at 05:00 P.M., he was told by CNA #4 that Resident #1 had fallen. Nurse #1 said Resident #1 was bleeding from a laceration on the left side of his/her head and was transferred to the Hospital Emergency Department. Nurse#1 said prior to this incident, Resident #1 did not not have bed or chair alarms in place. Nurse #1 said that when Resident #1 returned to the Facility at 9:45 P.M., he implemented bed and chair alarms for Resident #1 as a measure to prevent falls. Review of Resident #1's Hospital Emergency Department Discharge summary, dated [DATE], indicated he/she was assessed and treated for a 4-centimeter (cm) laceration to the left side of his/her head as a result of a fall at the Facility, and required 6 staples to close the wound. During an interview on 05/29/24 at 12:39 P.M., Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #1 said that on 05/08/24 at 5:00 P.M., she saw Resident #1 standing alone in his/her room, and witnessed Resident #1 fall. CNA #1 said Resident #1 did not have any alarms in place or sounding at the time. During an interview on 05/29/24 at 03:09 P.M., CNA #4 said she was assigned to care for Resident #1 on 05/08/24 during the evening shift (3:00 P.M to 11:00 P.M.), and said Resident #1 did not have any alarms in place at that time. During an interview on 05/29/24 at 03:55 P.M., Nurse #4 said she worked the 11:00 P.M., (05/08/24) to 7:00 A.M., (05/09/24) shift. Nurse #4 said it was reported to her during change of shift report that Resident #1 had fallen, was transferred to the Hospital Emergency Department where he/she was treated for a laceration to the left side of his/her head. Nurse #4 said Nurse #1 had implemented bed and chair alarms for Resident #1 for safety. Nurse #4 said she checked on Resident #1 throughout her shift and the bed alarm was in place and functioning. Nurse #4 said that on 05/09/24 at 5:40 A.M., CNA #2 informed her that Resident #1 was on the floor. Nurse #4 said Resident #1 was found in the bathroom, lying on the floor on his/her stomach with his/her face on the floor and he/she was bleeding from his/her nose and laceration at the left side of his/her head, and was transferred to the Hospital Emergency Room. Review of Resident #1's Nurse Progress Note, dated 05/09/24, (written by Nurse #4 during the 11:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. shift) indicated that at 5:40 A.M., Resident #1 had an unwitnessed fall when CNA #1 left him/her on the toilet seat [and left the bathroom] to get linens. The Note indicated CNA #1 said she heard a loud bang, and upon returning to Resident #1's room, found him/her lying on the bathroom floor, he/she was bleeding from his/her nose, had swelling to his/her forehead, and was transferred to the Hospital Emergency Department. Review of Resident #1's Hospital emergency room Discharge summary, dated [DATE], indicated he/she was diagnosed with a closed fracture of the nasal bone as a result of a fall at the Facility. During a telephone interview on 05/29/24 at 11:42 A.M., Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #2 said that on 05/09/24 at 5:40 A.M., she assisted Resident #1 to the bathroom, and left him/her on the toilet while she went to the linen cart, which was located outside Resident #1's room and a few doors down the hall, to get linen. CNA #2 said she heard a loud bang, and upon returning to the Resident #1's room, found him/her on his/her stomach on the bathroom floor and he/she was bleeding from the left head laceration he/she had gotten from the fall on 05/08/24. CNA #2 said she could not see if Resident #1 was bleeding from his/her nose. CNA #2 said when she assisted Resident #1 to transfer from his/her bed, there was a bed alarm in place and functioning which she disabled in order to help Resident #1 up from the bed. CNA #2 said she should not have left Resident #1 alone in the bathroom without an alarm in place. During an interview on 05/29/24 at 9:03 A.M., The Director of Nurses (DON) said staff should implement alarms when they are identified on a resident's care plan, and said residents who have bed and chair alarms implemented should not be left alone without an alarm in place.
CONCERN (D) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Quality of Care (Tag F0684)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

Based on records reviewed and interviews, for one of three sampled residents (Resident #2), who had a history of having sustained a subdural hematoma (pool of blood between the brain and it;s outer co...

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Based on records reviewed and interviews, for one of three sampled residents (Resident #2), who had a history of having sustained a subdural hematoma (pool of blood between the brain and it;s outer covering), the Facility failed to ensure staff provided quality of care consistent with professional standards of practice, when on 5/19/24 after finding Resident #2 on the floor after an unwitnessed fall, two Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) picked him/her up off the floor and put him/her in bed before informing and having nursing assess him/her for the potential for injury, and as a result, his/her neurological signs were not measured or documented per facility policy in the event of an unwitnessed fall, by nursing. Findings include: The Facility Policy, titled Actual Fall Protocol, dated as revised on 05/03/18, indicated a fall was defined as a problem characterized by the failure to maintain an appropriate lying or sitting position, resulting in an individual's abrupt, undesired relocation to the ground. The Policy indicated that all falls were to be assessed and treated immediately to provide comfort and prevent further injury, the resident should never be moved until the licensed nurse assesses him/her, and any neurological changes. The Facility Policy, titled Neurological Signs for Suspected Head Injury, dated as revised 03/16/19, indicated neurological signs would be assessed on a resident who had sustained or was suspected to have sustained a head injury. The Policy indicated neurological signs would be assessed every two hours for the first 24 hours, then every shift for 48 hours. Resident #2 was admitted to the Facility in July 2019, diagnoses included sepsis, hypertension, history of subdural hematoma, cognitive impairment, and anxiety. Review of Resident #2's Nurse Progress Note, dated 05/19/24, indicated he/she had a skin tear on his/her elbow. The Progress Note indicated he/she denied falling, but was unable to explain how he/she got the skin tear. During an interview on 05/29/24 at 12:39 P.M., Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #1 said that on 05/19/24 at 10:20 P.M., she found Resident #2 lying on the floor in his/her room. CNA #1 said she got CNA #5, who was assigned to Resident #2, and they lifted Resident #2 up off the floor and put him/her in bed. CNA #1 said when they removed his/her shirt they discovered the skin tear on his/her left arm. CNA #1 said she stayed with Resident #2 and that CNA #5 went to tell Nurse #3 about the incident, and that she (CNA #1) left the room when CNA #5 returned. Review of CNA #5's Written Witness Statement, dated 05/19/24, indicated Resident #2 was sitting on his/her bed and she noticed he/she had a skin tear on his/her left arm. Review of CNA #5's additional Witness Statement, emailed by CNA #5 to the facility, dated 05/24/24, indicated that on 05/19/24 at 10:20 P.M., CNA #1 told her that Resident #1 was found on the floor in his/her room. The Statement indicated that she (CNA #5) and CNA #1 picked Resident #2 up from the floor and put him/her onto the bed, and when they removed his/her shirt they discovered the skin tear on his/her left arm. The Statement indicated she (CNA #5) reported to Nurse #3 that Resident #2 had a skin tear. However, there was no documentation in either one of CNA #5's statements that indicated she notified Nurse #3 about Resident #2's being found on the floor (after an unwitnessed fall). During a telephone interview on 06/03/24 at 11:34 A.M., Nurse #3 said that on 05/19/24 at 10:30 P.M., Certified Nurse Aide #5 told him that Resident #2 had a new skin tear on his/her left arm. Nurse #3 said when he went to assess Resident #2, he/she was seated on his/her bed and had a skin tear on his/her left elbow that measured 4 centimeters (cm) by 2 cm. Nurse #3 said he asked Resident #2 if he/she fell, and he/she said no. Nurse #3 said he asked CNA #5 if Resident #2 fell, and she said no. Nurse #3 said he did not ask any other staff if they knew what happened to Resident #2 that caused the skin tear, and said he was informed several days later that Resident #2 told Unit Manager #1 that he/she had fallen. During an interview on 05/29/24 at 1:22 P.M., Unit Manager #1 said that on 05/20/24 she read the skin tear report regarding Resident #2's skin tear, and said she did not understand how he/she got the skin tear. Unit Manager #1 said she tried calling Nurse #3, but was unable to reach him. Unit Manager #1 said that on 05/21/24 (two days after the unwitnessed fall) Resident #2 told her that he/she had fallen, and that was how he/she got the skin tear. Unit Manager #1 said CNA #1 and CNA #5 should have told Nurse #3 that Resident #2 was found on the floor (after an unwitnessed fall). Unit Manager #1 said Nurse #3 should have collected statements from staff other than CNA #5's in an effort to learn what had happened to Resident #2. Unit Manager #1 said that due to the delay in nursing staff knowing that Resident #2 had fallen, nursing staff did not initiate neurological signs for Resident #2 following an unwitnessed fall, but should have. During an interview on 05/29/24 at 4:09 P.M., the Director of Nurses (DON) said the Facility's policy is that with any unwitnessed fall, a licensed nurse assesses the resident before he/she is moved, and neurological signs would be initiated immediately after the fall and monitored. The DON said Resident #2 should have been assessed by the nurse before being moved, and neurological signs should have been initiated and monitored immediately following the fall, but were not.
Sept 2023 3 deficiencies
CONCERN (D) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0658 (Tag F0658)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

Based on records reviewed and interviews for one of three sampled residents (Resident #1) who had a diagnosis of dementia and was cognitively impaired, the Facility failed to ensure care and treatment...

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Based on records reviewed and interviews for one of three sampled residents (Resident #1) who had a diagnosis of dementia and was cognitively impaired, the Facility failed to ensure care and treatment provided by nursing met professional standards of practice when on 08/28/23, Nurse #7 did not properly identify Resident #1 prior to administering him/her medications and administered another resident's medications to him/her. Findings Include: Review of the Facility Policy titled Medication Administration, dated as revised 12/01/19, indicated it was the Facility Policy that licensed nurses administer medications from a mobile medication cart and use a system which demonstrates both safety and efficiency when administering medications to residents. The Policy indicated all residents are identified using the photograph in the Medication Administration Book. The Policy further indicated each medication is checked three times prior to administration to the resident and that the first check included checking the order and medication card as well as for the right resident. The Policy indicated that the third check also included checking for the right resident and right medication. Pursuant to Massachusetts General Law (M.G.L.), chapter 112, individuals are given the designation of Registered Nurse and Practical Nurse which includes the responsibility to provide nursing care. Pursuant to the Code of Massachusetts Regulation (CMR) 244, Rules and Regulations 3.02 and 3.04 define the responsibilities and functions of a Registered Nurse and Practical Nurse respectively. The regulations stipulate that both the Registered Nurse and Practical Nurse bear full responsibility for systematically assessing health status and recording the related health data. They also stipulate that both the Registered Nurse and Practical Nurse incorporate into the plan of care, and implement prescribed medical regimens. The Rules and Regulations 9.03 define Standards of Conduct for Nurses where it is stipulated that a nurse licensed by the Board shall engage in the practice of nursing in accordance with accepted standards of practice. Resident #1 was admitted to the Facility in March 2022, diagnoses included dementia, depression, gout, Vitamin D deficiency, peripheral vascular disease, edema, and osteoarthritis. Review of the Facility Medication Error Report, dated 08/28/23, indicated that at 8:30 A.M. Resident #1 was administered medications ordered for another resident (Resident #2's) which included the following medications: Evista (prevents osteoporosis) 60 mg Lamictal (anti-convulsant) 400 mg Trazodone (antidepressant) 150 mg Seroquel (anti-psychotic) 25 mg Review of Resident #1's Nurse Progress Note, dated 08/28/23, indicated that approximately fifteen minutes after being administered medications, he/she became somnolent and was moaning. The Note indicated Resident #1's blood pressure was noted to be low, he/she was assisted to bed and oxygen was administered for comfort. The Note indicated a call was placed to his/her Physician and an order was obtained to transfer him/her to the Hospital Emergency Department for evaluation. Review of Resident #1's Hospital Emergency Department Encounter Note, dated 08/28/23, indicated he/she presented to the Hospital Emergency Department after an accidental ingestion when he/she received another patient's medications at 8:30 A.M. During an interview on 09/13/23 at 12:14 P.M. and 09/14/23 at 1:15 P.M., Nurse #1 said that on the 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. shift on 08/28/23, Nurse #7, who worked for a Staffing Agency, worked on the unit for the first time. Nurse #1 said she oriented Nurse #7 to the unit and listened to change of shift report with her. Nurse #1 said she told Nurse #7 that most residents on the unit could not state their names due to dementia and said she showed her the pictures used to identify residents that were located in the Medication Administration Record Binder and said she told Nurse #7 to administer medications to Resident #2 first. Nurse #1 said before Nurse #7 went down the hall with the medication cart, Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #1 was walking by the nursing station with Resident #1 and said she heard Nurse #7 asked if the resident was Resident #2. Nurse #1 said she told Nurse #7 that the resident with CNA #1 was Resident #1. Nurse #1 said shortly afterwards, she went to the dining room to assist with breakfast and observed Resident #1 at a table in the dining room seated in his/her wheelchair slumped to the side moaning with his/her eyes closed. Nurse #1 said as she called out Resident #1's name a few times, when Nurse #7 came over and asked her who the resident was and said when she told Nurse #7 it was Resident #1. Nurse #1 said Nurse #7 then told her she had administered Resident #2's medications to him/her (Resident #1). Nurse #1 said after Resident #1 was assisted to his/her room and into bed, she called his/her Physician and obtained orders to transfer him/her to the Hospital Emergency Department for evaluation. Nurse #1 said pictures of both Resident #1 and Resident #2 were in the Medication Administration Record (MAR) binder for the residents that Nurse #7 was assigned to. During an interview on 09/18/23 4:32 P.M., Nurse #7 said she worked for a Staffing Agency and had been going to the Facility for approximately three weeks. Nurse #7 said she had worked on other units at the Facility, but when she worked the 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. shift on 08/28/23, it was the first time she had worked on the Dementia Unit. Nurse #7 said the Facility had pictures located in the Medication Administration Record binders to identify residents for medication passes and said resident pictures had been in the binders on the other units she had previously worked on as well as on the Dementia Unit. Nurse #7 said Nurse #1 told her the name of a resident who she should medicate first that morning. Nurse #7 said as she was preparing medications for the resident, CNA #1 walked down the hall assisting a resident (later identified as Resident #1) in a wheel chair. Nurse #7 said when she asked CNA #1 the resident's name, said she thought the name CNA #1 told her, was the same name as the name of the resident that Nurse #1 had asked her to medicate first. Nurse #7 said CNA #1 brought the resident (Resident #1) down to the dining room, and said after she finished preparing the medications (that were supposed to be administered to Resident #2) she went to the dining room and administered the medications to Resident #1 who she had seen being wheeled to the dining room by CNA #1. Nurse #7 said shortly afterwards, she observed the resident (Resident #1) she had just medicated was moaning and that another nurse was obtaining vitals signs on the resident. Nurse #7 said she heard the nurse calling out Resident #1's name and said she asked the nurse who the resident was and said the nurse told her Resident #1's name. Nurse #7 said realized she had accidentally given Resident #2's medications to Resident #1. Nurse #7 said when she administered Resident #1 the medications that morning, she did not do any further checks to identify if she was giving the right medications to the right resident. Nurse #7 said she did not check the pictures in the Medication Administration Record binder before she administered medications to Resident #1 (which were actually supposed to be for Resident #2). During an interview on 09/13/23 at 3:19 P.M., the Director of Nursing (DON) said Nurse #7 did not correctly identify Resident #1 prior to medication administration and said Nurse #7 should have looked at the pictures in the Medication Administration Record binder, but had not, to identify the right resident before she administered any medications.
CONCERN (D) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0760 (Tag F0760)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

Based on records reviewed and interviews for two of three sampled residents (Resident #1 and Resident #3), the Facility failed to ensure residents were free from significant medications errors when 1)...

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Based on records reviewed and interviews for two of three sampled residents (Resident #1 and Resident #3), the Facility failed to ensure residents were free from significant medications errors when 1) on 08/28/23 Resident #1 was administered medications that were ordered for and were to be administered to another resident and 2) on 08/16/23 Physician's Orders for a diuretic medication were not transcribed onto Resident #3's Medication Administration Record and were therefore not administered as ordered. Findings Include: Review of the Facility Policy titled Medication Administration, dated as revised 12/01/19, indicated all residents are identified using the photograph in the Medication Administration Book. 1) Resident #1 was admitted to the Facility in March 2022, diagnoses included dementia, depression, gout, Vitamin D deficiency, peripheral vascular disease, edema, and osteoarthritis. Review of the Facility Medication Error Report, dated 08/28/23, indicated that at 8:30 A.M. Resident #1 was administered medications ordered for another resident which included the following medications: Evista (helps prevent osteoporosis) 60 mg Lamictal (anti-convulsant) 400 mg Trazodone (antidepressant) 150 mg Seroquel (anti-psychotic) 25 mg Review of Resident #1's Physician's Orders indicated he/she did not have orders for any of these medications. Review of Resident #1's Nurse Progress Note, dated 08/28/23, indicated that approximately fifteen minutes after being administered medications, he/she became somnolent and was moaning. The Note indicated Resident #1's blood pressure was noted to be low, he/she was assisted to bed and oxygen was administered for comfort. The Note indicated a call was placed to his/her Physician and an order was obtained to transfer him/her to the Hospital Emergency Department for evaluation. Review of Resident #1's Hospital Emergency Department Encounter Note, dated 08/28/23, indicated he/she presented to the Hospital Emergency Department after an accidental ingestion when he/she received another patient's medications at 8:30 A.M. The Note indicated the peak onset for most of the medications accidentally administered to Resident #1 was one to four hours, he/she was monitored for nine to ten hours and then transferred back to the Facility. During an interview on 09/13/23 at 12:14 P.M. and 09/14/23 at 1:15 P.M., Nurse #1 said that on the 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. shift on 08/28/23, she oriented Nurse #7, an Agency nurse who had never worked on the unit before, to the unit. Nurse #1 said she went through Nurse #7's resident assignment with her to discuss how each resident took their medications. Nurse #1 said she told Nurse #7 that most residents on the unit could not state their names due to dementia and said she showed her the pictures used to identify each resident that were located in the Medication Administration Record (MAR) binder with each resident's medication sheets. Nurse #1 said she told Nurse #7 that Resident #2 should be medicated first. Nurse #1 said before Nurse #7 went down the hall with the medication cart, Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) #1 walked past them in the hall wheeling a resident (later identified as Resident #1) in his/her wheelchair. Nurse #1 said she heard Nurse #7 ask if the resident was Resident #2. Nurse #1 said she told Nurse #7 that the resident with CNA #1 was Resident #1 and said she told Nurse #7 Resident #1's first and last name. Nurse #1 said Nurse #7 then took the medication cart and went down the hall. Nurse #1 said shortly afterwards, she went to the dining room to assist with breakfast and observed Resident #1 at a table in the dining room seated in his/her wheelchair slumped to the side moaning with his/her eyes closed. Nurse #1 said as she called out Resident #1's name a few times, Nurse #7 came over and asked her Resident #1's name and said she told Nurse #7 Resident #1's name and that Nurse #7 then told her she had administered Resident #2's medications to Resident #1. Nurse #1 said she called his/her Physician to obtain an order to transfer him/her to the Hospital Emergency Department for evaluation. Nurse #1 said pictures of both Resident #1 and Resident #2 were in the Medication Administration Record binder with each resident's medication sheets. During an interview on 09/18/23 4:32 P.M., Nurse #7 said she worked for a Staffing Agency and had been going to the Facility for approximately three weeks. Nurse #7 said when she worked the 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. shift on 08/28/23, it was the first time she had worked on the Dementia Unit. Nurse #7 said the Facility had pictures located in the Medication Administration Record binders to identify residents for medication passes and said there were pictures in the binders on the Dementia Unit. Nurse #7 said after she listened to change of shift report, Nurse #1 told her who to administer medications to first. Nurse #7 said a CNA #1 walked by wheeling a resident (later identified as Resident #1) in a wheelchair and said she asked CNA #1 the resident's name. Nurse #7 said although she thought CNA #1 told her the resident's name, she later learned that CNA #1 gave her own name which was a similar sounding name to the resident that Nurse #1 had suggested she medicate first. Nurse #7 said that after CNA #1 walked by, she thought the resident in the wheelchair was Resident #2 who she was supposed to administer medications to. Nurse #7 said CNA #1 wheeled the resident (Resident #1) down to the dining room and she remained at her medication cart to finish preparing the medications and said she then went to the dining room and administered the medications (which were supposed to be administered to Resident #2) to Resident #1. Nurse #7 said shortly after, she observed the resident (Resident #1) she had just medicated moaning and that another nurse was obtaining vitals signs on the resident. Nurse #7 said she heard the nurse calling out Resident #1's name and said she asked the nurse who the resident was and said the nurse told her Resident #1's name. Nurse #7 said realized she had accidentally given Resident #2's medications to Resident #1. Nurse #7 said prior to administering Resident #2's medications to Resident #1, she had not used the pictures to identify the right resident because she had asked CNA #1 and thought she was told the correct name. During an interview on 09/13/23 at 3:19 P.M., the Director of Nursing (DON) said when she spoke to Nurse #7 about giving Resident #2's medications to Resident #1, she determined that Nurse #7 did not follow the correct protocol for identifying residents prior to medication administration. The DON said Nurse #7 should have looked at the pictures in the Medication Administration Record binder. 2) Resident #3 was admitted to the Facility in February 2022, diagnoses included dementia, atrial fibrillation, atrioventricular block, depression, syncope, congestive heart failure, and osteoarthritis. Review of Resident #3's Nurse Progress Note, dated 08/16/23, indicated he/she presented with shortness of breath with an oxygen saturation level of 84%-88% (normal range is 90-95%) on room air, his/her respiratory rate was twenty-two (normal range is 12-16), and he/she had a dry cough. The Note indicated that two liters of oxygen was administered to Resident #3 via nasal canula. Review of a subsequent Nurse Progress Note, dated 08/16/23, indicated Resident #3's Physician had been in and ordered for him/her to be administered an extra 40 mg of Lasix (a diuretic, used to treat fluid retention) one time now (at 3:00 P.M.). Review of Resident #3's Laboratory Results, dated 08/16/23, indicated his/her pro b-type naturiuretic peptide laboratory blood test (measures level of a protein in blood to detect heart failure) results were reported 6911.0 (average reference range is 0.0-449.0). Review of Resident #3's Physician's Progress Note, dated 08/16/23, indicated he/she was observed to have 2+ left lower extremity edema (a system based on how deep the pits are and how long they last after you press the swollen area, to identify how much fluid is in the tissues). The Note indicated that Resident #3 was noted to have course bibasilar crackles in his/her lungs (crackles hear at bases of lungs caused by the popping open of small airways collapsed by fluid). The Note indicated for Resident #3 to receive Lasix 40 mg twice daily for three days and then resume Lasix 40 mg daily. Review of Resident #3's Physician's Orders, dated 08/16/23, indicated a Physician's order was written as Give(n) Lasix 40 mg by mouth twice daily for three days starting today then resume Lasix 40 mg by mouth daily. Review of the Facility Medication Error Report, dated 08/18/23, indicated that, on 08/16/23, Resident #3's Physician was in to see him/her and ordered to increase his/her Lasix to 40 mg twice daily for three days but that the order had not been transcribed (onto his/her Medication Administration Record), therefore the medication had not been given according to the Physician's orders. Review of the Facility Medication Administration Incident Report Addendum, undated, indicated Resident #3 had received the wrong dosage of Lasix related to a transcription error. Review of Resident #3's MAR, for August 2023, indicated the Physician's Order from 08/16/23 for Lasix 40 mg by mouth twice daily for three days was not transcribed onto his/her MAR or administered as ordered. The MAR indicated although Resident #3 was administered a second dose of Lasix 40 mg on 08/16/23, which had been transcribed as a one time order for 08/16/23, and that he/she had been administered two doses of Lasix 40 mg on 08/18/23 when the transcription error was discovered, he/she was only administered one dose of Lasix 40 mg on 08/17/23 and had not been administered a second 40 mg dose as ordered. During an interview on 09/13/23 at 1:22 P.M., Unit Manager #2 said that on 08/18/23 she noted that Resident #3's Physician's order for Lasix 40 mg twice daily for three days written on 08/16/23 had not been transcribed as ordered, onto his/her MAR. During an interview on 09/18/23 at 4:05 P.M., the Physician said that on 08/16/23 she ordered Lasix 40 mg twice daily for three days, starting that day and then to resume 40 mg daily after that because Resident #3 had experienced hypoxia (low oxygen in body tissues). The Physician said although Resident #3 was administered Lasix 40 mg twice daily on 08/16 and 08/18, nurses also should have administered his/her Lasix 40 mg twice on 08/17/23, however he/she was not administered Lasix twice that day because the orders she wrote on 08/16/23 had not been transcribed by nurses that day as ordered. During an interview on 09/13/23 at 3:19 P.M. and 09/18/23 at 11:34 A.M., the Director of Nursing (DON) said the Facility did not have a Policy related to Medication Order Transcription. The DON said there was a nurse from a Staffing Agency scheduled on 08/16/23 when Resident #3's Physician wrote the new Lasix order. The DON said the nurse got confused because of the way the Physician's Order had been written which was Given Lasix 40 mg by mouth twice daily for three days, starting today, then resume Lasix 40 mg by mouth daily. The DON said when the Nurse Practitioner came in to see Resident #3 on 08/18/23 it was discovered that the Lasix order from 08/16/23 had not been transcribed. The DON said although Resident #3 got an extra one time dose of Lasix on 08/16/23, the nurse did not follow procedure to clarify the Lasix order, if she did not understand it.
CONCERN (D) 📢 Someone Reported This

A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Medical Records (Tag F0842)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

Based on records reviewed and interviews for one of three sampled residents (Resident #3) the Facility failed to ensure they maintained complete and accurate Medical Records when Medication Administra...

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Based on records reviewed and interviews for one of three sampled residents (Resident #3) the Facility failed to ensure they maintained complete and accurate Medical Records when Medication Administration Record documentation was not consistently completed for Resident #3 related to the administration of a diuretic medication during the month of August 2023. Findings Include: Review of the Facility Medication Pass Observation Tool, dated as revised 2018, indicated documentation of medication administration is completed accurately and charted consistently. Resident #3 was admitted to the Facility in February 2022, diagnoses included dementia, atrial fibrillation, atrioventricular block, depression, syncope, congestive heart failure, and osteoarthritis. Review of Resident #3's Physician's Order, dated 08/14/23, indicated he/she was to be administered Lasix 40 milligrams (mg) one tablet by mouth daily. Review of Resident #3's Medication Administration Record (MAR), for August 2023, indicated on 08/15/23 documentation for his/her Lasix 40 mg tablet by mouth daily at 9:00 A.M. had been left blank and was not initialed by a nurse as having had been administered or documented as having been held. Review of Resident #3's Medical Record indicated there was no documentation in a Nurse Progress Note for 08/15/23 to support if his/her Lasix 40 mg had been administered at 9:00 A.M. or if the medication was not administered and a reason why. There was also no documentation to support that Resident #3's Lasix 40 mg had been administered at 2:00 P.M. or if the dose had not been administered and a reason why. Review of Resident #3's Nurse Progress Note, dated 08/16/23, indicated his/her Physician was in and was made aware of missed Lasix dose on Tuesday (8/15/23). During an interview on 09/18/23 at 3:59 P.M., Nurse #6 said when she wrote the Nurse Progress Note on 08/16/23, she had written that Resident #3 missed his/her Lasix dose on Tuesday (8/15/23) because when she received report on 08/16/23, she was told that his/her Lasix had not been signed off on in the MAR as having been administered so she thought that it had not been administered. During an interview on 09/13/23 at 1:22 P.M., Unit Manager #2 said she had been aware that Resident #3's Lasix 40 mg daily had not been signed off on his/her MAR as having had been administered on 08/15/23. Unit Manager #2 said when she saw that Resident #3's Lasix had not been signed off on 08/15/23, she just thought the medication had not been given and said she did not ask the nurse about it. Review of Resident #3's new Physician Order, dated 08/18/23, indicated he/she was to be administered Lasix 40 mg twice daily for three days, 08/18/23, 08/19/23, and 08/20/23, then resume Lasix 40 mg once daily. Further review of Resident #3's MAR, for August 2023, indicated that on 08/19/23, documentation for his/her Lasix 40 mg tablet by mouth twice daily for three days to be administered at 9:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. were both been left blank and had not been initialed and signed off by a nurse as having had been administered or held. Unit Manager #2 said she did not know why Resident #3's Lasix was not signed off on at 9:00 A.M. or 2:00 P.M. on 08/19/23 in the MAR. During an interview on 09/14/23 at 11:28 A.M., Nurse #5 said when she worked on the 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. shift on 08/19/23, she although she could not be certain, she said she recalled there had been a resident who had a new Lasix order and said she would have had no reason not to administer Resident #3's Lasix as ordered on 08/19/23. Nurse #5 said she thought she administered Resident #3's Lasix on 08/19/23 but forgot to sign it off on the MAR that day. During an interview on 09/13/23 at 3:19 P.M. and on 09/18/23 at 9:46 A.M., the Director of Nursing (DON) said she did not know why the Lasix on Resident #3's MAR was not signed off as being administered by nurses and said she expected for nurses to sign off medications when they administer them. The DON said the Facility did not have a Policy regarding documentation of medications in the MAR and said if a medication was not administered for some reason, the nurses were still expected to sign the MAR but put a circle around their initials and then write on the back of the MAR the reason why the medication had not been administered.
Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Life-Threatening (Immediate Jeopardy)
J - Isolated K - Pattern L - Widespread
Actual Harm
G - Isolated H - Pattern I - Widespread
Potential for Harm
D - Isolated E - Pattern F - Widespread
No Harm (Minor)
A - Isolated B - Pattern C - Widespread

Questions to Ask on Your Visit

  • "What changes have you made since the serious inspection findings?"
  • "What safeguards are in place to prevent abuse and neglect?"
  • "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
  • "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"

Our Honest Assessment

Strengths
  • • 28% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 20 points below Massachusetts's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
Concerns
  • • Multiple safety concerns identified: Federal abuse finding, 3 life-threatening violation(s), 2 harm violation(s), $25,497 in fines. Review inspection reports carefully.
  • • 11 deficiencies on record, including 3 critical (life-threatening) violations. These warrant careful review before choosing this facility.
  • • $25,497 in fines. Higher than 94% of Massachusetts facilities, suggesting repeated compliance issues.
  • • Grade F (17/100). Below average facility with significant concerns.
Bottom line: This facility has a substantiated abuse finding. Extreme caution advised. Explore alternatives.

About This Facility

What is Carleton-Willard Village Retirement & Nursing Ctr's CMS Rating?

CMS assigns CARLETON-WILLARD VILLAGE RETIREMENT & NURSING CTR an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered above average nationally. Within Massachusetts, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.

How is Carleton-Willard Village Retirement & Nursing Ctr Staffed?

CMS rates CARLETON-WILLARD VILLAGE RETIREMENT & NURSING CTR's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 28%, compared to the Massachusetts average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.

What Have Inspectors Found at Carleton-Willard Village Retirement & Nursing Ctr?

State health inspectors documented 11 deficiencies at CARLETON-WILLARD VILLAGE RETIREMENT & NURSING CTR during 2023 to 2025. These included: 3 Immediate Jeopardy (the most serious level, indicating potential for serious harm or death), 2 that caused actual resident harm, and 6 with potential for harm. Immediate Jeopardy findings are rare and represent the most serious regulatory concerns. They require immediate corrective action.

Who Owns and Operates Carleton-Willard Village Retirement & Nursing Ctr?

CARLETON-WILLARD VILLAGE RETIREMENT & NURSING CTR is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 179 certified beds and approximately 94 residents (about 53% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in BEDFORD, Massachusetts.

How Does Carleton-Willard Village Retirement & Nursing Ctr Compare to Other Massachusetts Nursing Homes?

Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Massachusetts, CARLETON-WILLARD VILLAGE RETIREMENT & NURSING CTR's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 2.9, staff turnover (28%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (2 stars) is below the national benchmark.

What Should Families Ask When Visiting Carleton-Willard Village Retirement & Nursing Ctr?

Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "What changes have been made since the serious inspection findings, and how are you preventing similar issues?" "What safeguards and monitoring systems are in place to protect residents from abuse or neglect?" "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's Immediate Jeopardy citations and the substantiated abuse finding on record.

Is Carleton-Willard Village Retirement & Nursing Ctr Safe?

Based on CMS inspection data, CARLETON-WILLARD VILLAGE RETIREMENT & NURSING CTR has documented safety concerns. The facility has 1 substantiated abuse finding (meaning confirmed case of resident harm by staff or other residents). Inspectors have issued 3 Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death). The facility has a 4-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Massachusetts. Families considering this facility should ask detailed questions about what corrective actions have been taken since these incidents.

Do Nurses at Carleton-Willard Village Retirement & Nursing Ctr Stick Around?

Staff at CARLETON-WILLARD VILLAGE RETIREMENT & NURSING CTR tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 28%, the facility is 18 percentage points below the Massachusetts average of 46%. Low turnover is a positive sign. It means caregivers have time to learn each resident's needs, medications, and personal preferences. Consistent staff also notice subtle changes in a resident's condition more quickly.

Was Carleton-Willard Village Retirement & Nursing Ctr Ever Fined?

CARLETON-WILLARD VILLAGE RETIREMENT & NURSING CTR has been fined $25,497 across 2 penalty actions. This is below the Massachusetts average of $33,334. While any fine indicates a compliance issue, fines under $50,000 are relatively common and typically reflect isolated problems that were subsequently corrected. Families should ask what specific issues led to these fines and confirm they've been resolved.

Is Carleton-Willard Village Retirement & Nursing Ctr on Any Federal Watch List?

CARLETON-WILLARD VILLAGE RETIREMENT & NURSING CTR is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.