Carlyle Senior Care of Aiken

123 Dupont Dr Northeast, Aiken, SC 29801 (803) 648-0434
For profit - Limited Liability company 86 Beds CARLYLE SENIOR CARE Data: November 2025 2 Immediate Jeopardy citations
Trust Grade
41/100
#69 of 186 in SC
Last Inspection: October 2024

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

Overview

Carlyle Senior Care of Aiken has a Trust Grade of D, indicating below-average performance with some concerning issues. It ranks #69 out of 186 nursing homes in South Carolina, placing it in the top half, and #3 out of 6 in Aiken County, meaning only two local facilities are rated higher. Unfortunately, the facility is trending worsening, with reported issues increasing from 1 in 2024 to 2 in 2025. Staffing is rated average with a 52% turnover, which is around the state average, but there are no fines on record, which is a positive aspect. However, recent inspections revealed serious concerns, including failures to prevent resident-to-resident abuse and incidents where bed rails led to falls and injuries. Additionally, there were findings of misappropriation of resident funds, highlighting a need for better oversight and protection of residents' rights.

Trust Score
D
41/100
In South Carolina
#69/186
Top 37%
Safety Record
High Risk
Review needed
Inspections
Getting Worse
1 → 2 violations
Staff Stability
⚠ Watch
52% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
Penalties
✓ Good
No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most South Carolina facilities.
Skilled Nurses
○ Average
Each resident gets 31 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for South Carolina. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
Violations
⚠ Watch
14 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
★★★☆☆
3.0
Overall Rating
★★★☆☆
3.0
Staff Levels
★☆☆☆☆
1.0
Care Quality
★★★★☆
4.0
Inspection Score
Stable
2024: 1 issues
2025: 2 issues

The Good

  • Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
  • No fines on record

Facility shows strength in fire safety.

The Bad

3-Star Overall Rating

Near South Carolina average (2.8)

Meets federal standards, typical of most facilities

Staff Turnover: 52%

Near South Carolina avg (46%)

Higher turnover may affect care consistency

Chain: CARLYLE SENIOR CARE

Part of a multi-facility chain

Ask about local staffing decisions and management

The Ugly 14 deficiencies on record

2 life-threatening
Sept 2025 1 deficiency
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

Resident Rights (Tag F0550)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, interview, and policy review, the facility failed to honor a resident's right to be free from unnecessar...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, interview, and policy review, the facility failed to honor a resident's right to be free from unnecessary physical restraint for one of three residents (Resident (R)5) reviewed for abuse out of seven sampled residents. This had the potential to effect residents functional status.Findings include:Review of the facility's policy titled Resident Rights dated 04/2025 revealed that the facility will inform the resident both orally and in writing, in a language that the resident understands, of his or her rights and all rules and regulations governing resident conduct and responsibilities during the stay in the facility. The resident has the right to a dignified existence, self-determination, and communication with and access to persons and services inside and outside the facility. The resident has a right to be treated with respect and dignity, including the right to be free from any physical or chemical restraints imposed for purposes of discipline or convenience and not required to treat the resident's medical symptoms.Review of R5's Face Sheet located in the electronic medical record (EMR) under the Profile tab revealed the resident was readmitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses which included dementia and anxiety disorder.Review of R5's quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 07/31/25 and located in the EMR under the MDS tab revealed a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 99 out of 15, which indicated the resident was unable to complete the assessment.Review of R5's Care Plan dated 01/25/25 and located in the EMR under the Care Plan tab revealed, At risk for potentially physically and verbally aggressive related to dementia and agitation. Interventions included approach in a non-threatening manner and approach from the front in a calm manner.During an interview on 09/11/25 at 4:52 PM, Registered Nurse (RN)1 stated that on 06/30/25 she observed R5 walk into the lobby and walked over to R21 and hit R21 in the head with the plate cover. She said there was absolutely no provocation by R21. R5 simply hit R21 for no reason. She said Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)2 came over and bear hugged R5 by putting both of her arms around him from the back to prevent him from moving his arms. RN1 said CNA2 guided R5 to a wing chair and sat him down in it. She stated R5 remained in the chair until police and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) arrived. She stated that staff have not received any type of training on this type of technique, but she felt it was appropriate for CNA2 to restrain R5 at that time.During an interview on 09/11/24 at 5:50 PM, CNA2 said she did not see when R5 struck R21 in the head with the plate lid, but she heard the interaction which made her look up. She observed R5 attempting to hit R21 again and she went over to R5 and grabbed him from behind and putboth her arms around him. She stated at first he was trying to still move forward but he stopped resisting, and she was able to walk him over and sit him down in the chair. She waited with him until EMS arrived. She said that she has not received any training by the facility to use that type of technique on a resident and it was not an approved use of restraint.During an interview on 09/11/25 at 7:10 PM, the Director of Nursing (DON) stated she was familiar with abuse and restraint regulations and that CNA2 should not have grabbed and held R5 in the way she did. The DON said it was not appropriate for CNA2 to bear hug R5. She stated that staff should have tried other diversional techniques to try and calm him. She said the bear hug technique could be considered a restraint and was not an approved technique. She stated that staff have not been trained on doing those types of holds.
Aug 2025 1 deficiency
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 F0602 (Tag F0602)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policy, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure Resident (R)2 was free from misa...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policy, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure Resident (R)2 was free from misappropriation for 1 of 2 residents reviewed for abuse. Specifically, R2's wallet, which contained his debit card, was allegedly stolen and used at multiple places. The findings include: Review of the facility policy titled Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation with a reviewed/revised date of 01/20/25, documented under definitions: Misappropriation of Resident Property means the deliberate misplacement, exploitation, or wrongful, temporary or permanent, use of a resident's belongings or money without the resident's consent.Review of R2's Face Sheet revealed R2 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including but not limited to insomnia/malignant neoplasm of prostate/vascular and dementia/anxiety disorder/mood disorder.Review of R2's Quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 02/13/25 revealed a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 5 out of 15 indicating R2 had severe cognitive impairment. Further review of the MDS revealed R2 was dependent on staff.Review of R2's Progress Note dated 04/06/25 revealed, social Services spoke with RP on 4/4/25 to notify her that [R2's] debit card and wallet had been stolen and used. Social notified her also the card cancelled, and the police notified. Social informed her that the police were investigating along with the facility. She happy with the facility quick response. Social worker informed RP that we would keep her updated on progress of investigation. Social also informed RP that we were going to encourage [R2] to keep his new wallet and cards locked in the safe. Social will continue to monitor. Social Worker.Review of R2's Progress Note dated 04/06/25 revealed, Late Entry for 4/3/25: [R2] made aware that his wallet and debit card were missing and that they had been used. The bank was notified immediately, and card cancelled. The charges are being disputed and refunded to his account, Police notified and at the facility [R2] spoke with police and states he wants to press charges. Investigation by police in process and investigation by facility in process. [R2] is glad that he will get his money back and that it is being investigation but was upset the incident happened. Social worker offers reassurance and support and will continue to monitor. Social Worker.Review of R2's Bank Statement for 03/28/25 - 05/01/25 revealed the following transactions that were allegedly made without R2's consent:On 03/31/25: Sunoco - $13.82, Dollar General - $32.40, Dollar General - $24.84, McDonalds - $16.67, Sunoco - $8.63, KJs Market IGA - $40.78, and Sunoco - $3.93.04/01/25: Dollar General - $32.40 (credit to account), Circle K - $9.50, Popeyes - $30.51, Sunoco - $5.78, Sunoco - $3.93. Sunoco - $6.96, Dominos - $33.77.04/02/25: Nyx*Nayax Vending - $2.10, $2.10, $2.10, $2.10 (4 transactions), CVS/Pharmacy - $24.60, Northside Package - $4.00, $4.00, $4.00, $4.00 (4 transactions), Dollar General - $6.75, Sunoco - $1.50, Sunoco - $8.63, $1.50, $0.99, $10.78, $13.13 (5 transactions), Northside Package - $18.95.04/03/25: Harizone Beauty - $17.95, McDonalds - $10.88, Family Dollar - $26.46, Sunoco - $4.51, $10.13 (2 transactions), Circle K - $3.56.04/04/25: Hairzone Beauty - $3.36.Further review of the Bank Statement revealed LRM CLAIMS ADJ CR SIG which indicated credits to the residents account for the alleged fraudulent purchases, all credits were posted to the resident account on 04/09/25.During an interview on 08/12/25 at 10:44 AM, R2 stated he had 2 or 3 debit cards. R2 could not recall anyone using his cards without his permission.During an interview on 08/12/25 at 1:55 PM, the Social Worker (SW) stated that she has been employed at the facility for two years. She described R2 as being very particular about his personal belongings and wanting them kept close to him, especially his wallet. In December 2024, the facility took R2 to the bank to obtain a debit card as part of his Medicaid spend-down process for his nursing home stay. According to the SW, the resident was very pleased to receive both the debit card and the wallet. The SW explained that all related documents, including the debit card, identification card, and receipts for purchased items, were kept in a legal-size envelope stored in the bottom drawer of her desk, which remained unlocked. This office was shared with the admission Coordinator and the Administrator. The SW revealed that she became aware the resident's wallet was missing on April 3, 2025, when the resident came to her office and she attempted to retrieve the debit card to pay for his room. Upon opening the drawer, she discovered the wallet was no longer inside the folder, although the temporary debit card was found loose at the bottom of the drawer. The SW and other staff searched for the wallet but were unable to locate it. At that point, she informed the resident and contacted the bank to report the card missing. The bank informed her that pending unauthorized purchases had been made on March 30, 2025, at CVS, KJ's Grocery Store, Dollar General, and a local hair store for a total of approximately $300. The bank cancelled the card and later reversed all the unauthorized charges. The SW stated she contacted KJ's and provided staff with the receipt number for the purchases in question. The police were also contacted, and the SW shared the transaction information. Surveillance footage was retrieved from KJ's, and the responding officer described two Black males captured on the video - one younger, taller male wearing khaki pants and a nice watch and a second male with dreadlocks. Based on the description, the SW reviewed who had been working at the facility on March 30 and attempted to follow up with the police officer for several weeks without success. The SW further revealed that toward the end of April or beginning of May, the officer reconnected with her and showed her surveillance footage from Dollar General. The SW identified one of the individuals in the video as a Housekeeping/Laundry Aide employed at the facility. The SW stated that resident valuables are accounted for, the SW explained that she typically opens her drawer daily to verify the folder is still there, but she did not check the folder's contents regularly. She admitted she did not expect anyone would access her drawer and remove a resident's belongings. While the resident was initially upset by the incident, the SW stated he has since returned to his baseline, and she does not believe he fully understood the process involved.During an interview on 08/12/25 at 2:55 PM, the Administrator revealed she became aware of the alleged incident when it was time to pay his bill for his room at the facility. She witnessed the Social Worker going through her desk, unable to find the resident's wallet. The resident was adamant that he did not want to keep his wallet in the safe before the alleged incident.
May 2024 1 deficiency
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

Report Alleged Abuse (Tag F0609)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policy, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to report an allegation of abuse, involvi...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policy, interviews, and record review, the facility failed to report an allegation of abuse, involving Resident (R)1, within 2 hours, for 1 of 2 residents reviewed for abuse. Findings include: Review of the facility's policy titled, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation dated 10/24/22 indicated, V. (a) An immediate investigation is warranted when suspicion of abuse, neglect or exploitation or reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation occur . VII (a) 1a. Reporting of all alleged violations to the Administrator, state agency, adult protective services and to all other required agencies (e.g.,) law enforcement when applicable within specified timeframes: immediately, but not later than 2 hours after the allegation is made, if the events that cause the allegation involve abuse or result in serious bodily injury. Review of R1's Face Sheet revealed R1 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including but not limited to: major depressive disorder, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and cerebral infarction. Review of R1's Quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 05/30/23 revealed a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 9 out of 15, indicating R1 was moderately cognitively impaired. Review of an Employee Disciplinary Action Report dated 05/06/24, revealed disciplinary action for Nurse 1 for failure to notify abuse coordinator of an allegation of abuse. During an interview on 05/16/24 at 12:11 PM, Nurse 1 stated R1 told her that a black man came into her room and touched her breast. Nurse 1 stated she didn't think anything of it at the time, because R1 was talking about another incident. Nurse 1 further stated she knew she dropped the ball, because R1 informed her days before. Nurse 1 concluded the incident was discovered when R1 spoke with Social Services. During an interview on 05/16/24 at 1:16 PM, Social Services stated she was doing interviews with residents about abuse, and R1 stated that a gentleman came into her room and touched her breast. Social Services stated she reported the incident immediately. Social Services concluded she was not informed prior to speaking with R1 of any incident occurring with the two residents. During an interview on 05/16/24 at 1:37 PM, the Director of Nursing (DON) verified that the allegation was not reported by Nurse 1. The DON concluded when there is any type of abuse, you have two hours to report, any other allegation is within 24 hours.
Aug 2023 1 deficiency
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 F0657 (Tag F0657)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, record review, and review of the facility policy, the facility failed to update Resident (R)9's...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, record review, and review of the facility policy, the facility failed to update Resident (R)9's Care Plan for 1 of 2 residents reviewed for care plans. Findings include: Review of the facility policy titled Comprehensive Care Plans last revised 10/24/22 revealed, It is the policy of this facility to develop and implement a comprehensive person-centered care plan for each resident, consistent with resident right, that includes measure objectives and timeframe's to meet a resident's medical, nursing, and mental/psychosocial needs that are identified in the resident's comprehensive assessment. The comprehensive care plan will include measurable objectives and timeframe's to meet the resident's needs as identified in the resident's comprehensive assessment. The interdisciplinary team will review and revise the comprehensive care plan . Review of R9's Face Sheet revealed R9 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with the diagnoses including but not limited to; dementia with behaviors, schizophrenia, type 2 diabetes, and cognitive communication deficit. Review of R9's Quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 07/09/23, revealed R9 has a Brief Interview of Mental Status (BIMS) score of 15 out of 15 which indicates R9 is cognitively intact. Further review of the MDS revealed R9 is independent with personal hygiene and toilet use. During an observation on 08/15/23 at 9:45 AM, revealed R9 sitting in his wheelchair, in the hallway of a unit. R9's urinal containing urine was sitting next to him on the floor. During an observation and interview on 08/15/23 at 10:05 AM, R9 was observed sitting in a wheelchair, in the same area, with an empty urinal beside his wheelchair on the floor. An interview with R9 revealed staff allow him to carry his urinal around with him for use and empty it as needed throughout the day. Review of R9's Care Plan on 08/15/23 at 11:45 AM, revealed no care plan or interventions related to the resident's preference of having a urinal with them throughout the day. During an interview on 08/15/23 at 2:49 PM, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)1 revealed this was a new behavior for the resident and the resident is not care-planned for that preference. During an interview on 08/15/23 at 3:45 PM, the Director of Nursing revealed R9's care plan should have been updated to reflect their new preference.
Mar 2023 2 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

Report Alleged Abuse (Tag F0609)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

Based on interview, record review, and review of the facility policy, the facility failed to report the abuse of Activities Director (AD)1 misappropriating funds that were for resident activities. Fi...

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Based on interview, record review, and review of the facility policy, the facility failed to report the abuse of Activities Director (AD)1 misappropriating funds that were for resident activities. Findings include: Review of the facility policy titled, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation last revised 10/24/22, revealed It is the policy of this facility to provide protections for the health, welfare, and rights of each resident by developing and implementing written policies and procedures that prohibit and prevent abuse, neglect, exploitation and misappropriation of resident property. Misappropriation of Resident Property is defined as the means to deliberate misplacement, exploitation, or wrongful, temporary or permanent, use of a resident's belongings or money without the resident's consent. The facility will have written procedures that include: reporting all alleged violations to the Administrator, state agency, law enforcement, and all other required agencies. The Administrator will follow up with government agencies, during business hours, to confirm the initial report was received, and to report the results. Record review on 03/06/23 at 1:45 PM revealed a statement dated 11/17/22 by AD1 which revealed, I AD1 am writing this statement due to some accusations involving invoices and the activity cash box. Any invoices that I turned in were for payment for singers that came 1 time a month, mostly. I was able to turn in (invoices) ahead of time for the end-of-the-month billing. The Business Office would ask me to turn them in early so I could put the invoice date as the 1st of the month and the due date as the dates the activity was planned on the activity calendar. The activity cash box was used to buy the residents things for activity supplies or anything that was needed. I used around $80 out of the cash box at the dollar stores nearby for decorations and snacks. I've used money from the cash box to buy baking supplies for the something homemade activity. The cash box was also used as a prize for bingo with the residents, they could win up to $5 out of the box. Any money I spent from the cash box was used for activities only, I've also ordered things with my own cards and was reimbursed for it. Attempt at a phone interview with AD1 on 03/06/23 at 2:06 PM was unsuccessful. An interview on 03/06/23 at 3:40 PM with AD2 (Current Activities Director) revealed they have been at the facility working since September last year (2022). At the time they were hired, they worked under the old Activities Director that misappropriated the activity funds. There would be days residents were expecting outside entertainment (singers/musicians), and there were several days when it was supposed to show up, but didn't. AD1 was responsible for contracting outside activities for residents and at that time, created invoices for the facility and was the only person with a key to the cash box that holds money for the activities funds that were raised by the residents. There would also be many days where AD1 would claim to get items for the residents during the workday, such as getting donuts and coffee for the residents and would show up to work at a later time (10:30 AM or later) with no donuts for the residents. AD2 stated they didn't think the facility reported this incident to the state agency or law enforcement because AD1 gave the facility back the misappropriated funds. An interview on 03/06/23 at 5:09 PM with the Business Office Manager (BOM) revealed I'm not sure of how many invoices AD1 had misappropriated, but they paid the facility back $491 (total amount accounted for misappropriation) before they were terminated. AD1 was able to misappropriate the funds under the previous system by giving them invoices for performers before the date of the event and the business office would put the cash in an envelope. Since this incident, we now have the performers sign off on the sheet on the day of performance and the business office pays them directly. An interview on 03/06/23 at 5:40 PM with the Director of Nursing (DON) revealed the previous administrator handled the investigation related to the misappropriation of the activity funds. The DON further stated they were unsure if the incident was reported to state agency or law enforcement, but does not believe that it was because the previous Activity Director had given the facility all the money back and was terminated.
CONCERN (E) 📢 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 F0602 (Tag F0602)

Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of the facility policy, record review, and interviews, the facility failed to prevent misappropriation of Reside...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of the facility policy, record review, and interviews, the facility failed to prevent misappropriation of Resident (R)1's funds. The facility also failed to prevent the Activities Director (AD)1 from misappropriating funds that were for residents' activities. Findings include: Review of the facility's policy titled, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation last revised 10/24/22, revealed It is the policy of this facility to provide protections for the health, welfare, and rights of each resident by developing and implementing written policies and procedures that prohibit and prevent abuse, neglect, exploitation and misappropriation of resident property. Misappropriation of Resident Property is defined as means to deliberate misplacement, exploitation, or wrongful, temporary or permanent, use of a resident's belongings or money without the resident's consent. Record review on 03/06/23 at 11:30 AM revealed a Witness Statement from R1 dated 10/03/22 which stated, R1 stated she is missing $150 from her lock box and a gift card that had $150 on it. R1 stated that on Sunday 10/02/22 after 7:00 PM, nurse came into her room with her lock box, the resident stated she was unaware that the lock box was missing at the time. R1 stated that she was informed by the nurse that her lock box was in another resident's room (R8) and the nurse knew it was R1's because her name was on the box. R1 stated she knew it was her box as well because her name was on it, but when it was returned it looked like someone tried to rub her name off of the box. R1 stated that it was 2 re-loadable (pre-paid) debit cards inside of the box, but when it was returned those cards were missing. The only items that were inside the box were petty cash (2 quarters, a dime, and a penny 61 cents). R1 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including, but not limited to; anxiety disorder, chronic pain, major depressive disorder, muscle weakness, and hypertension. Review of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 02/09/23 revealed R1 has a Brief Interview of Mental Status (BIMS) score of 15 out of 15, which indicates they are cognitively intact. An interview on 03/06/23 at 1:30 PM with R1 revealed someone took her locked red box and that it was found in another resident's room (R8), but believes a staff person took it and put it in R8's room because R8 is unable to move without assistance from staff. The box was found, but the money that was inside was gone. When staff searched R8's closet, they were able to locate R1's 2 reloadable gift cards and the facility replaced the money that was missing. R1 further stated she'd given about 100 or more quarters to the AD1 so they could take the quarters to the bank and get dollar bills because it's easier to spend. R1 stated she was texting AD1 about the money (cash/change) and knew that she had read the message because she has an iPad with read receipts (resident was able to see messages were delivered and read). AD1 never responded, so R1 told the Adminstrator about the incident because she still hadn't received her money from AD1. R1 stated she later found out that the facility fired AD1 and R1 was given the reimbursement for the missing money. Record review on 03/06/23 at 1:40 PM of a 2nd Witness Statement dated 10/02/22 revealed small plastic, red, number key safe belonging to R1 (name on safe) was found along with 2 debit cards in R8's room. R8 was unaware that the box was in his room and was unable to tell the writer how the safe got into his room. I exited the room and showed another staff member. Returned the safe to R1 [sic] who was unknown at the time the safe was missing. R1 stated she heard (was shaking) the safe and stated she didn't think anything was missing at the time. R1 opened the safe and discovered that a debit card with a $130 balance available and cash adding to approximately $50 was missing. R1 stated the last time she used the safe was during the week of the 26th of September. R1 keeps her safe in her room either on the tray table or on the floor near her bed. R1 stated the only time she is not in her room would be for activities during the day and has had items taken previously from her room while out of the room. R1 has been seen with money and cards in her bed during care and has been advised to put items in a safe place to ensure they did not get lost or thrown in linen or garbage. Another staff member and self searched R8's room and belongings with permission and did not find any more belongings of R1. Director of Nursing (DON) was notified, along with public safety. Record review on 03/06/23 at 1:45 PM revealed a statement dated 11/17/22 by AD1, which revealed I, AD1, am writing this statement due to some accusations involving invoices and the activity cash box. Any invoices that I turned in were for payment for singers that came 1 time a month mostly. I was able to turn in (invoices) ahead of time for the end-of-the-month billing. The Business Office would ask to turn them in early so I could put the invoice date as the 1st of the month and the due date as the dates the activity was planned on the activity calendar. The activity cash box was used to buy the residents things for activity supplies or anything that was needed. I used around $80 out of the cash box at the dollar stores nearby for decorations and snacks. I've used money from the cash box to buy baking supplies for the something homemade activity. The cash box was also used as a prize for bingo with the residents, they could win up to $5 out of the box. Any money I spent from the cash box was used for activities only, I've also ordered things with my own cards and was reimbursed for it. An attempted phone interview with AD1 on 03/06/23 at 2:06 PM was unsuccessful. An interview on 03/06/23 at 3:40 PM with AD2 (Current Activities Director) revealed they have been at the facility working since September last year (2022). At the time they were hired, they worked under the old Activities Director that misappropriated the activity funds. There would be days residents were expecting outside entertainment (singers/musicians), and there were several days when it was supposed to show up, but didn't. AD1 was responsible for contracting outside activities for residents and at that time, created invoices for the facility and was the only person with a key to the cash box that holds money for the activities funds that were raised by the residents. There would also be many days where AD1 would claim to get items for the residents during the workday, such as getting donuts and coffee for the residents and would show up to work at a later time (10:30 AM or later) with no donuts for the residents. Record review on 03/06/23 at 4:00 PM of a Statement by AD2 revealed I am the assistant for activities, on 11/17/22 at 10:09 AM, I texted AD1 to ask if the singers were still coming for our scheduled 10:30 AM entertainment. I did not get a response back and AD1 did not come to work, so I wasn't sure what to do when the activity was scheduled and no one showed up for entertainment. I also texted her if they were still coming and where could I find the money to give them if they did show up and never got a response that day. I also called her as well, with no response. At 6:04 PM that evening, I received a message back saying they didn't come; call me; hello. She then sent me text 2 times saying hey you need to call me there's something on the 9th. I, (AD2) had a headache so I didn't respond, and AD1 sent another message saying the performers decided not to come back until the nursing home was not at risk for COVID. She also stated she left me a message (I didn't receive) saying that the money was in a binder in the file cabinet, which it wasn't, when I looked the next day at work at 8:30 AM. On 11/18/22 at around 9:00 AM or 9:15 AM, AD1 came in and looked very anxious and hostile and asked me why I took the money box out of the office. I stated that I didn't, she then asked what happened yesterday (11/17/22) and that the money was in the file cabinet. She was also upset that I didn't call her back (didn't receive a call until 6:00 PM). An interview on 03/06/23 at 5:09 PM with the Business Office Manager (BOM) revealed I'm not sure of how many invoices AD1 had misappropriated before the facility was aware of the incident, but AD1 paid the facility back $491 (total money accounted for missed performaces and resident raised money) before they were terminated. AD1 was able to misappropriate the funds under the previous system by giving them invoices for performers before the date of the event and the business office would put the cash in an envelope. Since this incident, we now have the performers sign off on the sheet on the day of the performance and the business office pays them directly. The BOM further stated they checked the activity cash box and were able to locate R1's quarters and the resident signed off for receiving quarters. Record review on 03/06/23 at 5:15 PM of a statement dated 11/18/22, written by the BOM revealed On 11/17/22, the Activities Assistant came to me and stated that the performers were not here and they were scheduled for this morning. She asked me what to do because they (performers) normally come early to set their equipment up. I told her I would get in contact with the performers and eventually was able to locate their number. When I called the performer, he stated that he was told by AD1 that the facility had COVID and was not allowing visitation. I explained to him that was not true because the facility did not have any COVID positive residents or staff, at that time, and asked was he able to perform today, but he wasn't, so we rescheduled for the following week. I then went to the Administrator and and let her know what was going on and told the AD2 to do karaoke with the residents instead. Today on 11/18/22, AD1 caught me in the hallway and asked if AD2 or I had the lock box from the Activity office, and I told her she would have to speak with the Administrator. As I was turning away, she preceded to say they (the performers) weren't coming anyway and the money for them was in the box.
Oct 2022 1 deficiency
CONCERN (D)

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

Deficiency F0583 (Tag F0583)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, interviews, record review, and review of facility policies, the facility failed to provide full visual pr...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, interviews, record review, and review of facility policies, the facility failed to provide full visual privacy for 1 Resident (R)14 of 3 residents observed for incontinent care. Specifically, the facility failed to provide privacy by closing the privacy curtain or shutting the door while providing care for R14. Findings include: A review of the facility policy and procedure titled, Perineal Care, dated 11/2021, indicated that the steps in providing perineal care included 5. Provide privacy by pulling privacy curtain or closing room door if a private room. A review of the facility policy and procedure titled, Promoting/Maintaining Resident Dignity, dated 10/2022, indicated it was the practice of the facility to protect and promote resident rights and treat each resident with respect and dignity as well as care for each resident in a manner and in an environment, that maintains or enhances resident's quality of life by recognizing each resident's individuality. Compliance Guidelines included, Maintain resident privacy. A review of R14's admission Record indicated the facility admitted R14 with diagnoses that included dementia, aphasia, major depressive disorder, and metabolic encephalopathy. A review of R14's annual Minimum Data Set (MDS), dated [DATE], revealed R14 could not complete a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS), so a Staff Assessment of Mental Status was completed which indicated R14 had severe cognitive impairment. The MDS indicated R14 required extensive assistance with dressing, personal hygiene, and toilet use. A review of R14's Care Plan, dated 07/28/21, indicated R14 was incontinent of bowel and bladder. R14 had potential for complications associated with incontinence such as skin breakdown, urinary tract infection, impaired dignity, and constipation. An observation from the hallway on 10/04/22 at 12:11 PM revealed R14 was in bed with no clothing on. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)10 was providing care to R14 which was viewable from the hall. The privacy curtain was not pulled, and the door to the room was open. Another resident rolled past R14's doorway in a wheelchair during this time. CNA10 then looked up and observed the surveyor in the hall and pulled R14's privacy curtain. In an interview on 10/04/22 at 12:25 PM, CNA10 stated R14 required assistance with care. CNA10 stated she was just moving fast and forgot to pull the curtain. CNA10 stated that when she saw the surveyor in the hall, she realized that meant the surveyor could see them, so she pulled the curtain closed. CNA10 stated she knew the curtain should have been closed. In an interview on 10/05/2022 at 3:01 PM, CNA6 stated that when providing incontinent care, she would knock on the door, introduce herself, and tell the resident what she was going to do. CNA6 stated she would then pull the curtain, drape the resident with a towel, and provide care. CNA6 stated that not pulling the privacy curtain could affect the resident because they would not have privacy and would be exposed to the public. In an interview on 10/06/2022 at 12:32 PM, Registered Nurse (RN)2 stated CNAs should pull the curtain and close the door prior to providing any care to residents. In an interview on 10/07/2022 at 9:56 AM, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)1 stated staff should knock on the door and explain what they were going to do. Staff should then close the resident's door, close the curtain, and close the window blind prior to providing care. LPN1 stated that if staff did not provide privacy, it would cause embarrassment to the resident and affect their pride and dignity. In an interview on 10/07/2022 at 8:36 AM, the Director or Nursing (DON) stated it was her expectation that staff would provide privacy to the resident while providing care. In an interview on 10/07/2022 at 8:40 AM, the facility Administrator stated the privacy curtain should be closed any time care was provided to a resident.
Nov 2021 7 deficiencies 2 IJ (2 affecting multiple)
CRITICAL (K)

Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation

Free from Abuse/Neglect (Tag F0600)

Someone could have died · This affected multiple residents

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Amended 12/22/2021 Based on record review, interview, interview statements, and policy review, the facility failed to ensure sev...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Amended 12/22/2021 Based on record review, interview, interview statements, and policy review, the facility failed to ensure seven residents (Resident (R) 22, R37, R14, R73, R65, R61, and R26) were free from resident-to-resident abuse of 25 sampled residents. The facility failed to provide sufficient monitoring, supervision, and interventions to prevent resident-to-resident abuse from occurring. Specifically, the facility failed to protect Resident (R) 22, R37, R14, and R73 from abuse by R63. R63 had a history of physically aggressive behaviors towards residents and staff since admission [DATE], and the facility did not identify the abuse and initiate care plan interventions to prevent future abuse. Additionally, the facility failed to protect R65 and R61 from abuse by R17 and an altercation between R26 and R14; the facility failed to identify that abuse occurred and initiate care plan interventions to prevent future abuse. On 11/19/21 at 11:10 AM, the Administrator and the Director of Nursing (DON) were notified that the failure to ensure residents were free from resident-to-resident abuse from R63, who was known to have aggressive behavior toward staff and residents with no revisions to the behavior care plan, constituted an immediate jeopardy at F600-K: Abuse: Resident-to Resident Abuse. The immediate jeopardy began on 02/08/21 when R63 struck R14. The facility provided an acceptable plan for removal of the immediate jeopardy on 11/20/21 at 12:00 AM. The survey team validated the removal plan through observations, interviews, and review of policy and in-service documentation. The immediate jeopardy was removed on 11/20/21 at 12:00 AM. The deficient practice remained at a E scope and severity following the removal of the immediate jeopardy. Findings include: Review of the facility's policy titled Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation revised on 11/29/18 defined 'Abuse' as the willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment with resulting physical harm, pain or mental anguish . Instances of abuse of all residents, irrespective of any mental or physical condition, cause physical harm, pain, or mental anguish . This includes resident to resident abuse of any kind. Review of R63's face sheet under the Face Sheet tab in the electronic medical record (EMR) revealed R63 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] for long term care. Review of R63's annual Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an assessment reference date (ARD) of 04/25/21 revealed that R63 was nonverbal and had a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 99 which indicated the resident was unable to complete the interview and staff assessed R63 with moderate cognitive impairment. Review of R63's Care Plan tab of the EMR documented a care plan for behaviors related to dementia and schizophrenia, dated 05/19/20, and documented R63 was nonverbal and becomes agitated when he cannot make his needs known, paranoid when meal ticket is taken off the meal tray, and may strike out and resist care with a goal to decrease episodes of striking out at others, and for his behaviors to not cause harm to himself or others. Care plan interventions included direction to remove R63 from situations that increase agitation or combativeness, psychiatric consult as ordered, provide as much control to R63 as possible in daily routines and activities, try and constructively channel to physical and social activities when the R63 resident becomes agitated, aggressive, and combative. The facility's DON who was also the facility's Abuse Coordinator, provided the following documentation on resident-to-resident altercations for R63 from the past year: 1. Review of the facility's Final Investigatory Report dated 02/12/21 for a witnessed event on 02/08/21 revealed R63 punched R14 (BIMS score of 11 out of 15 (BIMS 11), moderate cognitive impairment), in face without provocation. The facility's conclusion did not identify abuse and changes were made to R63's Care Plan to redirect him from other resident's exhibiting delusional distress or outbursts. 2. Review of the facility's Final Investigatory Report dated 09/25/21 for an event on 09/22/21 revealed R63 and R37 (BIMS 07, severe cognitive impairment), who were roommates were punching each other. LPN1 separated the residents and R37 sustained a superficial bruise over his right eye. The facility's conclusion did not identify abuse and R37 was moved to a different room. R63's care plan was not updated following the incident. 3. Review of the facility's Final Investigatory Report dated 10/18/21 for an event that occurred on 10/14/21 revealed R22 shielded Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) 1 from R63 who had raised his hand and was about to strike her. R22 was struck by R63 and sustained two skin tears. The facility's conclusion did not identify abuse; however, documented that R63 was sent to the emergency department (ED) for admission to a Behavioral Health Unit but was returned to the facility the next day. No changes were made to R63's plan of care or physician's orders upon return from the facility. 4. Review of the facility's Final Investigatory Report dated 11/16/21 for an occurrence on 11/12/21 revealed R63 struck R73 (BIMS 03, severe cognitive impairment) in the head with a ball point pen. Staff intervened and sent him to the ED for possible admission to the Behavioral Health Unit. R73 did not sustain a significant injury. The facility's conclusion did not identify abuse. Review of a nursing progress note in the notes tab of R63's EMR dated 11/12/21 revealed R63 was admitted to the Behavioral Health Unit. Review of a nursing progress note in the Notes tab in the EMR dated 11/06/21 at 3:46 AM revealed at approximately 2:45 AM R63 chased CNA4 down the hall, snatching a pull-up out of her hand and began punching her. R63 redirected, and later went down same hall attempting to enter a resident room. Registered Nurse (RN) 1 blocked R63's entry to the room. R63 began punching staff, staff were unable to calm him, police were notified, and placed R63 in handcuffs. R63 continued to exhibit aggressive behavior kicking the police. Police restrained R63 until the ambulance arrived. He returned to the facility on [DATE] at 2:47 PM with no new orders. An ED report was not in R63's hard chart or EMR and no changes were made to his plan of care. Review of the facility's Resident-to-Resident Investigations for the past 6 months revealed the following three events provided by the DON: 1. Review of the facility's Final Investigatory Report dated 07/23/21 for an event that occurred on 07/19/21 documented that R65 (BIMS 03, severe cognitive impairment), was pushing a snack cart down the hall and R17 (BIMS 15, cognitively intact) kicked him in the chest. The facility conclusion documented no abuse was substantiated and no resident was injured. No changes were made to the residents' plans of care or physician orders. 2. Review of the facility's Final Investigation Report dated 08/21/21 for an event that occurred on 08/17/21 documented that R17 kicked R61 (BIMS 03) in the stomach when he was wandering in lobby. Review of the facility's conclusion documented No abuse or neglect was substantiated. No new care plan interventions were identified in the investigation report. 3. Review of the facility's Final Investigation Report dated 01/10/21 revealed R26 (BIMS 99) scratched R14's face, and R14 struck R26 with his fist. The facility conclusion documented no abuse was substantiated and no care plan changes were made for either resident. During an interview on 11/18/21 at 12:01 PM, the Director of Nursing (DON) acknowledged she was the facility's Abuse Coordinator, she conducted all the facility's abuse investigations, and that the occurrences of resident-to-resident abuse occurred as documented. The DON stated she did not perceive the residents' actions were willful at the time she investigated the incidents for F63, R17, R14, and R26. In addition, the DON said she was frustrated about the inability to get R63 admitted to the Behavioral Health Unit prior to 11/12/21 event, and the general lack of psychiatric services, despite having a contract, to their rural community, and did not know what else she could do. The DON reported she had contacted psychiatric services for R63 on multiple occasions without response. The DON acknowledged that the ED did not provide a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and/or provide medication to the resident. The DON acknowledged R63's aggressive behaviors were erratic and not constant; it would just depend on if something triggered him. The DON confirmed there was no increased supervision for R63 following the resident-to-resident altercations.
CRITICAL (K)

Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) - the most serious Medicare violation

Accident Prevention (Tag F0689)

Someone could have died · This affected multiple residents

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure the environment remained free of accident haza...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure the environment remained free of accident hazards for nine residents of 16 residents (Resident (R)7, R20, R21, R26, R27, R44, R54, R73, and R74) reviewed for accidents and hazards. Specifically, four residents (R21, R26, R44, and R74) who had bed (side) rails installed had falls (with injuries for three residents (R21, R26 and R44)) while the bed rails were present and up in position. Following the falls the facility failed to complete root cause analysis/investigations of falls or reassess the use of bed rails. Additionally, three residents (R54, R7, and R73) assessed as not requiring bed rails were observed to have bed rails in use; and two residents (R20 and R27) had bed rail assessments but bed rails in use did not align with the assessment. Furthermore, the facility failed to assess for the use of the least restrictive devices or no devices; and implement care plans to ensure the safety of residents. The failure to put interventions in place to respond to this issue has resulted in a potential for increased risks of falls, entrapments, and death related to the facility's continued use of bed rails for these residents and other vulnerable residents. On 11/18/21 at 6:00 PM, the Administrator was notified an Immediate Jeopardy (IJ) was identified at F689 related to the facility's failure to ensure residents were provided an environment safe from accidents and hazards, specifically related to the use of bed rails. F689 was determined to be at a scope and severity of K, pattern with serious likelihood of serious injury, harm, impairment, or death. The facility provided an acceptable plan for removal of the IJ on 11/19/21 at 10:08 PM. The survey team validated the IJ was removed on 11/19/21 at 10:20 PM following the facility's implementation of the plan for removal of the Immediate Jeopardy. The removal was validated by observations, chart reviews, and interviews of steps taken by the facility to protect residents from accidents related to bed rails. These measures included: All residents were assessed for the need of the side rails. This was confirmed per interview and record review. Observations conducted of the beds that have removable side rails and the residents had been assessed as not requiring these side rails, the side rails were observed as removed. Residents that reside in beds that the side rails are non-removable and did not require side rails or did not require all four side rails per assessment, these side rails were secured in a down position with zip-ties. Residents requiring side rails were confirmed as having side rails per the physician orders. The risk and benefits were reviewed with the resident and/or resident representatives, and consents obtained. Policies for side rail use, risk and benefits, and fall risks and prevention were reviewed and revised per facility and are deemed acceptable. Training was based on the risk and benefits of the use of side rails, prevention, reporting, and investigating falls. Reviewed facility staff sign in sheets for training. A sample of residents updated care plans and evaluations were reviewed and were complete. Interviews were conducted with facility staff to verify training The facility was notified that the IJ was removed on 11/19/21 at 10:20 PM. After the immediacy removal, the noncompliance remained at a lower scope and severity of E (no actual harm with the potential for more than minimal harm that was not immediate jeopardy). Findings Include: 1. Review of R21's undated face sheet located in R21's electronic medical record (EMR), under the Face Sheet tab, indicated R21 was admitted to the facility on [DATE]. R21's diagnoses included muscle weakness, history of falling, abnormalities of gait and mobility, unsteadiness on feet, dementia without behavioral disturbance. Review R21's quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an assessment reference date (ARD) of 09/05/21, revealed R21's Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score was seven out of 15, indicating R21 had severe cognitive impairment. R21 was assessed as independent with bed mobility with a one person assist. Review of R21's care plan located in R21's EMR under the Care Plan tab, revealed the resident's bed rails had not been care planned for monitoring, interventions, and risks. Observation conducted on 11/16/21 at 9:00 AM revealed R21 was in bed with four quarter bed rails up. R21's head was resting against the left upper bed rail and her left arm was between the upper and lower left sided bed rail, hanging to the floor. R21 was not interviewable. Observation on 11/16/21 at 9:49 AM revealed R21 was observed in the same position, the Assistant Director of Nursing (ADN) stated, this is the resident's norm. The ADN did not attempt to reposition resident. Observation on 11/16/21 at 10:13 AM revealed Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) 2 and CNA 3 repositioned R21 in bed, stating, the resident favors her left side. Observation conducted on 11/16/21 at 4:26 PM revealed R21 was still in bed with all four bed rails in place. Throughout 11/16/21 from 10:27 AM to 7:30 PM, and 11/17/21 from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, R21's four bed rails remained up at all times, whether the resident was in or out of bed. Review of R21's Evaluation for Use of Side Rails dated 06/01/08, located in R21's EMR, under the Assess tab, documented the reason for the side rails was for safety and security. Further review of the evaluation form revealed the alternatives were discussed with the resident representative, there was no indication the precautions were discussed with the resident and/or resident representative. Review of R21's Resident Incident Report dated 06/30/21, provided by the facility documented alerted by CNA to [R21's] room, resident lying on floor and complaining of head pain to back of head. Fall was not witnessed, but resident was heard hitting the floor by CNA passing by. Bed rails was checked as ordered and up. Further review of R21's EMR and paper chart revealed the facility did not review the use of the bed rails following the fall and did not determine a root cause analysis for the fall. The investigation listed Medical risk factors possibly related to incident: Fall history; Inability to understand directions, confusion/disorientation, and incontinency. Review of R21's Resident Incident Report, dated 08/10/21, provided by the facility, documented resident was noted on floor by bed, scooting to the bathroom. No injury. Bed rails was checked as ordered and up. The facility did not review the use of bed rails following the fall and did not determine a root cause analysis for the fall. The report listed Medical risk factors possibly related to incident: Fall history, arthritis/osteoporosis, confusion/disorientation, B&B (bowel/bladder) urgency, tremors/Parkinson's. During an interview on 11/18/21 at 10:54 AM, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) 2 stated R21 used bed rails to reposition herself. LPN 2 was questioned based on the observation made on 11/16/21, if the bed rails could be an entrapment risk? LPN 2 stated, No, I don't see any entrapment issues. 2. Review of R26's undated face sheet located in R26's EMR under the Face Sheet tab, indicated R26 was admitted to the facility on [DATE]. R26's diagnoses included moderate intellectual disabilities, anxiety disorder, and fractured right clavicle. Review of R26's admission MDS with an ARD of 08/08/21, BIMS score was 11 out of 15 indicating R26 had moderate cognitive impairment. R26's bed mobility was assessed as limited assistance of one staff member. Review of R26's care plan located in R26's EMR under the Care Plan tab, revealed the resident's bed rails had not been care planned for monitoring, interventions, and risks. On 11/16/21 at 9:35 AM, R26 was observed in the hallway sitting in her wheelchair. R26 was observed with blood on her face and forehead where there was a laceration. R26 was not interviewable. During an interview conducted on 11/16/21 at 10:00AM at the R26's bedside, LPN 2 stated, she [R26] got that [laceration] from falling. Review of R26's Resident Incident Report dated 08/01/21, provided by the facility, documented resident attempting to transfer self out of bed. Holding on to side rails and sat on floor. No injury. Bed rails was checked as present. The facility did not reassess the bed rail use following the fall and did not conduct a root cause analysis of the fall. The report listed Medical Risk factors possibly related to incident: Fall history, seizure history, confusion/disorientation, incontinency. Review of R26's Resident Incident Report dated 10/20/21, provided by the facility, documented staff responded to resident crying in her room and resident had got out of bed without assistance and was on the floor. Laceration above right eyebrow was reopened. Bed rails were checked as ordered, present, and up. The facility did not reassess the bed rails following the fall and did not complete a root cause analysis for the fall. The report listed Medical risk factors possibly related to incident: Fall history, seizure history, confusion/disorientation, incontinency, B&B urgency. Review of R26's Resident Incident Report dated 11/02/21, provided by the facility, documented Resident heard crying, upon entering room, resident was observed lying on the impact mat between her and her roommate's bed with her head on the tile floor. Small amount of blood noted from nares, and shallow/superficial laceration to the middle of her forehead. Bed rails was checked as ordered, present, and up. The facility did not re-assess the bed rails following the fall and did not complete a root cause analysis following the fall. The report documented Medical risk factors possibly related to incident: Fall history, seizure history, confusion/disorientation, incontinency, B&B urgency. During an interview conducted on 11/18/21 at 10:56 AM, LPN 2 was questioned why R26 no longer has bed rails? LPN 2 stated the resident now has a low bed because she (R26) would throw herself out of the bed. 3. Review of R44's undated face sheet, located in R44's EMR under the Face Sheet tab, indicated R44 was admitted to the facility on [DATE]. R44's diagnoses included difficulty in walking, unsteadiness on feet, and dementia. Review of R44's quarterly MDS with an ARD of 09/26/21, revealed R44's BIMS score was six out of 15 indicating R44 had severely impaired cognition. The resident's bed mobility was assessed as independent. Review of R44's care plan located in R44's EMR under the Care Plan tab, revealed the resident's bed rails had not been care planned for monitoring, interventions, and risks. Observation conducted on 11/16/21 at 11:34 AM, revealed R44 was in bed with bilateral quarter bed rails in the up position, located at the head of the bed. The bed rails were observed throughout the rest of 11/16/21 from 11:34 AM to 7:30 PM and 11/17/21 from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Review of R44's Resident Incident Report dated 12/06/20, provided by the facility, documented R44 was observed on impact mat beside bed sustained a skin tear to left wrist and elbow, and discoloration to left forearm. Bed rails was checked as ordered, present, and up. The facility did not reassess the bed rails following the fall and did not complete a root cause analysis following the fall. The report documented Medical risk factors possibly related to incident: Fall history, hard of hearing, confusion/disorientation, B&B urgency. Review of R44's Resident Incident Report dated 12/10/20, documented R44 was noted sitting on her safety mat next to the bed at about 3AM [3:00 AM] by the CNA. She was incontinent of urine and upset, but not hurt. She said she had been attempting to go to the toilet independently. Bed rails was checked off on incident report as up. The facility did not reassess the bed rails following the fall and did not complete a root cause analysis following the fall. The report documented Medical Med risk factors possibly related to incident: Fall history, fatigue, arthritis/osteoporosis, confusion/disorientation, incontinency, B&B urgency. Review of R44's Resident Incident Report dated 08/08/21, provided by the facility, documented resident told this writer that she fell when she was transferring to the bed, hit her head on the floor, and then put herself back in the chair. Sustained contusion with discoloration noted to left occipital area. Bed rails was checked off on incident report as up. The facility did not re-assess the bed rails following the fall and did not complete a root cause analysis following the fall. The report documented Medical risk factors possibly related to incident: arthritis/osteoporosis, incontinency. During an interview on 11/18/21 at 10:53 AM, LPN 2 stated R44 used her bed rails to reposition herself. LPN 2 stated R44 needed supervision of one person for bed mobility. 4. Review of R74's undated face sheet located in R74's EMR under the Face Sheet tab, indicated R74 was admitted to the facility on [DATE]. R74's diagnoses included Alzheimer's disease, muscle weakness, need for assistance with personal care, and dysphagia. Review of R74's quarterly MDS with an ARD of 10/24/21, BIMS revealed R74's score was assessed as 99 indicating the resident was unable to complete the assessment questions. The resident's bed mobility was assessed as bed fast, self-position. An observation was conducted on 11/16/21 at 10:27 AM of R74 in bed with four quarter bed rails up, resident was moving from side to side independently. At 11:52 AM, R74 was observed in bed with all four bed rails up. The four bed rails were observed on bed and up throughout 11/16/21 from 10:27 AM to 7:30 PM and 11/17/21 from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Review of R74's care plan located in R74's EMR under the Care Plan tab, revealed the R74's bed rails had not been care planned for monitoring, interventions, and risks. Review of R74's Resident Incident Report dated 02/18/21, provided by the facility documented resident was found beside bed by CNA. Roommate stated she [R74] climbed out of bed to floor. No injuries noted. Bed rails was checked as ordered, present, and up. The facility did not reassess the bed rails following the fall and did not complete a root cause analysis following the fall. The report documented Medical risk factors possibly related to incident: fall history, inability to understand directions, confusion/disorientation, incontinency. During an interview conducted on 11/18/21 at 10:36 AM at R74's bedside, CNA6 was questioned why R74 has four bed rails up and two wedges in her bed? CNA6 stated, the bed rails are to keep the wedges from falling off the bed. Not sure why she has wedges. When asked if the resident has ever attempted to climb over the bed rails? CNA6 stated, I don't know if she has ever climbed out of bed. During an interview on 11/18/21 at 10:40 AM, LPN3 stated, the bedrails are for safety and assisting for repositioning and the wedges are to help keep her in position. LPN3 stated the resident is dependent on the staff [for bed mobility] but does have non- purposeful movement. LPN3 was questioned if the resident has ever fallen or climbed out of bed? LPN3 stated, not that I am aware of. LPN3 stated she had worked for the facility for nine years and her primary assignment was the day shift for R74's hall. 5. Review of R20's face sheet in the Face Sheet tab of the EMR revealed the resident was admitted on [DATE] for long term care. Review of R20's quarterly MDS with an ARD of 08/03/21 revealed R20 had a BIMS score of 11 out of 15 which indicated the resident had moderate cognitive impairment. Review of R20's care plan under the Care Plan tab in the EMR revealed on 08/28/21 two upper side rails were added to at the head of the bed for bed mobility. Review of the CNA Care Sheet, on 11/17/21, located in the resident's closet in the room revealed it did not address the inclusion of side rails in the R20's care. Review of a Side Rail Assessment in the Assessments tab in the EMR dated 08/23/21 revealed a recommendation for R20 to have had two quarter upper rails for turning and positioning. Observation on 11/16/21 at 12:00 PM revealed R20 was in bed with all four quarter side rails up; however, R20's Side Rail Assessment only indicated two quarter side rails were needed. Observation on 11/17/21 at 12:53 PM revealed R20 was in bed with all four quarter side rails up. During an interview with CNA 1 at 1:30 PM, she stated that she gets the residents' side rails recommendations in report. CNA 1 acknowledged that each resident had a CNA Care Sheet in the room; however, they [CNA staff] rarely look at it and rely on a verbal report. 6. Review of R54's face sheet in the Face Sheet tab of the EMR revealed the resident was admitted on [DATE] for long term care. Review of R54's annual ''MDS'' with an ARD of 10/03/21 revealed R54 had a BIMS score of five out of 15 which indicated the resident had severe cognitive impairment. Review of R54's care plan in the Care Plan tab in the EMR revealed the use of two upper side rails as an undated intervention for fall prevention. Review of R54's CNA Care Sheet located in the resident's closet in the room revealed it did not include use of side rails in the resident's care. Review of R54's most recent Side Rail Assessment in the Assessments tab in R54's EMR dated 06/28/21 revealed side rails were not recommended for use for R54. Observation on 11/16/21 at 11:30 AM revealed R54 was in bed with two upper quarter side rails in use. An additional observation on 11/17/21 at 11:31 AM revealed R54 had two upper quarter side rails while the resident was lying in bed. During an interview with CNA1 at 1:30 PM, she stated that she gets the residents' side rails recommendations in report. CNA1 acknowledged that each resident had a CNA Care Sheet in the room; however, they [CNA staff] rarely look at it and rely on a verbal report. 7. Review of R27's face sheet in the Face Sheet tab of the EMR revealed the resident was admitted on [DATE] for long term care. Review of R27's admission MDS with an ARD of 09/27/21 revealed R27 had a BIMS score of seven out of 15 which indicated the resident had severe cognitive impairment. Review of the care plan in the Care Plan tab in R27's EMR revealed there was not a care plan for the use of side rails for the resident's care. No CNA Care Sheet, usually located in the resident's closet in the room was available in R27's room nor was one provided by the Director of Nursing (DON) upon request on 11/16/21 at 1:00 PM. Review of a Side Rail Assessment in the Assessments tab in R27's EMR, dated 09/11/21, revealed the use of two upper quarter rails was discussed with the responsible party; however, the assessment did not document a reason for use; if the responsible party consented to the use of side rails; or a determination for the use of side rails. Observation on 11/16/21 at 11:42 AM revealed R27 was in bed with all four quarter side rails up. An additional observation on 11/17/21 at 11:31 AM revealed R27 was in bed with all four side rails up. During an interview with CNA1 at 1:30 PM, she stated that she gets the residents' side rails recommendations in report. CNA1 acknowledged that each resident had a CNA Care Sheet in the room; however, they [CNA staff] rarely look at it and rely on a verbal report. 8. Review of R7's face sheet in the Face Sheet tab of the EMR revealed the resident was re-admitted on [DATE] for long term care. Review of R7's quarterly ''MDS'' with an ARD of 08/15/21 revealed R7 had severe cognitive impairment per staff assessment. Review of the care plan in the Care Plan tab in R7's EMR revealed an undated approach for side rails up at the head of the bed to assist with bed mobility as inclusion for an activities of daily living (ADL) self-care deficit problem identified on 12/21/19. Review of the CNA Care Sheet located in R7's closet in the room revealed directions for the use of two half rails for the resident's care. Review of a Side Rail Assessment in the Assessments tab in R7's EMR dated 11/01/21 revealed side rails were not recommended for use for R7. Observation on 11/16/21 at 12:00 PM revealed R7 was in bed with four quarter side rails in use. An additional observation on 11/17/21 at 11:31 AM revealed R7 was in bed with four side rails up. 9. Review of R73's face sheet in the Face Sheet tab of the EMR revealed R73 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] for long term care. Review of R73's quarterly ''MDS'' with an ARD of 10/24/21 revealed R73 had a BIMS score of three out of 15 which indicated the resident had severe cognitive impairment. Review of the CNA Care Sheet located in R73's closet in the room revealed side rails were not included in the resident's care. Review of a Side Rail Assessment in the Assessments tab in R73's EMR dated 02/03/21 revealed side rails were not recommended for use for R73. Observation on 11/16/21 at 12:00 PM revealed R73 was in bed with two upper quarter rails and one lower quarter rail up. An additional observation on 11/17/21 at 11:31 AM revealed R73 was in bed with four quarter side rails up. During an interview with CNA1 at 1:30 PM, she stated that she gets the residents' side rails recommendations in report. CNA1 acknowledged that each resident has a CNA Care Sheet in the room; however, they [CNA staff] rarely look at it and rely on a verbal report. During an interview conducted on 11/18/21 at 11:00 AM, the DON stated, the nurses monitor the use of bed rails every shift; resident evaluations are in the resident charts and residents are reevaluated at least annually. The Care Plan team which consists of therapy, social services, activities, MDS coordinator, floor nurse and CNA, evaluates the effectiveness in discontinuing the use of bed rails. Training for bedrails is conducted in orientation and at least, annually, to include the risks and benefits. The Care Plan team assesses residents for bed mobility. The admission Coordinator and Care Plan team initiate the evaluation for bed rails. Depending on the resident's clinical picture the bed rails may need to initiate during the admission process, and they obtain the consent at the same time. The DON confirmed bed rail use should have been re-evaluated following falls where bed rails were in use. The DON acknowledged the falls did not have a root cause analysis. During an interview on 11/18/21 at 2:25 PM, the DON stated that usually the MDS nurse formulates the Care Plans; however, the facility has had three 3 different MDS nurses in the past year and she has had to fill in. The DON acknowledged that the CNA Care Sheets are probably not up to date and the CNA's get their direction for resident care from the CNA Care Sheets and verbal report. Review of the facility's policy titled, Proper Use of Side Rails dated 11/27/17, revealed it is the policy of this facility to utilize a person-centered approach when determining the use of side rails, also known as bed rails. Alternatives are attempted prior to installing a side or bed rail .the facility will provide ongoing monitoring and supervision of side rail/bed rail use for effectiveness, assessment of need, and determination when the side rail/bed rail will be discontinued .Direct care staff will be responsible for care and treatment in accordance with the plan of care .the interdisciplinary team will make decisions regarding when the side/bed rail will be used or discontinued, or when to revise the care plan to address any residual effects of the rail.
CONCERN (D)

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

Resident Rights (Tag F0550)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, interview, and review of facility policy, the facility failed to ensure that residents who ...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, interview, and review of facility policy, the facility failed to ensure that residents who required feeding assistance were able to dine with dignity. One of two residents (Resident (R) 6) observed that were dependent on staff for feeding assistance were observed to receive assistance from staff who were standing and not properly cuing the resident while placing food in the resident's mouth. Findings include: Review of the facility's policy titled DIGNITY - PROMOTING/MAINTAINING dated 11/29/18 directs protect and promote resident rights and treat each resident with respect and dignity as well as care for each resident in a manner and in an environment, that maintains or enhances resident's quality of life by recognizing each resident's individuality. Review of R6's face sheet under the Face Sheet tab in the electronic medical record (EMR) revealed R6 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] for long-term care. Review of R6's quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an assessment reference date (ARD) of 08/15/21 revealed the resident had a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of one out of 15 which indicated the resident had severe cognitive impairment. Facility staff documented R6 as totally dependent on staff for eating. Review of R6's care plan in the EMR under the Care Plan tab identified on 03/18/21 that R6 had a self-care deficit and was dependent on staff assistance for eating. During an observation on 11/16/21 at 12:45 PM, Certified Nursing Aide (CNA) 1 delivered R6's tray of pureed food. The resident was seated in a Geri chair (a medical recliner chair) at a 45-degree fowlers position. While feeding R6, CNA1 was observed to be standing and above R6's eye level, looking down on her. CNA1 fed R6 two spoons of food. When CNA1 delivered the third spoonful, R6 said she did not want anymore; however, CNA1 fed her the food anyway. CNA1 continued to feed the resident four more spoons without cuing R6 and at the ninth spoonful the resident said, stop it. CNA1 continued to attempt to feed R6 without cuing and R6 moved her face away from the spoon. CNA1 asked R6 if she wanted tomato soup with the spoon in her mouth; however, R6 said no. CNA1 then stopped feeding the resident. During an interview on 11/16/21 at 12:56 PM, CNA1 stated R6 was a picky eater and acknowledged she was standing while feeding R6. CNA1 stated she was taught during CNA training that she should be seated when providing feeding assistance; however, there was not a chair in the room, and staff don't do that here. During an interview on 11/19/21 at 10:30 PM, the Director of Nursing (DON) acknowledged it was undignified for staff to feed a resident that required feeding assistance while standing up. The DON stated staff should be seated and cue the resident while providing feeding assistance.
CONCERN (D)

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

Notification of Changes (Tag F0580)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interview statements, the facility failed to notify the responsible party of one of four residents (R...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interview statements, the facility failed to notify the responsible party of one of four residents (Resident (R) 73) reviewed for abuse regarding an episode of resident-to-resident abuse. Findings include: Review of the facility's policy titled Notification of Changes dated 11/27/17 directs the facility must inform the resident, and/or notify the resident's family member or legal representative when there is a change requiring such notification .circumstances requiring notification include .a change in the resident's rights. Review of R73's face sheet in the Face Sheet tab of the electronic medical record (EMR) revealed R73 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] for long-term care. Review of R73's quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an assessment reference date (ARD) of 10/24/21 revealed R73 had a Brief Interview for Mental Status Score of three out of 15 which indicated the resident had severe cognitive impairment. Review of the facility's Final Investigatory Report dated 11/16/21 for an occurrence on 11/12/21 revealed R63 struck R73 in the head with a ballpoint pen. Staff intervened and sent R63 to the Emergency Department (ED) for possible admission to the Behavioral Health Unit and documented that R73 did not sustain a significant injury. Review of the nursing progress notes in the Notes tab in R73's EMR revealed there was no documentation of the 11/12/21 incident and no documentation that the responsible party was notified. During an interview on 11/18/21 at 5:24 PM, Family Member (F) 1 stated she was F73's responsible party who would receive notification regarding a change in the resident and she was last notified about an incident for R73 three weeks ago when he fell out of bed. During an interview on 11/19/21 at 11:30 PM, the Director of Nursing acknowledged that R73's responsible party was not contacted about the physical abuse by R63 on 11/12/21.
CONCERN (E)

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

Investigate Abuse (Tag F0610)

Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, interview, and facility policy review, the facility failed to thoroughly investigate allegations of abus...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, interview, and facility policy review, the facility failed to thoroughly investigate allegations of abuse and/or implement corrective action following investigations of abuse for four of seven abuse investigations reviewed. Specifically, Resident (R) 63 engaged in multiple resident-to-resident altercations where R14, R37, R22, and R73 were victims of his abuse and the facility failed to identify the abuse and implement preventative measures. Findings include: Review of the facility's policy titled Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation revised on 11/29/18 directs Prevention of Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation - The facility will consider utilization of the following tips for prevention of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of residents: a. Train staff in appropriate interventions to deal with aggressive and/or catastrophic reactions by residents. b. Observe resident behavior and their reaction to other residents, roommates, tablemates. Place residents in accommodations and environments that keep them calm. d. Provide education on what constitutes abuse, neglect. f. Take appropriate actions when abuse, neglect or exploitation is suspected. j. Provide instructions to staff on care needs of residents. l. Assess, monitor, and develop appropriate plans of care for residents with needs and behaviors which might lead to conflict or neglect, such as residents with a history of aggressive behaviors, residents who have behaviors such as entering other resident's rooms, residents with self-injurious behaviors, residents with communication disorders and those that require heavy nursing care and/or are totally dependent on staff. Resident Protection after Alleged Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation - The facility will make efforts to protect all residents after alleged abuse, neglect and/or exploitation. Examples of ways to protect a resident from harm during an investigation of abuse, neglect and exploitation may include, but are not limited to: Temporary (less than 24 hours) separation from other residents if a resident's behavior poses a threat of abuse or violence Temporary or permanent room or roommate change, where incompatibility creates the potential for abuse. involve family members to sit with resident Temporary one on one supervision of a resident Engage a resident in diversionary activities. Review R63's face sheet under the Face Sheet tab in the electronic medical record (EMR) revealed R63 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] for long-term care. Review of the annual Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an assessment reference date (ARD) of 04/25/21 revealed that R63 was nonverbal and had a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 99 which indicated the resident was unable to complete the interview and staff assessed R63 with moderate cognitive impairment. Review of R63's care plan located in the Care Plan tab of the EMR included a care plan for behaviors related to dementia and schizophrenia, dated 05/19/20, and documented R63 was nonverbal and became agitated when he cannot make his needs known, paranoid when meal ticket is taken off the meal tray, and may strike out and resist care with a goal to decrease episodes of striking out at others, and for his behaviors to not cause harm to himself or others. Care plan interventions included direction to remove R63 from situations that increase agitation or combativeness, psychiatric consult as ordered, provide as much control to R63 as possible in daily routines and activities, try and constructively channel to physical and social activities when the R63 resident becomes agitated, aggressive, and combative. The facility's Director of Nursing (DON), who was also the facility's Abuse Coordinator, provided the following resident-to-resident altercations for R63 from the past year: 1. Review of the facility's Final Investigatory Report dated 02/12/21 for a witnessed event on 02/08/21 revealed R63 punched R14, whose Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score was 11 (BIMS 11) indicated moderate cognitive impairment; in face without provocation. The facility's conclusion did not identify abuse and changes were made to R63's Care Plan to redirect him from other residents exhibiting delusional distress or outbursts. In addition, a review of the nursing progress notes in the Notes tab in the EMR revealed there was no documented evidence of increased supervision of R63 to prevent future incidents. 2. Review of the facility's Final Investigatory Report dated 09/25/21 for an event on 09/22/21 revealed R63 and R37 (BIMS seven, severe cognitive impairment), who were roommates were punching each other. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) 1 separated the residents and R37 sustained a superficial bruise over his right eye. The facility's conclusion did not identify abuse and R37 was moved to a different room. R63's care plan was not updated following the incident. In addition, a review of the nursing progress notes in the Notes tab in the EMR revealed there was no documented evidence of increased supervision of R63 to prevent future incidents. 3. Review of the facility's Final Investigatory Report dated 10/18/21 for an event that occurred on 10/14/21 revealed R22 shielded CNA1 from R63 who had raised his hand and was about to strike her. R22 was struck by R63 and sustained two skin tears. The facility's conclusion did not identify abuse; however, documented that R63 was sent to the emergency department (ED) for admission to a Behavioral Health Unit but was returned to the facility the next day. No changes were made to R63's plan of care or physician's orders upon return from the facility. In addition, a review of the nursing progress notes in the Notes tab in the EMR revealed there was no documented evidence of increased supervision of the resident. 4. Review of the facility's Final Investigatory Report dated 11/16/21 for an occurrence on 11/12/21 revealed R63 struck R73 (BIMS three, severe cognitive impairment) in the head with a ballpoint pen. Staff intervened and sent him to the ED for possible admission to the Behavioral Health Unit. R73 did not sustain a significant injury. The facility's conclusion did not identify abuse. Review of a nursing progress note in the notes tab of the EMR dated 11/12/21 revealed R63 was admitted to the Behavioral Health Unit. Review of a nursing progress note in the Notes tab in the EMR dated 11/06/21 at 3:46 AM, revealed at approximately 2:45 AM, R63 chased CNA4 down the hall, snatching a pull-up out of her hand and began punching her. R63 redirected and later went down the same hall attempting to enter a resident room. Registered Nurse (RN) 1 blocked R63's entry to the room. R63 began punching staff, staff were unable to calm him, police were notified, and placed R63 in handcuffs. R63 continued to exhibit aggressive behavior kicking the police. Police restrained R63 until the ambulance arrived. He returned to the facility on [DATE] at 2:47 PM with no new orders. An ED report was not in R63's hard chart or EMR, and no changes were made to his plan of care. In addition, a review of the nursing progress notes in the Notes tab in the EMR from 11/06/21 to 11/12/21 revealed there was no documented evidence of increased supervision of the resident. During an interview on 11/18/21 at 12:01 PM, the Director of Nursing (DON) stated that R63's triggers were random and erratic. The DON stated following the altercations they continued to follow R63's care plan. The DON acknowledged that R63 was not placed on one of one supervision or increased monitoring to prevent additional altercations after any of the resident-to-resident events. The DON confirmed R63 was sent to the emergency department with the intent of getting him admitted to the Behavioral Health Unit and was frustrated about the inability to get R63 admitted to the Behavioral Health Unit before 11/12/21 event, and the general lack of psychiatric services, despite having a contract, in their rural community, and did not know what else she could do.
CONCERN (E)

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

Comprehensive Care Plan (Tag F0656)

Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to complete a comprehensive care plan for nine of 16 res...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to complete a comprehensive care plan for nine of 16 residents (Residents(R) 21, R23, R26, R27, R29, R44, R47, R62, and R74) reviewed for the use of bed rails. Specifically, nine residents were not care planned for the interventions, risks, and benefits for the use of bed rails. The failure to complete and initiate a comprehensive care plan for the use of bed rails places the residents at risk for falls, entrapments, and injuries related to the facility's continued use of bed rails for these residents and other vulnerable residents. Findings Include: Review of the facility's policy titled Comprehensive Care Plans dated 12/01/17 revealed, It is the policy of this facility to develop and implement a comprehensive person-centered care plan for each resident, consistent with resident rights, that includes measurable objectives and timeframes to meet a resident's medical, nursing, and mental and psychosocial needs that are identified in the resident's comprehensive assessment. Review of the facility's policy titled, Proper Use of Side Rails dated 11/27/17, revealed it is the policy of this facility to utilize a person-centered approach when determining the use of side rails, also known as bed rails. Alternatives are attempted prior to installing a side or bed rail . the facility will provide ongoing monitoring and supervision of side rail/bed rail use for effectiveness, assessment of need, and determination when the side rail/bed rail will be discontinued . Direct care staff will be responsible for care and treatment in accordance with the plan of care . the interdisciplinary team will make decisions regarding when the side/bed rail will be used or discontinued, or when to revise the care plan to address any residual effects of the rail. 1. Observation conducted on 11/16/21 at 9:00 AM revealed R21 was in bed with four, quarter bed rails up. R21's head was resting against the left upper bed rail and her left arm was between the upper and lower left-sided bed rail, hanging to the floor. R21 was not interviewable. Review of R21's undated face sheet located in R21's electronic medical record (EMR), under the Face Sheet tab, indicated R21 was admitted to the facility on [DATE]. R21's diagnoses included muscle weakness, history of falling, abnormalities of gait and mobility, unsteadiness on feet, and dementia without behavioral disturbance. Review R21's quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 09/05/21, revealed a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of seven out of fifteen, which indicated R21 had severe cognitive impairment. Further review of the R21's MDS did not indicate the resident had bed rails. Review of R21's physician's orders located in R21's EMR under the Orders tab revealed an order for side rails up 1/2 times (x) 3 for assistance with turning and repositioning. Review of R21's care plan located in R21's EMR under the Care Plan tab, revealed the resident's bed rails had not been care planned for monitoring, interventions, and risks. 2. Observation on 11/16/21 at 10:05 AM, revealed R23 in bed with four quarter side rails raised. Review of R23's undated face sheet located in R23's EMR under the Face Sheet tab indicated R23 was admitted to the facility on [DATE]. R23's diagnoses included dementia without behavioral disturbance and type 2 diabetes with diabetic peripheral angiopathy with gangrene. Review of R23's annual MDS with an ARD of 09/05/21 revealed R23's BIMS score was fourteen out of fifteen, indicating R23 was cognitively intact. Further review of the R23's MDS did not indicate the resident had bed rails. Review of R23's physician's orders located in R23's EMR under Orders tab, dated 06/23/19 revealed an order for side rails up 1/2 x 4 for assistance with turning and repositioning and establishing boundaries per resident request. Review of R23's care plan located in R23's EMR under the Care Plan tab, revealed the resident's bed rails had not been care planned for monitoring, interventions, and risks. 3. Review of R26's undated face sheet located in R26's EMR under the Face Sheet tab, indicated R26 was admitted to the facility on [DATE]. R26's diagnoses included moderate intellectual disabilities, anxiety disorder, and fractured right clavicle. Review of R26's admission MDS with an ARD of 08/08/21 revealed BIMS score was eleven out of fifteen indicating R26 had moderate cognitive impairment. Further review of R26's MDS did not indicate the resident had bed rails. Review of R26's physician's orders located in R26's EMR under the Orders tab, revealed an order dated 07/31/21 for side rails up 1/2 x 2 for assistance with turning and repositioning. Review of R26's care plan located in R26's EMR under the Care Plan tab, revealed the resident's bed rails had not been care planned for monitoring, interventions, and risks. 4. Observation on 11/16/21 at 11:42 AM revealed R27 was in bed with all four side rails up. Review of R27's face sheet in the Face Sheet tab of the EMR revealed the resident was admitted on [DATE] for long-term care. Review of R27's admission MDS with an ARD of 09/27/21 revealed R27 had a BIMS score of seven out of 15 which indicated the resident had severe cognitive impairment. Review of the care plan in the Care Plan tab in R27's EMR revealed there was not a care plan for the use of side rails for the resident's care. 5. Observation on 11/16/21 at 11:42 AM, revealed R29 was in bed with both upper bed rails raised. Review of R29's undated face sheet located in R29's EMR under the Face Sheet tab, indicated R29 was admitted to the facility on [DATE]. R29's diagnoses included congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and edema. Review of R29's quarterly MDS with an ARD of 09/12/21 revealed R29's BIMS score was ten out of fifteen indicating R29's cognition was moderately impaired. Further review of R29's MDS did not indicate the resident had bed rails. Review of R29's physician's orders located in R29's EMR under Orders tab, dated 04/06/20, revealed an order for side rails 1/2 x 1 to aid in mobility and positioning Review of R29's care plan located in R29's EMR under the Care Plan tab, revealed the resident's bed rails had not been care planned for monitoring, interventions, and risks. 6. Observation on 11/16/21 at 11:34 AM, revealed R44 was in bed with bilateral quarter bed rails in the up position, located at the head of the bed. Review of R44's undated face sheet, located in R44's EMR under the Face Sheet tab, indicated R44 was admitted to the facility on [DATE]. R44's diagnoses included difficulty in walking, unsteadiness on feet, and dementia. Review of R44's quarterly MDS with an ARD of 09/26/21, BIMS revealed R44's score was six out of fifteen indicating R44 had severe cognitive impairment. Further review of R44's MDS did not indicate the resident had bed rails. Review of R44's physician's orders, located in R44's EMR under Orders tab, dated 06/30/19, revealed an order for side rails up 1/2 x 2 for assistance with turning and repositioning. Review of R44's care plan located in R44's EMR under the Care Plan tab, revealed the resident's bed rails had not been care planned for monitoring, interventions, and risks. 7. Observation on 11/17/21 at 9:35 AM, revealed R47 was asleep in bed with all four bed rails raised. The bed rails were padded with a green foam cover. Review of R47's undated face sheet located in R47's EMR under the Face Sheet tab, indicated R47 was admitted to the facility on [DATE]. R47's diagnoses included diabetes, dementia, and depression. Review of R47's quarterly MDS with an ARD of 10/03/21, BIMS revealed R47's scored ten out of fifteen indicating R47's cognition was moderately impaired. The MDS did not indicate the resident had bed rails. Review of R47's physician's orders located in R47's EMR under the Orders tab, dated 06/23/19, revealed an order for side rails up 1/2 x 4 for assistance with turning and repositioning and boundaries. Review of R47's Care Plan located in R47's EMR under the care plan tab, revealed the resident's bed rails had not been care planned for monitoring, interventions, and risks. 8. On 11/16/21 at 5:02 PM, R62 was observed asleep in bed with all four quarter side rails raised. Review of R62's undated face sheet located in R62's EMR under the Orders tab, indicated R62 was admitted to the facility on [DATE]. R62's diagnoses included bipolar disorder, dementia, and delusional disorders. Review of R62's quarterly MDS with an ARD of 10/10/21 revealed R62's BIMS score was ninety-nine, indicating R62 was unable to complete the assessment questions. Review of R62's Physician Orders located in R62's EMR under the orders tab, dated 02/01/21, revealed an order for side rails up 1/2 x 2 for assistance with turning and repositioning. Review of R62's care plan located in R62's EMR under the Care Plan tab, revealed the resident's bed rails had not been care planned for monitoring, interventions, and risks. 9. An observation was conducted on 11/16/21 at 10:27 AM of R74 in bed with four quarter bed rails up, resident was moving from side to side independently. Review of R74's undated face sheet located in R74's EMR under the Face Sheet tab, indicated R74 was admitted to the facility on [DATE]. R74's diagnoses included Alzheimer's disease, muscle weakness, and need for assistance with personal care. Review of R74's quarterly MDS with an ARD of 10/24/21, BIMS revealed R74's score was assessed as 99 indicating the resident was unable to complete the assessment questions. Further review of R74's MDS did not indicate the use of bed rails. Review of R74's Physician Orders located in R74's EMR dated 02/14/20, revealed an order for side rails up 1/2 x 2 for assistance with turning and repositioning. Review of R74's care plan located in R74's EMR under the Care Plan tab, revealed the R74's bed rails had not been care planned for monitoring, interventions, and risks. During an interview on 11/18/21 at 2:25 PM, the Director of Nursing (DON) stated usually the MDS Nurse formulates the care plans; however, the facility has had three different MDS Nurses in the past year and she has had to fill in. The DON acknowledged that the CNA Care Sheets are probably not up to date and the CNAs get their direction for resident care from the CNA Care Sheets and verbal report, and was not caught up on care plans for the facility.
CONCERN (E)

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

Deficiency F0925 (Tag F0925)

Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and facility policy review, the facility failed to ensure that one unit (Front Hall) of two uni...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and facility policy review, the facility failed to ensure that one unit (Front Hall) of two units observed in the facility was free of pests. This deficient practice had the potential to affect all 22 residents residing in the Front Hall; the facility census was 73. Findings include: Review of the facility's policy titled Pest control Program dated 11/27/17 directs It is the policy of this facility to maintain an effective pest control program that eradicates and contains common household pests and rodents. Review of the facility's 01/01/00 housekeeping duties list titled JOB TO BE DONE: DAILY PATIENT ROOM CLEANING listed duties including Use dust mop to gather all trash & debris on floor. Sweep to the door; pick up with dust pan [sic]. During an observation on 11/16/21 at 11:03 AM, a pink wash basin with cloudy water with black pests was on the floor under a bedside table in room [ROOM NUMBER]. During an observation on 11/16/21 at 11:17 AM, flying gnats were noted in the bathroom and room [ROOM NUMBER]. During an observation on 11/16/21 at 11:47 AM, six flying gnats were observed flying in resident room [ROOM NUMBER]. During an observation on 11/16/21 at 12:28 PM in room [ROOM NUMBER] flying gnats were noted around the residents' food during delivery of meal trays. Additional observations on 11/17/21 at 10:30 AM and 3:04 PM revealed the pink wash basin with cloudy water with black pests remained on the floor under a bedside table in room [ROOM NUMBER]. During an interview on 11/17/21 at 3:28 PM, the Maintenance Director stated he had a problem with gnats in the facility from room [ROOM NUMBER] and he called pest control to take care of the issue; however, there have been no recent problems with gnats. Additional observation on 11/18/21 at 11:00 AM revealed the pink wash basin with cloudy water with black pests remained on the floor under a bedside table in room [ROOM NUMBER]. During an interview and observation on 11/18/21 at 4:17 PM, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) 8 viewed the pink basin of stagnant cloudy water with live gnats in and around the basin in room [ROOM NUMBER], recoiled with a repulsed expression on her face, and acknowledged that it was the responsibility of the CNAs to clean the residents' wash basins. During an interview and observation on 11/18/21 at 4:22 PM, the Maintenance Director viewed the pink basin of stagnant cloudy water with live gnats in and around the basin in room [ROOM NUMBER] and exclaimed Oh Lord it's a gnat reservoir! The Maintenance Director stated that he had just returned to work after having three weeks off and no one had informed him of any problems with gnats on the Front Hall Unit. During an interview on 11/18/21 at 4:27 PM, the Housekeeping Director stated that no one informed him of gnats in the Front Hall and acknowledged that the facility did not keep a record of those issues typically staff just tell him and they would call pest control. During an additional interview on 11/18/21 at 4:52 PM, the Housekeeping Director stated that the housekeeping staff was responsible to clean and sweep the floor daily. While the housekeeping staff cannot move the residents' belongings, they were supposed to inform the CNAs to get the clothes and articles off the floor, if they cannot clean and mop the rooms from clutter and acknowledge that the assigned housekeeper should have dealt with the wash basin.
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?"
  • "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
  • "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"

Our Honest Assessment

Strengths
  • • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most South Carolina facilities.
Concerns
  • • Multiple safety concerns identified: 2 life-threatening violation(s). Review inspection reports carefully.
  • • 14 deficiencies on record, including 2 critical (life-threatening) violations. These warrant careful review before choosing this facility.
  • • Grade D (41/100). Below average facility with significant concerns.
Bottom line: Trust Score of 41/100 indicates significant concerns. Thoroughly evaluate alternatives.

About This Facility

What is Carlyle Senior Care Of Aiken's CMS Rating?

CMS assigns Carlyle Senior Care of Aiken an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars, which is considered average nationally. Within South Carolina, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This mid-range rating indicates the facility meets federal standards but may have areas for improvement.

How is Carlyle Senior Care Of Aiken Staffed?

CMS rates Carlyle Senior Care of Aiken's staffing level at 3 out of 5 stars, which is average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 52%, compared to the South Carolina average of 46%. RN turnover specifically is 57%, which is notably high. RNs provide skilled clinical oversight, so turnover in this role can affect medical care quality.

What Have Inspectors Found at Carlyle Senior Care Of Aiken?

State health inspectors documented 14 deficiencies at Carlyle Senior Care of Aiken during 2021 to 2025. These included: 2 Immediate Jeopardy (the most serious level, indicating potential for serious harm or death) and 12 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 Carlyle Senior Care Of Aiken?

Carlyle Senior Care of Aiken is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility is operated by CARLYLE SENIOR CARE, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 86 certified beds and approximately 77 residents (about 90% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in Aiken, South Carolina.

How Does Carlyle Senior Care Of Aiken Compare to Other South Carolina Nursing Homes?

Compared to the 100 nursing homes in South Carolina, Carlyle Senior Care of Aiken's overall rating (3 stars) is above the state average of 2.8, staff turnover (52%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.

What Should Families Ask When Visiting Carlyle Senior Care Of Aiken?

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?" "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?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's Immediate Jeopardy citations.

Is Carlyle Senior Care Of Aiken Safe?

Based on CMS inspection data, Carlyle Senior Care of Aiken has documented safety concerns. Inspectors have issued 2 Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death). The facility has a 3-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in South Carolina. Families considering this facility should ask detailed questions about what corrective actions have been taken since these incidents.

Do Nurses at Carlyle Senior Care Of Aiken Stick Around?

Carlyle Senior Care of Aiken has a staff turnover rate of 52%, which is 6 percentage points above the South Carolina average of 46%. Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.

Was Carlyle Senior Care Of Aiken Ever Fined?

Carlyle Senior Care of Aiken has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.

Is Carlyle Senior Care Of Aiken on Any Federal Watch List?

Carlyle Senior Care of Aiken 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.